Heuer - The New York Watch Auction: SIX New York Saturday, June 11, 2022 | Phillips

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  • Manufacturer: Heuer
    Year: Circa 1970
    Reference No: 7753/54
    Case No: 108’015
    Model Name: Carrera Skipper, “Skipperera”
    Material: Stainless steel
    Calibre: Manual, cal. 7730, 17 jewels
    Dimensions: 35mm Diameter
    Signed: Case, dial, and movement signed.

  • Catalogue Essay

    Since vintage wristwatch collecting as a passion project and hobby for many has only been around since the 1980s, it follows that in 2008, Heuer enthusiasts would discover an entirely new reference of Heuer Skipper. The most mind-blowing fact, however, was that it was housed not in the Autavia or Chronomatic cases already known, but in a Carrera case, the chronograph reference introduced by Heuer in 1963. Thus, it is a model apart from any other, not quite Carrera and not quite Skipper – but at the same time, both. Collectors bestowed the nickname “Skipperera” upon the model’s discovery, and in the ensuing decade-and-a-half, it has become one of the most sought-after vintage Heuer models.

    Regatta chronographs in general require bold colors for the purposes of visibility, and looking at Heuer’s Solunar and the Seafarer models of the 1940s and 1950s, the vibrant coloration of the Skipperera dial is not a departure from the norm, but rather a variation on an existing theme. Though the tri-color 15-minute counter often gets the most attention, the sunburst blue main dial is perhaps the most interesting change, rather than the typical black or silver. Scholarship suggests that the sea-foam/teal color of the subdial counter comes from the color of the deck of the Intrepid, the racing yacht which won the America’s Cup in 1967 – just before the introduction of the Skipperera in 1968.

    Preserved in excellent condition, with a vibrant and beautiful dial, our present example comes from an important American collection. Having previously been documented in Skipperera scholarship, it is offered for sale publicly for the first time.

  • 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.

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Ref. 7753/54
A very rare, well-preserved, and interesting stainless steel chronograph wristwatch with 15-minute regatta countdown timer

Circa 1970
35mm Diameter
Case, dial, and movement signed.

Estimate
$20,000 - 40,000 
CHF19,900-39,800
€19,200-38,400
HK$157,000-314,000
S$27,900-55,800

Sold for $88,200

Contact Specialist

Paul Boutros

Head of Watches, Americas

+1 (212) 940-1293

WatchesNY@Phillips.com

 

Isabella Proia

Head of Sale, New York

+1 (212) 940 1285

iproia@phillips.com

The New York Watch Auction: SIX

New York Auction 11-12 June 2022