Autavia caliber 15 Ref. 1563

Here's my Autavia Ref. 1563 with caliber 15. The caliber 15 version was a economic version of the Caliber 12. The hour register was replaced with a small running seconds hand at 10. To the right is the same 30min register as found in caliber 11/12.

The case is the same as Autavia 1163, and is stamped 1163, not 1563 between the lugs at 12. This is normal, I have never seen a Autavia stamped 1563.

The Autavia 1562 was listed in catalogues in the early 1970's. There was two versions, black and white. And two different bezels, tachymeter or hour/minutes. The crystal is plastic and can easily be polished to remove scratches.
The pushers is fully visible from front, and partially obstructed from back. This indicates that the case is a 1163 and was made by Schimtz.

The caseback is signed Heuer - Leonidas SA inside.

Autavia Ref. 7763 MH

The Ref. 7763 Autavia is one of my favorites. It was my first vintage Heuer, and really kick off my interest for vintage watches. It's the second generation Autavia with snap-back case 30 min. register, and is driven by a Valjoux 7730. The back is marked with "Autavia" and the Heuer logo.

There is two versions, 7763 TH with tachymeter bezel, and 7763 MH, with Miles/Hour bezel. They was listed in the catalogues from 1968-1971. It's quite big at 40,5mm, lug size is 20mm.

To the left is Ref. 7763 as pictured in a Heuer catalogue from 1970. The price back then was US 105$ with Corfam strap, and US 120$ with a stainless steel bracelet.

The case is stainless steel, and is super water resistant, tested at 330 feet, or 100 meter. The turning bezel (MH) has combined 60 minute and 12 hour division. The dial is black with two white register, running second to the left, and 30 min. counter to the right.

The Valjoux 7730 movement is signed Heuer-Leonidas on the bridge. The case back is also signed Heuer-Leonidas on the inside.

The ref. number 7763 is stamped between the lugs.

Art Deco Heuer

This is a rare one, an Art Deco styled very early 14k. gold Heuer mens watch. It is not signed Heuer anywhere, this is a Rose watch, signed “Rose W. Co” on case and movement. The watch is small, only 18mm x 30mm. To small for a man today. It is in very good original condition, even if it’s nearly 100 years old. Not bad.

In April 1912 Heuer was renamed “Heuer & co., Rose Watch co.” Charles-Auguste and Jules-Edouard at the urging of their American partner decided to use the trade name "ROSE WATCH COMPANY" on all watch movements imported into the USA. Due to high customs tariff on complete Swiss watches during this time period, Heuer would send a complete movement without a case. The movement was then installed in a US-made case.

In 1922, after ten years, Heuer stopped using the “Rose”-name. So from 1912-1922, all Heuer watches sold in USA was signed “Rose W. Co.”. A full range of pocket-, mens-, ladies watches and chronographs was marketed.

Autavia Ref. 1563

Here's my latest member of my collection. A Heuer Autavia Ref. 1563 from around 1971.

The bezel have a lot of wear, and will soon be replaced with a better one. The watch keeps good time, and I love those orange hands. I will post more when I put on the new bezel.

Mystery 2Heuer2 logo

I have a vintage Heuer up/down chronograph with a strange Heuer logo. I posted some pictures of the watch a couple of years ago at the Heuer forum, but no one had an answer. I have since then tried to collect as much info as possible, and have found some information. I have seen some claims that this was a military model, and most owners date them to late 1930's (1938) or very early 1940's.
The movement is the same on all 2HEUER2 I have found. An unsigned Venus 170. I know that Heuer produced an up/down chronograph with Valjoux 77 later, that is fully signed. None of the Val.77's that I have seen has the 2HEUER2 logo. The 2Heuer2 has Nickel case, the later Valjoux 77 has steel case.

THE ANSWER

I have just found a Heuer advert from 1942 that shows the little chronograph. This is the first time ever, I have seen any information about these chronographs. The are not military, but Heuers cheapest chronograph offer.


In the down left corner of the ad. is a little black up/down chronograph with the 2Heuer2 logo. It is listed as Ref. 3249 Nickel/Steel case back priced at Fr. 93,- It seems like it was a low-price model. A regular left/right steel chronograph with Valjoux movement was Fr. 198,-

There is at least two different dial design for Ref.3249, one with telemeter and tachymeter, and one, like mine, with a seconds scale.

This should confirm that these are genuine early Heuer Chronographs. Heuer did not sign all movements untill 1945.

Heuer triple date Ref. 1806

This is Heuers 90 year anniversary watch. It was also promoted as Heuers "Half of a Millenium" watch, as it was launced in 1950.
The ref. number is 1806 and was available in chrome, steel or goldplated. Mine is chrome and has a lot of wear.

The movement is a hammer automatic from AS. The caseback is snap on made of steel.

I love that blue "snake" hand that shows the date.

Heuer ref. 349

I have own this early Heuer chronograph for some years now, but have not known much about it. When I put on a NOS pigskin-strap with the correct vintage look last week I deceided to do some research.



The movement is an early Valjoux 22, with an unsigned bridge. This is no problem, several early Heuers have unsigned movements. From 1945, Heuer signed all movements.


In a 1938 Heuer catalogue I found the movement listed as ref. 349.


In a 1945 Heuer catalogue I found the right case. There's only on problem, they are listed as steel case, and have wrong ref. number. But over the three there is listed a ref.349 with Nickel Case - steel back. No picture. This matches my chronograph, Val.22 and Nickel Case, steel caseback. My watch has the same shape of the case, pushers and crown.




I think I have a match, and that this is a Ref.349 dated from somewhere between 1938 to the mid 1940's.

Gold dialed Landeron 13 not Valjoux 23

UPDATE!
I belived that this was a Valjoux 23, but it's a Landeron 13.

I have had this lovely golden Heuer dial and movement for some time now. I even have the original gold duaphine hands and crown. What I need is a Heuer case for a Landeron 13. It would be great to put this movement in a proper Heuer case again. It's a Landeron 13 and is correctly signed with the Heuer logo and production number on the main bridge. The production number is 400817, and the watch is most likely from the first half of the 1940's due to the "small" style Heuer logo used on in the 1930's-40's.

Heuer ref. 3641

This is the rarely seen ref. 3641 from 1968/69. It was a cheaper alternative to the more famous Carrera model, and have a chrome case instead of stainless steel. The movement, valjoux 92, and the hands, are the same as on the Carrera.

A nice and cheaper alternative to a late 1960s Heuer Carrera. It's even rarer. Most of the ones I have seen have the name of a retailer on the lower part of the dial. Mine has Meister, a Sviss retailer. I have also seen the name Gubelin on others.

Check out www.onthedash.com page on my watch: http://onthedash.com/Guide/_Chronographs/60s_Chronographs/62.Reference_3641/

Classic Heuer

This blog will contain information and pictures of my classic Heuer watches. Dating from around 1912 to the 1980s when Heuer became Tag Heuer.

Heuer Monaco , Autavia , Montreal , Carrera , Daytona , Monza , Skipper , Calculator , Cortina , Silverstone , Verona , Tripledate , Camaro .