Manufacturer: Heuer Year: Circa 1940 Movement No: 408'018 Case No: 68'683 Material: Stainless steel Calibre: Manual, 17 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Leather Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel buckle Dimensions: 35mm Diameter Signed: Case, dial and movement signed
Catalogue Essay
The Heuer brand has long been associated with speed and time. The brand was particularly creative and fruitful in the early 1940s and 1950s, and imagined a number of dial and case configurations for their chronograph timepieces.
The present chronograph is distinguished by its impressive case and beautiful salmon dial. The dial barely shows any sign of aging, and the case remains crisp, having seen little intervention over the years. Most notably, the watch is fitted with a screw down caseback, meaning it was water resistant at the time of manufacture. Such gems hardly appear on the market, no less is such charming condition.
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.