Heuer Price Guide

Price Guide to Vintage Heuer Timepieces

This Price Guide provides information regarding vintage Heuer Chronos and other timepieces. We present two lists -- an A List and a B List -- with each of these lists further divided into three groupings (Triple [AAA], Double [AA], Single [A], BBB, BB, B, etc.). The "Values" presented are estimates of current market prices for excellent samples of the timepieces, as described in the Notes below.

Values are as follows, as of February 2006:

Values for the "A List"
AAA	above $3500
AA	between $3,000 and $3,500
A	between $2,500 and $3,000
Values for the "B List"
BBB	between $2,200 and $2,500
BB	between $1,800 and $2,200
B	between $1,500 and $1,800

In this Price Guide, we have three tiers within the A List (AAA, AA, A) and three tiers within the B List (BBB, BB, B). There are differences in values between the six tiers -- this is the purpose of creating the six tiers. We do not distinguish between the values of watches within a particular tier. Accordingly, the order in which the watches are presented within a tier does not reflect a distinction between values, and ordering within any of the six tiers is entirely random.

These estimates of Value are approximations, based on recently observed transactions. The market for many of these timepieces is relatively "thin", so much so that it is difficult to estimate prices with any precision. In this era of ebay, if two or three bidders are willing to "pay whatever it takes" to buy a particular watch, the result will likely be a sudden spike in the price for that watch. Similarly, a fine sample of a watch may not reach its estimated value under the particular circumstances of a sale. In this Price Guide, we attempt to reflect current market prices, with a view to predictable, stable values over the longer-term.

In terms of its coverage, this Price Guide covers watches that a collector may have a reasonable chance of acquiring, within a reasonable time period (say, within one year of active looking). There are many additional Heuers that would fit within the price ranges of the two Lists; however, we include a watch in the Lists only if a reasonably diligent collector could expect to find a sample over the course of one year. Yes, the enamel Chrono from the 1910's would be on the A List; no, it is not included, as we attempt to keep this Price Guide to a useful size, with the price estimates supported by multiple transactions in the market.

The SPY Rating is based on "Samples Per Year" (SPY), being an estimate of the number of samples that a diligent collector might expect to find in a year -- searching the internet (ebay and major dealer websites) and the traditional vintage watch dealers. The SPY Ratings reflect all reasonable samples that a collector might find over the course of a year, not merely the samples that are in such excellent condition that they would earn a watch its highest ranking in the Price Guide. For example, we might see 25 decent Silverstones in a year; only 10 of these might be in the excellent condition required to earn the Silverstone its AA rating ($3,000 to $3,500) in the Price Guide.

Additional Notes:

condition is assumed to be excellent or near mint; not NOS or mint, but a very fine example; dial must be flawless (or near flawless, for some older models); some light wear to the case is acceptable
rankings/values assume that the watch is on original strap or bracelet (except for the older watches that came on leather straps, few of which have survived), but does not have the original box and papers (which would command a premium).
the models listed in the Price Guide are assumed to be odinary production models; prototypes or extremely rare variations can be expected to sell for a premium.

The Values suggested in this Price Guide are my own approximations, based on my watching the market on a regular basis over a period of years. Prices of some versions have been relatively stable over the years; others have fluctuated considerably. We hope that this Price Guide will be a dynamic document, changing from time to time to reflect activity in the market. There will likely be some controversy regarding the ratings assigned to some watches; there may be outrage that certain watches are included or excluded from the A List and the B List. Please send you comments or suggestions to onthedash@bellsouth.net.

The "A List"
[AAA=above $3,500; AA=$3,500~$3,000; A=$3,000~$2,500]

Tier Watch Description/SPY Rating Comments

AAA (Value above $3,500)

AAA Monaco Automatic
(Ref. 1133)

plus for blue w/white registers (McQueen)

SPY=80 (total blue & gray)

big premium for the black PVD

McQueens are the design icons -- relatively plentiful, but still expensive; beware of newly-minted black PVDs

AAA Rally-Master Pair
Dashboard Timers
(Master Time and Monte Carlo)

plus for early pair (three-button Monte Carlo and 3-6-9-12 Master Time)

any decent Master pair makes the A List; the best early pairs join the AAA List

AAA Triple Calendar Moonphase Chrono

the 50's version (not later re-issues)

SPY=1

we see one per year; if you want it and find it, better grab it

AA ($3,000 to $3,500)

AA Carrera 12 Dato
(contrasting registers)

black dial with white registers/SPY=2

big premium for silver dial with black registers/SPY=0.3

big savings if you are satisfied with the Zodiac or Clebar "Poor Man's" versions

AA Monaco Manual Wind (Ref. 73663)

charcoal gray dial

plus for blue with white registers/SPY=12

add $700 to $1,000 premium for the blue; beware of fakes in the blues

AA Monaco Automatic
(Ref. 1533)

plus for blue dial/SPY=4

silverburst dial/SPY=10

blue dials are scarce

AA Silverstone
(Ref. 110.313)

plus for the blue version

SPY=25 (total for all colors)

most agree that blue dials are most collectible

AA Carrera 12 --
Black on White
(Ref. 2447SN)

silver dial with black registers

SPY=6

a couple of these broke the $3500 mark; now seem to have settled closer to $3,000

