Autavia Ref. 1163 V

This is one of the best known Heuer chronographs, the 1163 Viceroy. This version was produced as a promotional item for Viceroy cigarettes in the 1970's. While the 1163T Autavia of the period was selling for $200, enthusiasts would buy the 1163V for $88 by sending in Viceroy coupons / proofs of purchase.

The Viceroy model (Reference 1163V) is recognized by the tachymeter bezel, the economy dial with red dots by the applied markers and white elements incorporated into the markers, brushed steel hands with red tips and luminous inserts.


This is one of the Viceroy adverts that promoted this very good deal.

The case is standard 1163 with domed plastic crystal and pushers fully visible from front, and partially hidden from the back.

The case is stamped 1163 V between the lugs. Strap size is standard 20mm. The Viceroy was sold with a black rally strap.

My Viceroy has the original vintage Heuer buckle. The originals is easy identified by the "sun" stamped on the back. The re-issue buckles from the modern Carrera and Monaco do not have this symbol.

For more info check out http://www.onthedash.com/docs/CompareViceroys.shtml

Orange Diver ref. 980.007

This is my favorite vintage Heuer diver. The bright orange dial is just very cool. And the big full size 42mm case makes this a very visible watch thats get a lot of comments when you wear it.

As you ca see on the picture above, the writing on the dial is a mix of English and French. On the French made ref. 844 (http://classicheuers.blogspot.com/2009/01/heuer-844-french-made-diver.html) all text is in French: 200 METRES / Professionel. On this Swiss Made watch the print on the dial says: 200 METRES / Professional. The depth rate is still French, but professional is now in English..

The movement on these early diver is ESA 536.121. This is a quite fragile movement, and it's very common to see non working examples of these diver for sale on Ebay. The can often be picked up very cheap. But be avare, it's very difficult to find parts for this movement. Even a used replacement can be very difficult to find.

If your movement fails, and you don't have a spare or the parts needed I got the solution for you. A automatic ETA 2824 is a straith fit. The base is the same, so the hands, dial and stem will fit. If you are a little handy, you can do the swap yourself in no time. I have done it without problems.

The caseback is just plain, without the HEUER shield logo. They are stamped with ref.number and serial number. Later Heuer divers have more well made case backs with the HEUER logo in the middle. The screw in crown is unsigned.

It made it as "covergirl" in this 1981 Heuer catalogue....

Issued Heuer split second timer

Lovely blued steel hands..... a very nice touch.

This is a issued Heuer stopwatch from the 1950's. I thought I had bougth a cool military issued Heuer, but some research of the GPO engravings on the back led me to the British Post service "General Post Office". Not as exciting as a war veteran, but still kind a cool.

The markings on the back says 6 GPO, BAU 53, 60107. 53 stand for 1953, the year it was issued. There is a website about GPO Watches, check out: http://www.britishtelephones.com/clocks/watches.htm

My watch is number 6, described as:

"Watch No. 6 is an 8-hour, high-grade, keyless, lever stop-watch of the permanent-motion type with a continuously operating seconds hand at the bottom of the dial, and two stop-start centre seconds fly-back hands with an associated revolution register at the top of the dial. The centre-seconds hands make one complete revolution in 100 seconds over a scale marked in half-second divisions and the revolution register integrates the revolutions of the upper centre-seconds hand up to a period of 3000 seconds. i.e. 30 revolutions."

This Heuer split stopwatch, was issued for the accurate measurement and timing of the electro-mechanical call timing equipment.

The movement is a lovely finished Valjoux 57. Fully signed, and with a very loud ticking sound. The second hand at six, is constantly running, even if the stopwatch is not engaged.

The bridge and case is signed Ed.Heuer & Co, Switzerland.

Monaco 73633 G

This a cool classic Heuer. A manual version of the famous Heuer Monaco made famous from the film "Le Mans" starring Steve Mc Queen. He used the more common blue dialed 1133 B version with the automatic caliber 12. This manual Monaco is driven by a Valjoux 7736 and have a all grey dial.The ref. 73633 is known in three different versions. The blue dialed 73633 B with white subdials. And the two different dials on the 73633 G, one all grey, and the other with black/dark grey subdials. The all grey is belived to be the earliest of the two.

This Monaco is in good orignal condition. Very nice dial and hands. The case has not been polished. The back is stamped with the Heuer logo and Tool No. 033, the special tool required to open the waterproof case.

It even have the original bracelet. That is a nice bonus. They are rare, and very expensive if you can find one.

The ref. 73633 G and B is listed in this 1972 Heuer catalogue.

Original crown and pushers in nice condition. Most of the original finish is still visible.

The only litle fault I can see is a tiny missing lume part from from the hour hand. All in all is this a very fine example of one of Heuers coolest chronographs. A real classic...

Heuer 844 French made diver.

This is one of the first Heuer made diver watches. The 844 model was made for Heuer in 1979-80 in France by G. Monnin. This was the first trial run for Heuer into the divers watch market. Heuer did not think it would be worth while tooling up for something like that so they purchased already existing models in France. As you can see the divers watch market was very successful, that they started to gear up in 1980's with swiss made movement.

The dial is printed with "MADE IN : FRANCE" on the bottom, and say : "METRES" and : "PROFESSIONEL" as opposed to : anglicized "METERS" and "PROFESSIONAL" versions of that. The hands are of cathedral type. There is also red 24 hour numeral on the dial. The case back is plain with no Heuer logo. And is stamped 844 rather crudely. "ETANCHE ACIER - 20 ATM - AUTOMATIC" is also stamped around the edge.The movement is Felsa FE 4611A and is signed G. Monnin France on the rotor. Later Swiss made Heuer divers have movements from ETA.

Inside of case back is signed G. Monnin France.

It's a full size 42mm big diver with 24hour dial and screw in unsigned crown. I like it a lot. Looks cool on a NATO strap.

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.