Manufacturer: Heuer Year: circa 1963 Reference No: 2447 Case No: 56'348 Model Name: Carrera Material: Stainless steel Calibre: Manual, cal. 72, 17 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Racing style leather strap Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel Heuer pin buckle Dimensions: 36mm. Diameter Signed: Case and movement signed Ed. Heuer & Co, dial signed Heuer
Catalogue Essay
One of Heuer's most iconic designs, the Carrera reference 2447 is a superb example of the seductive and sporty chronograph watches produced by the brand during the 1960s. With powerful faceted lugs, a thick case and round pushers, the reference 2447 was manufactured from 1963 until approximately 1970.
The name Carrera is a tribute to the Carrera Panamericana, an automobile race on open roads in Mexico that ran from 1950 to 1954 and was considered the most dangerous and deadly of car races at the time.
The present lot is one of the earliest Carrera models. The dial features long applied markers for all 12 hours, the dial has “SWISS” marked inside the hours sub counter at 6 o'clock and does not have the letter “T” indicating the use of tritium as found in later models. The movement and case back are signed Ed. Heuer (for Edouard Heuer, founder of the company and Jack Heuer’s great grandfather). With the purchase of Leonidas in 1964 Heuer started using “Heuer-Leonidas” signature on the casebacks and movements.
This early Carrera can be considered as the equivalent of the first Omega Speedmaster Broad Arrow or the Rolex Daytona reference 6239, what these watches have in common is to have defined the genetic code of all the following watches bearing their name and as such the present reference 2447 is the foundation of the Heuer Carrera as we know today.
The present lot with its serene dial and refined case is more an ode to leisure driving on the winding roads of the Riviera than a fuel injected race at ground-breaking speed and will appeal to the collector looking for one of the first original Carrera models.
This iconic chronograph manufacturer has a long tradition of precision timekeeping. As early as 1882, founder Edouard Heuer held a patent for a chronograph watch; in 1887, he received a patent for an oscillating pinion, which is still in use today. These specialized timepieces have been at the heart of the firm's success, enabling the brand to be chosen as early timekeepers for the Olympics. In 1969, the company introduced their first automatic chronograph watch, the Monaco Heuer, which celebrated the Monaco Grand Prix. Other key chronograph models include the Autavia and the Carrera, all of which having become iconic models of the firm.