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Original iconic and timeless stainless steel 36mm ‘First execution’ HEUER “Carrera 12” model, Ref. 2447 S, powered by famous Cal. Valjoux 72 manual winding chronograph wristwatch, SN: 63083, made circa 1965.
The Heuer Carrera was launched in 1963. Two executions were produced over a period of 7 years. The present watch is known as later “first execution” Carrera. The earliest Carreras have certain characteristics like all-polished, matchstick style narrower hands, unsigned crowns, long applied markers on the dial and “Swiss” only marked inside the hours sub counter at 6 o’clock. This particular watch has all those attributes, but with “T Swiss” on the dial. The letter “T” indicating the use of tritium and Heuer would start using the “T” on the dial in 1965. So this watch it can be considered a later version of the first execution of the watch, made in 1965. The second generation has shorter steel markers with black colored inset with black colored steel hands with luminous tips. The movement and case back of the watch are signed “Heuer-Leonidas”. Comes on a black perforated new old stock leather strap to complete the look. This watch is available the first time on the market, I bought it from the original owner, who bought it directly from Heuer in the middle of 1960s in Geneva.
The name Carrera is a tribute to the Carrera Panamericana, an automobile race on open roads in Mexico that ran from 1950 to 1954 and was considered the most dangerous and deadly of car races at the time. With the Carrera, Jack Heuer wanted to design a chronograph with excellent skills, on land, under water and in the air, as it was advertised in 1960s “Flighttime, traveltime, observation time etc can be precisely recorded up to 12 hours“.
Case: Two-body, polished and brushed, screwed-down case back, inclined bezel, lapidated/faceted lugs. Dial: ‘First execution’, silver with applied baton indices with luminous accents, outer 1/5th second divisions, subsidiary dials at 3, 6 and 9 for constant seconds, 30 minute and 12 hour recording, silvered pointed baton hands with luminous inserts, black centre chronograph hand. Movement: Cal. Valjoux 72, rhodium-plated, 17 jewels, straight line lever escapement, monometallic balance, shock-absorber, self compensating flat balance spring. Dial, case and movement are signed. Diam. 36mm.
Age related condition with traces of wear. Watch is in overall very good condition 8/10, running and ready to wear or gift!