Good luck still finding a vintage Mark II in acceptable condition for 1500 (whatever the currency is)…
Oh maybe. I've not looked in a while, but last I remember regular Mark IIs were $1500 or so average, and Racings were $2500. They've never been my thing (I've tried them on and just didn't feel it) so I haven't watched closely.
The heritage model is the easy winner when seeing them side by side in that video.
They're at least about a grand more now. I like the look of the Racing, but based on my try on of a new MK II, don't think it's for me either.
based on my try on of a new MK II, don't think it's for me either
Here's a look down the wrist view of my Mark II vintage. And the additional $1K modern "tax" is what it cost me recently😲
I guess we can congratulate the nice case refurb’ job 👍 as it probably hasn’t slept in a drawer for 50 years (?)
Looks like a beautiful example. How is it that all the watches I've been thinking about recently end up on your wrist?! 👍
And it's still not working properly! Upper pusher does not start the chrono timing seconds counter, instead it stops the seconds subdial hand. Lower reset pusher is again just dead. Just like it was when received. Oddly this all worked just fine when I picked it up after the "service" for a few days. Nice looker but it don't work right! Let me make the mistakes. Off to the shop it goes again.👎
You can’t expect high volume sales of a watch people don’t know. In retrospect it was a silly business decision by Biver. The Autavia had been forgotten for decades. I’m not counting the early 2000 LE’s of the OB and Siffert as these were collector’s editions. The sales statistics tell enough. TH sell 400k watches at an average retail of just over 2k. That’s a lot of F1s and ARs and a lot less Carreras and Monacos. It makes no sense to have a chronograph competitor to the Carrera or even the Monaco in the +5k bracket that’s already considered premium in the range. No matter what enthusiasts think or would want. People know the Carrera and the Monaco, not the Autavia.
The fact that Omega sell 500k watches at 5k average is thanks to decades of consistent brand building of the Speedy and the Seamaster.
So I also tried these on yesterday. Decided to hold thoughts for today when I have a slightly less busy schedule.
And you know what? It's actually not that bad in person. It's still not for me, but it's not without merit. There is however, a complete dealbreaker... but it's not what you'd expect 😉
So, first off - it's not quite as chunky as the renders make it seem. Yes, it's still thick, but in the renders it looks like the dial is sitting in a porthole where in reality, it's not as 'deep' under the crystal. Makes it feel less massive on the wrist.
Also making it feel less massive? This watch is shockingly light for a steel watch. Even on the bracelet. Maybe it's just because of how large it looks but you could tell me it was made of titanium and I'd believe you. That'll do, TAG, that'll do.
And I have to say, it was fun being able to fool around with different straps / bracelets in the store thanks to the quick-change strap system. The quick-changes are interchangeable with the three-hand Autavia models, so there were a couple of fun options to try on, all before a purchase decision would be necessary. I think this is a good idea for the buying experience, honestly.
Another major plus is that the H02 movement in these is much smoother than in the earlier models. Pusher feel is premium - unlike the Autavia reedition or the Carrera 160s, who feel notchy and cheap quite frankly. And the oversized crown while ridiculous-looking does negate much of the fiddliness of other screw-down crowns.
It also winds nice and smoothly, Jim.
For the lows, it's obvious - the silver one looks like they had something good going and then lost their nerve with the running seconds. It's not as bad in person but still makes the watch feel like it's almost there but not quite, which ends up actually detracting from the overall experience. It's so clearly obvious what this could have been had they just left off the running seconds entirely, that it makes you dislike what they actually ended up shipping :/
Oh, and the black one doesn't have any real Bund charm in person as I thought it would. I actually preferred the silver!
Here's the ultimate deal-breaker though...
That quick-change strap system works on fixed springbars. That means it will only work with TAG's straps, and no other straps.
(There's a tiny shoulder that you could maaaybe get off with a lot of fiddling and scratches to the watch, but for all intents and purposes you'd have to have a watchmaker cut the bars off, which would also mean no more being able to swap back to the OEM TAG strap or bracelet)
So, ultimately, it's not that bad of a watch but only being able to use official TAG quick-change straps (which are not very attractive, they're all bulky smooth leather at the moment with no sporty options) means I'd pass on this watch even if it were otherwise perfect. 👎
If you want to use the original Tag quick release straps again all you do is insert a springbar. That then will act as the anchor for the OEM.
This is what I did with my Connected enabling me to use any strap. All I say is use a good quality spring bar not a cheap thin replacement.
Deconstruction of the heritage Autavia by The Naked Watchmaker. Pretty cool stuff.
Lug to lug 51.3
Thickness 15.9
That yummy yellow Tudor Fastrider is also 42mm but
Lug to lug 49mm
Thickness 14.5mm
