Heuer Carrera
Stylish 70s Motor Racing Watch for Sale
Consigned to Wilson 55's Christmas Sale is a wonderful 1970s Heuer Carrera. Purchased in the early 70's by our vendor, this watch is in fantastic condition having been worn only infrequently over fifty years. Complete with original box, this piece presents a rare opportunity to acquire an iconic, sought-after and single-owner wristwatch from the 'Golden Age' of Heuer's production in truly fantastic condition.
The Heuer Carrera
A 1970s Heuer Carrera wristwatch, ref. 73653 S (first edition).
Circa 1970, with first execution silver dial with baton numerals, black subsidiary dials to 3, 6, and 9, tachymeter outer track, pushers to 2 and 4, Valjoux 7736 manual wind movement within a stainless steel case, stamped 156936 and 73653, case diameter 39mm, stainless steel bracelet. With original Heuer case.
Heuer's Carrera was named after the Carrera Panamericana. This legendary and perilous Mexican car race spanned over one thousand miles from the northern to southern borders of Mexico. This sedan rally-racing event only ran for five consecutive years from 1950, ceasing in 1954. Considered to be the most dangerous race in the world, this notorious race cost the lives of 27 drivers - the highest mortality rates per race in the history of motor racing.
The Heuer Autavia was launched in 1962 by Jack Heuer, and this 'Auto Aviation' watch was inextricably linked to motor racing. Purportedly at a racing meet, Heuer met relatives of two of the Mexican drivers of the Carrera Panamericana. The tales of this high octane race captivated him as well as the name, and he designed Heuer's next watch with the name 'Carrera,' Spanish for 'race' in mind. Designed to be a more elegant chronograph than the Autavia, the Carrera had a smaller 36mm case, and boasted a tension ring, triple subregisters and a distinctive black or eggshell white dial.
Throughout the '60s and '70s, various references and variations on the Heuer Carrera were to follow. The most noticeable and stylish evolution of the Carrera took place in 1970 with the release of the reference 73653. This reference visually reflected the style and fashion of the decade, moving from the round, workman-like case of its earlier conceptions, to a streamlined silhouette tonneau-shaped case in a larger 39mm case that balanced the dial and pushers with ease. Movement-wise, the 73653 and early 70s reflected and addressed the need for hand wound movements, and these Valjoux movements were offered as an additional option on all of the Big Three models.
Offered for sale is a rare, 1st edition model of this stand-out reference, featuring an immaculate silver dial with black registers and eye-catching orange chronograph hand. Fitted with a Valjoux cal. 7736 hand wound movement, this impressive and eye-catching chronograph wristwatch represents a key moment in the design trajectory of the Heuer Carrera.
1960s and 70s Heuer Watches at Auction
Arguably, the 'Golden Age' for the Heuer brand was the 1960s and 70s. These two decades saw the leadership of Jack Heuer (director from 1958 to 1982) and under his guidance the 'Big Three' Heuer wristwatches were created and released in relatively short succession. The Autavia launched in 1962, the Carrera launched in 1963 and the Monaco was launched in 1969. These three spectacular racing watches are considered 'Holy Grail' watches to many collectors, and a complete set of these models in early references and good condition marks a real achievement to any sports watch collector.
Reference numbers that sell exceptionally well at auction include:
Autavia:
1163 - The 'Pre - Viceroy' Autavia, featuring a black dial with white sub registers, and red/white or orange/white (Orange Boy) striped hour and minute hands. Launched in 1969 with two other Carrera and Monaco models with the cal. 11 automatic chronograph movement.
1163T - The iconic 'Jo Siffert' Autavia reference, with the famous racer's preferred white dial, black sub registers and blue hands. .
1163V - Launched in 1972 together with a promotion from Viceroy cigarettes, with black dial with white sub registers, and red/white striped hour and minute hands.
2446 - Released in the early 1960s, powered by a Valjoux 72 movement and featuring a smart, monochromatic dial.
