TAG Heuer Silverstone Chronograph: revisited

It looks like the next year will be a time of resurrections of various sorts. First, Ulysse Nardin announced a Classico reincarnation of their enigmatic San Marko model, and now LVMH-owned TAG Heuer luxury watch brand is going to give another go to their almost iconic Siverstone model from the 1970s.

The original Heuer Silverstone automatic chronograph watch was first introduced in 1974, the year yours truly was born. So, forgive me for having a certain bias towards this almost vintage model.

Its cushion-shaped 42 mm case and clear, highly legible dial with well-proportioned chronograph totalizers make it almost an ideal sports watch.

Just like the Swiss brand has initially promised, the 2010 TAG Heuer Silverstone Chronograph is almost identical to the original model both inside and outside.

Well, there are some minor visual differences here and there, but they are not really evident.

Well, perhaps, some people may be slightly disappointed that the chronograph’s functionality was changed: the new watch now has a 30-min chronograph counter at 9 o’clock (therefore the scale on the sub-dial is different) and a small seconds indicator at 3 hours (this one remained the same.)

The re-issue is powered by an upgraded Caliber 11 automatic movement that features a Dubois-Depraz micro-rotor module. This kind of rotor that was first used by Heuer more than fifty years ago allows for a much thinner case in comparison to a normal automatic watch.

The funny thing here is that in 1970s the Caliber 11 was used to animate the Monaco model, another living classic from Heuer, and the Heuer Silverstone was powered by the Caliber 12, which now ticks inside the Monaco chronographs.

The new Silverstone’s only problem is its price. Limiting its total production run to only 1500 pieces, TAG Heuer plans to charge as high as $6500 for this beauty.

Photos: TAG Heuer

TAG Heuer Silverstone Chronograph watch specification

Price range: $6500
Movement: Caliber 11, automatic, Dubois-Depraz micro-rotor module
Complications: Date, chronograph
Power reserve: N/A
Case material: Stainless steel with transparent caseback
Case size: 42 mm
Case height: N/A
Dial: Brown or blue
Water resistance: N/A
Strap: Brown alligator leather
Crystal: Sapphire, AR-coated