Manufacturer: Heuer Year: circa 1965 Reference No: 2446SF Case No: 197'565 Model Name: Solunagraph Material: Stainless steel Calibre: Manual, cal. 72, 17 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Leather Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel pin buckle Dimensions: 40mm Diameter Signed: Case, dial and movement signed Accessories: Accompanied by original instruction manual
Catalogue Essay
From the 1950s until the 1970s Heuer produced a very interesting and innovative chronograph that featured a subsidiary tidal register used by sailors, fishermen and hunters. The theory behind the model was based on sailors’ and fishermen’s need to know low and high tides or hunters who wanted to know the favorable time of the day to hunt (major and minor feeding periods). Originally made for the outdoor gear retailer Abercombie & Fitch under the name Seafarer, Heuer also made a version under its own brand called the Mareographe (its name comes from the conjunction of Marée which means tide in French and Graph which means writing in Greek).
Orvis, a family-owned retail and mail-order business specializing in high-end fly fishing, hunting and sporting goods founded in the United States in 1856 also commissioned a similar tidal indication chronograph from Heuer under the name Solunagraph.
Housed in the immediately recognizable 40mm Autavia reference 2446 case, the Solunagraph houses a Valjoux caliber 72.
Presented today in attractive overall condition, the present lot, from the first series, features a superb metallic graphite grey dial, “ghost” bezel and is accompanied by its original instruction manual. An extremely rare timepiece it would be a wonderful addition the any collection of rare complicated chronographs.
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.