Well, there you go.... they can't win

 

Could have got away with the Monza. It was comfortable. But it just looked too big to me. The Autavia was way too high, wouldn't fit under my shirt cuff. And a bit long lug to lug. It's the reason I ended up cancelling my order for the C11 Siffert Autavia (that was what prompted my visit, below, to the boutique in the first place!).

 

Of course they can: Hardly anyone here is complaining about heritage-inspired round watches coming in at between 38 and 40mm

As @imagwai rightly points out, it’s trickier for square-ish watches. I once had a Longines Spirit with a case shape not that different from the 2016 Monza. It was 40mm from 9h to 3h and wore like a treat. That said, this equated already to 44mm from 7h30 to 1h30…

If you make a watch with a similar case shape 2mm larger across, this is going to have a pretty massive visual impact overall.

 

Call me crazy but the Monzo looks better on Charlie than the Autavia

 

I think Hubert might have something to say about that.

Look I'm only giving my opinion Rob, I don't expect everyone to disagree with it. I just think TAG didn't quite get the Autavia right for several reasons, one of which was the size. I love my 36mm Heuer Carrera reissue, and I think it's a great example of how to do a vintage-inspired piece right. But even I find it a tad small sometimes, and also wish it had Carrera on the dial. They're not dealbreakers for me, though. If it was 42mm, it certainly would be!

 

That was what I was saying too.

 

So you agree the Monza wasn't too big?

 

I get you Charlie, it's all personal opinion. But I can see why TAG would not be keen to make 36mm watches in the current market. I guess the issue is who are these pieces actually aimed at? It's hard to gauge the market for 36mm watches since they only make them for ladies (technically) and they probably think casual customers in boutiques would maybe like the style but find them too small, especially when they are sat next to other larger watches in the display boxes.

 

It could also be that the feedback from the stores when they made the original re-issues was that people liked them but wanted a slightly larger size to suit modern tastes?

 

Yeah I expected that site to be maybe a bit outdated as TAG has been shuffling their retail strategy

 

I don't think they should do a 36mm watch in the current market either. The Autavia would have been better at 40mm, thinner bezel, 47mm lug to lug and quite a bit thinner. The Monza likewise would have been better with a couple of mm shaved off. Again, just my opinion, but I certainly don't think everything has to be 1:1 with the originals.

 

Feels like this thread is getting totally off topic. Shouldn't we go back to discussing how wonderful the three hander Autavias are

 

The only thing better than a three hand Autavia is..... a four hand Autavia.

 

Or a lobotomy? Which would be required to get me to buy one.

 

Yet, they'll make very limited watches that require unique tooling to create. For example, the Ronnie Peterson Carrera re-edition and the Monaco Riviera. Also, the Carrera x Porsche RS 2.7 has a unique case. If they can do these one offs, they could go the extra mile and develop something that collectors would appreciate more. If Omega and Breitling can do this, I don't see why TAG Heuer can't. They simply choose not to.

 

JCB would probably go that extra mile, but I am not sure if the new "ceo boy" understands things that are more complex and stylish than Mario carts... IMHO..

 

Fair point. Then I guess it comes down to they don't want to use a case they can't fit the Heuer 02 into?

 

Yes and they also seem too lazy to make a manual wind version of the H02, which would solve my pet peeve about thickness. Both Omega and Breitling have developed manual wind versions of their automatic in-house movements.

 

So if they did make a 36mm Carrera, what movement could they use?

 

That's @imagwai's issue to solve, I'm perfectly fine with a thinner 39mm glassbox Carrera.