Watch Paparazzi

Television presenter Kjell-Ola Kleiven spotted wearing Tag Heuer

Norwegian television presenter Kjell-Ola Kleiven was recently photographed adjusting his jacket, inadvertently showcasing a cleanly executed wrist shot: a TAG Heuer Autavia Chronograph on its integrated steel bracelet. The sighting required little detective work — the bold Arabic numerals on the rotating black ceramic bezel and the tri-colour panda dial are among the most recognisable design signatures in TAG Heuer's current catalogue.

The Autavia Chronograph reference CBE2110.BA0687 measures 42 mm in stainless steel and is powered by the Calibre Heuer 02, TAG Heuer's fully in-house column-wheel chronograph movement. Beating at 28,800 vph with a column-wheel and vertical clutch, it offers an 80-hour power reserve — exceptional for a movement at this price point and a direct answer to critics who once accused the brand of over-reliance on ETA ebauches. The dial arranges three white sub-registers against a matte black background, with a date window at 6 o'clock, recalling the classic Valjoux 7750-era Autavia layouts of the 1970s.

The Autavia name carries genuine weight in collector circles. Original 1960s and early 1970s Heuer Autavias — worn by Formula 1 drivers and rally co-drivers — routinely command five-figure sums at auction. TAG Heuer's 2017 revival, which was crowd-sourced via a public vote between heritage dial variants, was a smart piece of brand archaeology. The black-bezel steel version strikes a balance between legibility and sportiness that earlier iterations lacked.

Kjell-Ola Kleiven, best known to Norwegian audiences as a charismatic television host, appears at ease with the Autavia's dual identity: tool-watch pedigree wrapped in a refined steel bracelet execution that reads as polished on camera. It is precisely the kind of watch a presenter reaches for when the brief calls for substance without ostentation.

At a retail price of approximately $5,700, the TAG Heuer Autavia Chronograph CBE2110.BA0687 sits in a competitive segment but distinguishes itself through an in-house movement that outperforms its price class. Grey-market values have stabilised close to retail, reflecting steady demand and a lack of speculative bubble — the hallmark of a watch bought to be worn rather than flipped.