2446M - The second execution of the 2446 reference, produced from 1968-9, known as the 'Jochen Rindt' reference - favoured by the 1970 World Champion, black dial, white sub registers and silver hands.
3646 - The 'Andretti' dial, worn by 1978 Formula 1 World Champion Mario Andretti. With black dial, white sub registers, and white sword shaped hands.
73463 - A 1970s reference, black dial with black sub registers and orange hands.
73663 - Launched in 1969, featuring the 'Jo Siffert' dial colours and available in both automatic and manual wind varieties.
11630 - Launched in 1972, with a bright and distinctive silver dial, black sub registers and yellow hands, featuring a chunkier case than previous Autavia models.
Carrera:
1153 - Produced between 1969 and 1974 in various dial colours to launch the Carrera, powered by a cal. 11 automatic movement.
1158H - The 18ct gold Carrera, launched from 1969 and the most expensive Carrera to retail at the time. Gifted to all Ferrari F1 drivers during the 1970s. With a silver dial and sub registers, or a gold tone dial and black sub registers.
2447 - The earliest Carrera with a Valjoux 72 movement, with dial colour variations and earlier examples with an 'Ed Heuer' signed movement.
2448 - With a gold plated case, and silver or black dial, sold alongside the 18ct and steel references, same movement as the ref. 2447.
2547 - Known as the 'Dato 12' reference, this complicated Carrera is powered by a Valjoux 723 movement and features day and date apertures to 12, with larger lugs to the case. Produced between 1969 and 1971.
3147 - This Carrera Dato was launched in 1966, powered by a Landeron 189 movement, released with a silver dial or black dial with white sub-register
3647 - Variety of dial colours, no contrasting dials in this reference, powered by a Valjoux 92 movement, with a 45 minute register at 3, and variations in scales on the outer track.
7753 - Replaced the reference 3647 in the late 60s, powered by the Valjoux 7730 movment, with a 30 minute register at 3 and available in a variety of dial colours.
73653 - The 73653 moved the Carrera into the 1970s, with a new, curved and streamlined case, powered by a Valjoux 7736 movement, dial variations included a blue dial with white subregisters, and a silver dial with blacks subregisters.
110.573 - Another 1970s reference with the curved tonneau case, date aperture to 6, metallic blue dial and subregisters and orange hands.
Skipperera 7753/4- Designed for use on yachts and feauring navy dials with yachting colours of orange and green to the subsidiary dials.
Monaco:
1133 - Launched in 1969 to launch the cal.11 automatic chronograph movement, together with the Carrera 1153 and the Autavia 1163. Powered by the cal 11, 11i and 12 movements, the 1133 was released in two dial variations, the 1133B with blue dial, white subregisters and red accents, and the 1133G with grey dial and subregisters, and red accents.
1533 - Launched in 1972, with the same case as the 1133 but powered by a cal. 15 movement, with a metallic blue and silver dial and red accents.
73633 - Released in 1974 as Heuer were introducing manual wind options to the automatic Monaco line. Powered by the Valjoux 7736 movement, with blue (73633B) or gray (73633G) dial variations.
74033 - Released in the 1974, with a slimmer case than the 1133. The 74033N, or 740303 is known as the 'Dark Lord' by collectors, with a black dial and within a black PVD coated case - these models are exceptionally rare, with an estimated 100-200 ever produced, as such is incredibly sought-after by collectors.
If you are in possession of any of these sought-after Heuer models, we want to hear from you! The market for these watches is particularly strong, and our specialist team are here to help you achieve the best price possible for your collection. In 2020, we sold a sought-after Heuer Autavia 'Jo Siffert' wristwatch ref. 1163 dating to 1972 - this eye-catching piece sold for £6,100. Read more about the Jo Siffert Heuer Autavia watch here.
For further information on the lot featured, or for a confidential and up-to-date auction valuation of your own watch collection, contact our specialist Liz Bailey MA FGA DGA CPAA via liz.bailey@wilson55.com.
