Our Baselworld Favourites from TAG Heuer, Oris, Hermès, Breitling and Glashütte Original
TAG Heuer AUTAVIA
Right from the Swinging Sixties returns the Autavia by TAG Heuer. Channelling the spirit of the golden age of motor racing, it’s the first wrist chronograph with a rotating bezel and designed by Jack Heuer in 1962. While the original has graced the likes of legendary F1 champion Jochen Rindt, the 2017 model was voted for by web users from 16 historic models during the 2016 online campaign, the ‘Autavia Cup’. Of course, powering this new icon is the consistently excellent Heuer-02 chronograph movement.
Oris Big Crown 1917 Limited EditionÂ
Old is clearly gold with the new Big Crown 1917 Limited Edition released by Oris for Baselworld this year. A revival of the Big Crown of 1938, this 2017 model pays tribute to the original featuring the same onion-shaped big crown, early 20th century Arabic numerals, blued steel hands, domed glass and a vintage Oris logo. Even the Oris Calibre 732 automatic movement is an homage to the Sellita SW 200-1 of the original. In a final salute, the Big Crown 1917 Limited Edition comes in a restricted edition of 1,917 pieces.
 Hermès Slim d’Hermès L’heure impatiente
In the anticipation of a precious moment, Hermès presents a timepiece worthy of that excitement in the form of the Slim d’Hermès L’heure impatiente. Five years of development went into creating this watch that counts down the hours via a subdial on the 6 o’clock position before setting of a highly pleasing personal chime. The striking mechanism is powered by the manufacture Hermès H1912 movement that has quite a few charming surprises, with components made to resemble Pegasus and a shark.
Breitling Superocean Héritage II
Perhaps one of the most talked about developments in the watchmaking industry right now is the partnership between Breitling and Tudor to incorporate each other’s movements into their 2017 novelties. While many may have their doubts, Breitling has proven it as a collaboration worth our while and adapted the Tudor Caliber MT5612 into its own COSC-certified manufacture Caliber B20. And what better way to show its confidence in the movement by setting them into the celebrated Superocean collection that turns 60 this year? The Superocean Héritage II are handsome three-handers that call upon the excellence of the 1957 model in hues of black, blue and bronze. As this is Breitling’s first official partnership with another watch brand, the Superocean Héritage II would make an excellent addition to the collection of Breitling admirers.
Glashütte Original Senator Chronograph Panorama Date
When Glashütte Original released the Caliber 37 in-house column-wheel, automatic flyback chronograph movement back in 2014, it was met with much celebration as it truly is a spectacular mechanism. At the time, it was available only in pricier platinum and red gold versions of the Senator Chronograph Panorama Date but, for Baselworld 2017, the German watchmaker has announced a new stainless steel version. It bears a sportier design with indices instead of Roman numerals and brilliant application of blue Super-LumiNova  on the white gold hour, minute and stop seconds hands that contrasts nicely with the deep black dial. To top it off, it even comes with a rubber strap version. This model is definitely a new look for Glashütte Original but, somehow, manages to look just as elegant as its brethren.
