Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces

Monaco, Jul 19, 2022

LOT 177

HEUER
REF. 11630, SELF-WINDING, CHRONOGRAPH, "AUTAVIA" SO-CALLED “ORANGE BOY”; STAINLESS STEEL

EUR 3,000 - 5,000

USD 3,200 - 5,300 / HKD 24,800 - 41,400 / CHF 3,100 - 5,100

Fine and rare, stainless steel, self-winding, "tonneau"-shaped, chronograph wristwatch with black dial, 2 registers and date.


Grading System
Grade: AA

Very good

Case: 2-8

Very good

Slightly scratched

Movement: 2*

Very good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense

Dial: 2-01

Very good

HANDS Original

Brand Heuer, Switzerland

Model "Autavia"

Reference 11630

Year 1971

Case No.  260 132

Material stainless steel

Bracelet leather strap

Buckle stainless steel buckle

Diameter 42 mm.

Caliber 12

Signature dial, case and movement

Accessories -

Notes

Heuer, “Autavia”

The history of Heuer and car racing goes back to 1933 when Heuer designed the first on-board counter for racing cars and aircraft. Taking its name from a combination of its target markets (AUTomotive and AVIAtion), the “Autavia” wristwatch was unveiled in 1962 and was the first new model (a wrist-chronograph with a rotating bezel) launched under the guidance of the company’s then-new CEO, Jack Heuer.

As proof of this desire to associate the brand with the racing world, Jack Heuer was the first sponsor of Formula one. The Autavia was worn by the greatest motor racing champions such as Jo Siffert, Mario Andretti and Jochen Rindt. It was also associated to the military world, some of them being issued to the Kenyan Air Force.

The “Autavia” embodies the brand’s motor racing spirit; initially a dashboard timer, the “Autavia” became a wristwatch in 1962 and was at the heart of the Heuer range until 1985.

The “Autavia” is hugely popular with collectors today, especially the first-generation models from the 1960’s, which are powered by manual-winding Valjoux movements. Heuer’s own “Chronomatic” movement was introduced in 1969 along with a totally new case design.

The Ref. 11630 belongs to the third generation of “Autavia”, produced from late-1972, succeeding to Ref. 1163 which was launched in 1969. This particular model featuring an orange 30-minute counter (subsidiary dial at 3 o’clock) was nicknamed by the collectors “orange boy”. This orange colour combined with the “tonneau”-shape case make it an iconic chronograph of the 1970s.