Manufacturer: Heuer Year: Circa 1963 Reference No: 3647S Case No: 57'956 Model Name: Carrera 45 "1st Execution" Material: Stainless steel Calibre: Manual, cal. Valjoux 92, 17 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Leather Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel pin buckle Dimensions: 36mm Diameter Signed: Case, dial and movement signed
Catalogue Essay
Launched in 1963, the Heuer Carrera was named after the Carrera Panamericana, an exhilarating and extremely dangerous road race that took place in Mexico during the 1950s. With the Autavia and the Monaco, the Carrera name would become legendary at Heuer, and it all begins with this first generation model.
Symbolic features of the watch include the square hour markers at 3 and 9 o’clock, the inscription “SWISS” that was not surmounted by a –T– like in the following execution, and the signature “Ed Heuer & Co SA” on the movement. The watch features a very rare matte silver dial often referred to as "eggshell white" and a faceted screw down caseback, both typicall to early execution models. The present example is a well-preserved early first execution reference 3647 with two registers. It was nicknamed Carrera 45 because it features a 45-minute register as opposed to the 12-hour register of the Carrera 12. This double register wristwatch was advertised by Heuer as ideal for football enthusiasts and professionals.
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.