Heuer - STYLED. Timeless Watches & How to Wear Them New York Wednesday, December 5, 2018 | Phillips

Create your first list.

Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.

  • Manufacturer: Heuer
    Year: 1964
    Reference No: 2447
    Case No: 78’927
    Model Name: Mareographe
    Material: Stainless steel
    Calibre: Manual, Valjoux 721, 17 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: Leather
    Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel Heuer buckle
    Dimensions: 36mm Diameter
    Signed: Case, dial, movement, and buckle signed.

  • Catalogue Essay

    The Heuer Mareographe, the Heuer-branded, European counterpart of the Seafarer model retailed by the Abercrombie & Fitch Co. American sporting goods company, saw its earliest iteration in the Heuer Solunar, a time-only watch created by Jack Heuer in the 1940s. Designed with help from his high school physics teacher, according to his autobiography, it featured a unique, brightly colored tidal indicator at 6 o’clock. Though the Solunar was ultimately unsuccessful, the post-World War II societal shift towards outdoor activity and growing demand for sporting watches compelled Heuer to combine the tidal indicator of the Solunar with a chronograph function, resulting in the Mareographe. Featuring multi-colored tidal indicators similar to the Solunar, the Mareographe continued to evolve over several iterations culminating in a dial featuring sky blue and silver colors in the early 1960s, housed in the reference 2444 case.

    The introduction of the Carrera case in 1963 would once again alter the aesthetics of the Mareographe; though it retained the same sky blue accents on the tidal indicator and minute totalizer, the case is instantly recognizable with its bold, faceted lugs typical of classic Carrera chronographs. Sky blue accents on the dial would continue to appear on the dial of all subsequent iterations of the Mareographe and its branded counterparts, including the Orvis Solunagraph introduced in 1973. Orvis was another American-based sporting goods store focused primarily on fishing among other outdoor pursuits. Scholarship shows that the Mareographe reference 2447 was produced for approximately five years, beginning in mid-1963. Mareographes and Seafarers were produced concurrently, though the sportive American Seafarer was a far more popular model, resulting in lower production numbers for the Mareographe.

    Produced in 1964, this early example features an immaculately preserved dial retaining the vivid sky blue colors in the 3 and 9 o’clock subdials that make the Mareographe especially prized by collectors. The sharp, luminous dauphine hands balance with the steel faceted baton indexes, all elements which further harmonize with the Carrera-style case. Unpolished and unrestored, the present watch is in wonderful original condition making it a great example for the collector.

  • Artist Biography

    Heuer

    Swiss • 1860

    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.

    View More Works

31

Ref. 2447
A fine and rare stainless steel chronograph wristwatch with tidal indication

1964
36mm Diameter
Case, dial, movement, and buckle signed.

Estimate
$4,000 - 6,000 
CHF4,000-6,000
€3,500-5,200
HK$31,400-47,100

Sold for $27,500

Contact Specialist
Paul Boutros
Head of Watches, Americas
+1 212 940 1293
pboutros@phillips.com

STYLED. Timeless Watches & How to Wear Them

New York Auction 5 December 2018