In 1974, a distinctive two-counter chronograph in an elliptical case was debuted by the Swiss watchmaking house of Heuer. Crafted from stainless steel, the Silverstone watch was characterized by a winding crown at 9 o'clock, a handsome dial with a sharply concave rehaut and bezel, and a pleasingly symmetrical arrangement of chronograph hour and chronograph minute counter in concert with a window-style date indicator. The harmonious form of the case was further enhanced by a high polish finish, and a perforated leather strap which called to mind the gloves worn by race car drivers.
In 2009, TAG Heuer announces that the Silverstone chronograph will again see production as a limited edition. With press photos now available, it is clear that the timepiece is quite a faithful reproduction of the vintage original. Case and dial design successful recall the 1970's-era Silverstone watch, right down to such minutiae as the white lacquered hands and chronograph subdials. Dial options are a pleasing dark blue or a brown with an eye-catching soleil finish. The alligator straps are colored to match the dials and feature the driving glove perforations. One notable difference is in the technical specifications of the subdials themselves; while the original Heuer model showcased a chronograph hour and chronograph minute counter, the modern TAG Heuer Silverstone watch presents slightly different information: the counter at left displays chronograph minutes (up to 30), while the one at 3 o'clock shows continuous elapsed small seconds. Unchanged is the location of the date display, which presents itself clearly yet unobtrusively beneath a flat antiglare-treated sapphire crystal.
Turning the TAG Heuer Silverstone upside down reveals more interesting details, these a more clear departure from the 1974 model. In addition to the designations "Swiss Made" and "Calibre 11", the brushed stainless steel back is engraved with the words "Silverstone Limited Edition", and "150th Anniversary 1860-2010", the latter being a reference to the milestone birthday of the brand from Saint-Imier. A circular sapphire crystal exhibition window reveals the self-winding Calibre 11, which is ETA-based and uses a chronograph module manufactured by Dubois-Depraz. Appealing visual elements of this movement include a central winding rotor adorned with Cotes de Geneve patterns and bridges with colimaconnage decoration. Balance frequency is 28,800 vibrations per hour, and power reserve is approximately 42 hours. Four screws affix the caseback and help assure a moisture-tight seal.
TAG Heuer will produce just 1,500 examples of the Silverstone chronograph re-issue in both dial variations. Initial retail pricing for this watch has been set at USD $6,500.
In 2009, TAG Heuer announces that the Silverstone chronograph will again see production as a limited edition. With press photos now available, it is clear that the timepiece is quite a faithful reproduction of the vintage original. Case and dial design successful recall the 1970's-era Silverstone watch, right down to such minutiae as the white lacquered hands and chronograph subdials. Dial options are a pleasing dark blue or a brown with an eye-catching soleil finish. The alligator straps are colored to match the dials and feature the driving glove perforations. One notable difference is in the technical specifications of the subdials themselves; while the original Heuer model showcased a chronograph hour and chronograph minute counter, the modern TAG Heuer Silverstone watch presents slightly different information: the counter at left displays chronograph minutes (up to 30), while the one at 3 o'clock shows continuous elapsed small seconds. Unchanged is the location of the date display, which presents itself clearly yet unobtrusively beneath a flat antiglare-treated sapphire crystal.
Turning the TAG Heuer Silverstone upside down reveals more interesting details, these a more clear departure from the 1974 model. In addition to the designations "Swiss Made" and "Calibre 11", the brushed stainless steel back is engraved with the words "Silverstone Limited Edition", and "150th Anniversary 1860-2010", the latter being a reference to the milestone birthday of the brand from Saint-Imier. A circular sapphire crystal exhibition window reveals the self-winding Calibre 11, which is ETA-based and uses a chronograph module manufactured by Dubois-Depraz. Appealing visual elements of this movement include a central winding rotor adorned with Cotes de Geneve patterns and bridges with colimaconnage decoration. Balance frequency is 28,800 vibrations per hour, and power reserve is approximately 42 hours. Four screws affix the caseback and help assure a moisture-tight seal.
TAG Heuer will produce just 1,500 examples of the Silverstone chronograph re-issue in both dial variations. Initial retail pricing for this watch has been set at USD $6,500.
