HEUER.
AN EXTREMELY RARE MEN'S 18K YELLOW GOLD MANUAL CHRONOGRAPH WRISTWATCH

Model: Carrera 12 First Execution
Date: Circa 1964's
Case reference: 2446
Movement: Signed, Heuer-Leonidas SA, 17-Jewels, Cal. Valjoux 72
Dial: Signed, white with a beautiful tropical patina, gilt applied baton hour markers, gilt sword hands, black outer minutes division, gilt centre seconds hand for chronograph, subsidiary dial for seconds at the 9 o'clock position, subsidiary dial for chronograph minutes at the 3 o'clock position, subsidiary dial chronograph hours at the 6 o'clock position
Case: Signed, polished 18K yellow gold, screw-down back, No. 100XXX
Strap: Black
Size: 35.2mm

This watch is an extremely rare 18K yellow gold example of the Carrera 12 First Execution, reference 2456, a limited production dating to the beginning of 1963. After the Autavia, this is the second watch of Heuer to be given a name. This model is a superb example of sport chronograph, straight from the Golden Age of motorsports and mechanical watches, belonging to the family of 1960s chronographs, all featuring a strong racing pedigree. The name was conceived by Jack Heuer as a tribute to the famous Mexican cross-country “Carrera Panamericana” car race of the 1950s and the watch was designed to be an effective and easy-to-read chronograph able to track up to 12 hours.

In the same year the Carrera debuted, another chronograph, the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona, was released. The two watches initially shared many features. They were both powered by nearly identical Valjoux 72 movements, while the Singer-made dials featured almost the same baton hour markers, machine registers and numerals. A clear distinction, however, was evident in the design of the Carrera bezel. Jack Heuer originally had the idea to paint the inside on the angled torsion ring developed in the early 1960s, as a means of securing the crystal whilst concurrently providing more water resistance. This quality together with a polished case and bevelled lugs typical of Heuer and made by Piquerez, make the design of the Carrera an effective and easy-to-read watch, ensuring that, despite the similarities, the Carrera differed from its Rolex cousin. Even if the Daytona is more famous, both models left their mark on later chronographs and the Carrera became with time an icon in its own right thanks to its classical design and functionality, inspiring generations of future watches.

In our watch, the incredibly rare white dial with gilt baton hour markers and hands with luminous inserts is enhanced by a beautiful tropical patina, while the 3 recessed subsidiary dials look stunning with guilloche centres. This is all elegantly encased within a 35mm polished 18K yellow gold case inspired by the modernist architecture of the 1960s featuring a screw-down back, large chronograph pushers and a signed crown made for being handled while wearing gloves. Powering the watch is the legendary 17-jewel Valjoux 72 manual movement signed “Heuer-Leonidas SA” ensuring the continued reliability of the timepiece.

Thanks to its rarity and collectable nature, this watch is a highly desirable addition to any collection and it should be especially appealing for the collectors of vintage sports chronographs.