Heuer Oversized Chronograph

Why We Love It When it comes to vintage Heuer, anything that doesn’t have Carrera or Autavia on the dial might not get the attention it deserves. But we want to change that.  Heuer’s been around for so long, and done so much, that it’s a shame to ignore all the wonderful watches that they’ve released in their impressive century of history. This gorgeous gilt chrono is a perfect example. The 38mm steel case is, though large for the time, the perfect size for the modern collector. The inky gloss black dial is set off by the gilt print, the hue of which is echoed in the luminescent elements which have taken on a perfectly rich patina. When you factor in the elegant column wheel movement, what you get is nothing short of a mid-century masterpiece from a brand that does chronographs best. The Story Heuer is an old brand with a history spanning a century, but truly did not hit its stride until the years immediately before and following the Second World War. It was a period of great growth for the manufacture—freed from the privations of the war, the company was able to increase production. But the war’s influence was felt in other ways. The restrictions put on precious metals during the war, as well as the necessity of fulfilling military contracts, heavily affected watch designs. That influence could still be felt in the post-war years. Once freed from military contracts, many manufactures—Heuer included—were able to apply what they learned during the war years on watches that they produced for civilians. With sturdy 'waterproof' cases and robust internals, these watches are the aesthetic forebears of the Carrera. Moreover, this similarity has led collectors to refer to them as “pre-Carreras.” With large steel cases and robust mechanical movements, they have stood the test of time and will continue to do so for many years to come.