HEUER CALCULATOR CHRONOGRAPH WATCH
£3,750.00
Description
Heuer Calculator, Cool Complications.
Today, while the Breitling Navitimer is probably the best-known mechanical watch with a slide rule bezel, the Heuer Calculator, which hit the market in 1972, is arguably the coolest.
To some degree, until recently the Heuer Calculator was a forgotten legend outside of Heuer aficionados. With the inevitable trickle-down effect of incredulous price jumps of many 1960s and 1970s Heuers, it wasn’t going to take long for the Calculator to be found.
Item description: Heuer Calculator Chronograph watch. Making its debut in 1972, was the Heuer Calculator Chronograph; which as its name implies; was created for those occupations where slide rule style calculations were necessary. This excellent and original example dates from the mid-1970s. Typical stainless steel case with brushed top surfaces and polished sides and back. The case with its satin silver double calculator / slide-rule bezel, with the outer part rotational. The dial in deep blue with Heuer logo and model name. The dial with correct orange sub-dial strips, along with orange hands. Calender at the 6.00 position. Inside of case-back stamped with the Heuer name. Automatic Heuer Cal.12 movement. The watch complete with a black leather 1970s ‘rally’ style strap, along with a polished stainless steel Heuer branded buckle.
Case size: 45mm x 45mm (15.5mm thick)
Condition report: Overall excellent condition. The dial clear free and retaining its characteristic deep blue colour. Likewsie the hands remain in the deep orange colour. The slide-rule ‘ghost’ bezel clean and freely moving. The characters with a pleasant age fading, but all clearly visible. A typical ‘ghost’ bezel much favoured by the buyer who likes the feel of natural aging. The movement particularly clean, and has been recently serviced. The timepiece may have been opened, so it should not be used near moisture or water without being checked by a qualified watchmaker. A lovely example of an original Heuer Calculator Chronograph.
Background to Heuer: The Heuer Watch Company was founded in 1860 by Edouard Heuer. He opened a watchmaking workshop in St-Imier, a village in the Swiss Jura region. Heuer watches soon became recognized for a high level of accuracy and workmanship. By the 1930s, Heuer was specialising in chronographs, and stop watches, becoming known as a producer of timepieces sporting events. Heuer continued with this theme, and by the 1960s had brought out various timepieces for use within the car racing world. Today, Heuer is particularly remembered for their Heuer Monaco model, which was made famous by Steve McQueen when he wore it the 1971 film, Le Mans.
Special notes: Heuer’s slide rule-clad chronograph, was aptly named the Heuer Calculator Chronograph. While the Breitling Navitimer (the 1806 of which shares the same cal.12 movement) is probably the best-known mechanical watch with a slide rule bezel, the Heuer Calculator Chronograph is arguably the coolest. The large external bezel is split, allowing the inner part to stay still while the outside part can be rotated to its correct calculating position. The Heuer Calculator Chronograph was a useful accessory for occupations such as architects, engineering, and aviation.
Provenance: n/a
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