A ($2,500 to $3,000)

A Carrera 12
White on Black

black dial with white registers

SPY=4

A Abercrombie & Fitch
Seafarer
(Screw-Back)

screw-back versions made from early 1950's through 1968

SPY=10

these were often exposed to the sea and the sun; pristine survivors are scarce

A First Execution Autavia; Three-Register (Ref. 2446)

three large registers make this one unique among the Autavias

SPY=3

the very first Autavias; these often show some aging; the clean ones are very scarce

A "Siffert" Autavia
(Ref. 1163T)

2nd or 3rd versions/SPY=15

premium for the Chronomatic version/SPY=0.3

A Carrera Automatic, 18 Karat Gold
(Ref. 1158CHN)

SPY=6

many collectors won't even look at a gold Heuer; still, patient sellers can expect to bag at least $2,500

The "B List"
[BBB=$2,200~$2,500; BB=$1,800~$2,000; B=$1,800~$1,500]

Tier Watch Description/SPY Rating Comments

BBB ($2,200 to $2,500)

BBB Autavia GMT -- Automatic

Ref. 1163, Ref. 11630 & Ref. 11063 -- they all make the list

SPY=20 (total for all versions)

all three versions are toward the top of the B List; the earlier the model, the higher the price

BBB Triple Calendar Chrono

silver, copper or black dial

SPY=12 (total for all versions)

black seems to be the scarcest; watch for refinished dials

BBB Carrera 12 Dato
(white-on-white)

SPY=10

bargain hunters will be very happy with the Clebar

BBB Heuer Mareographe

SPY=2.0

same as Seafarer or Solunagraph, but the Heuer is very rare

BB ($1,800 to $2,200)

BB Autavia GMT -- Manual Wind

snap-back case is the standard/SPY=15

screw-back case is rarer/ SPY=2

the red/blue bezel is the key; show me the bezel, and I'll tell you the value

BB Carrera 12 --
three registers
(Ref. 2447)

white-on-white is the standard

plus for black-on-black

one of the "design icons" of the Heuer world; this is the reference point for the BB rating

BB Super Autavia
Dashboard Chrono

earlier versions may have higher values

SPY=15

a true chrono for the dashboard; parts scarce for the early ones, so be careful

BB Carrera Automatic
(Ref. 1153)

dark dial (1153N) or silver dial (1153S)

SPY=40 (total for both colors)

one of the big gainers of 2005

BB Autavia Diver 100 -- Automatic

SPY=2

the top dog among the non-GMT automatic Autavias

BB Three-Register Chrono
50's or early 60's

Valjoux 71 or 72

SPY=20

pre-Carrera, so no name on the dial; beware of the fakes

BB Flieger Chrono --
1935 to 1945

one and two-button versions both make the list

SPY=2

a very thin market, so prices can fluctuate considerably; same watch may fetch $1,200 one month / $2,500 the next

B ($1,500 to $1,800)

B+ Bundeswehr Flyback Chrono

must have "3H" to make the list

SPY=30

once again, the premium goes to the early version

B Master Time
Dashboard Clock

three versions (early, late or 24-hour)

SPY=25 (total for all versions)

just a simple clock; fairly common, but fairly valuable

B Abercrombie Seafarer or Orvis Solunagraph

snap-back version (2446C case)

SPY=10 (total for all versions)

call these the "Poor Man's Mareographes"

B Verona

makes the list with any color combination

SPY=12

black dial is preferred by most collectors; two-tone adds "bling" but not any additional value

B Silverstone
(Ref. 510.403)

Lemania 5100 powered Silverstone

SPY=4

the TV-shaped Silverstone makes the Single B List

B Audi Sport Chrono

SPY=3

specially issued for Audi dealers; favorite among Audi rally enthusiasts

B Italian Air Force (AMI) Chrono
(Ref. 510.543)

Lemania 5100 powered

SPY=8

watch ebay Italy to find one of these; save some money if you will settle for the Lemania

B Carrera 45
(two register)

plus for contrasting dial / registers

SPY=12

any good manual-wind Carrera makes at least the Single B List

B Carrera Automatic -- Black PVD
(Ref. 510.511)

SPY=8

available in black PVD and stainless; only the PVD makes the B List

B Montreal
(Cal 12. Mvmnt)

white dial or black PVD case

SPY=

the blue ones don't quite make the B List

B Camaro 12 (Three Registers)

plus for the black registers on silver dial

SPY=30 (all three-register versions)

a strong gainer in 2005, went from $1200 to $1800 in a few days; haven't come down since

B Autavia, Three-Register
(Ref. 2446C)

snap-back case

one of the standards

B Pocket Chrono
Ref. 11204

SPY=12

split-second pocket chrono in the red or black leather case