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Reviving or reinterpreting classic icons is usually a safe bet for watch manufacturers, speaking to both longstanding fans as well as newcomers seeking vintage vibes in the modern era. For the 60th Anniversary of the beloved Autavia line, TAG Heuer has reached into their rich archives to introduce a new take on one of their collector-coveted references. Directly inspired by the rare silver panda Autavia watches of the '60s, the new TAG Heuer Autavia Chronometer Flyback 60th Anniversary CBE511B.FC8279 reinterprets the historic ref. 73663.

The case

While the watch carries the same diameter of 42mm as the '60s Autavia ref. 73663, the case geometry has changed from a more saucer-like profile to something closer in line with Carrera pieces. That being said, its round case is emboldened with strong, yet more curvaceous, brushed lugs than the sharp broad lugs found on the Carrera, with polished chamfers to inject a hint of glistening elegance to the sporty timepiece. The caseband is also brushed, again reiterating the sporty nature of the release. Surrounding the dial, you have a bi-directional gloss black ceramic bezel with a 60-minute scale in white. Other notable dimensions and specifications include a thickness of 15.68mm, and a depth rating of 100 metres - so you can swim with this chronograph safely at your leisure.

The dial

Speaking of the dial, it's a direct nod to the rare silver panda Autavia of the '60s. The Arabic numerals of the dial are also directly inspired by those classic Autavia models. The silver sunburst dial has a timeless tone, equally in fashion today as it was six decades ago. A curious but ultimately calculated design choice you may have noticed is that only two of the three sub-dials are black. Usually registers are uniform in tone, but instead the TAG Heuer Autavia Chronometer Flyback 60th Anniversary Silver Panda has a bi-compax look even though there are three registers. But what this does for the wearer, ultimately, is distinguish which registers track the elapsed time and which register conveys the running seconds. At 9' and 3', in black, you have the 12-hour elapsed hours register and 30-minute elapsed minutes register respectively. The hashed tracks are stepped and sunken, with their centres raised and decorated with a concentric texture. At 6', an ever so brighter flat matte silver register represents the running seconds - a black on white calendar complication embedded at its bottom. As a watch with a sporty identity, it fittingly has SuperLumninova® coatings within the applied rhodium-plated arabics and indices, as well as the rhodium-plated central hours and minutes hands.

The strap

The TAG Heuer Autavia Chronometer Flyback 60th Anniversary Silver Panda is outfitted on a black alligator leather strap, with a red under, and is secured to the wrist by its steel-pin buckle.  While I personally appreciate the elegance factor the leather strap brings to the watch, I would recommend investing in a rubber strap as well - this way you can take full advantage of its 100m depth rating.

The movement

Inside, beneath an exhibition caseback, you have a high performance in-house calibre Heuer 02 - an automatic COSC-certified chronometer chronograph caliber with a flyback and calendar complication. As you admire the industrial striping to the caliber, your eye will be drawn to a red component: its column wheel. Column wheel chronographs are preferred to cam-driven chronographs due to the crisp and smooth start/stop/reset actuation they provide - while also preventing stutter to the central chronograph seconds hand. If that wasn't enough, the calibre Heuer 02 also provides a more than weekend-proof 80 hours of power reserve.

TAG Heuer Autavia Chronometer Flyback 60th Anniversary Silver Panda pricing and availability:

The TAG Heuer Autavia Chronometer Flyback 60th Anniversary Silver Panda is a limited quantity release, available now for purchase. Price: $6,200 USD

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