Heuer Carrera 2447NST

Why We Love It

A Heuer Carrera from the 1960s is without question one of the most desirable vintage watches. In any color, in any configuration, its long clean lines are elegant and irresistible. But it’s perhaps with the white-on-black dial of the Reference 2447NST that the watch’s beauty is best viewed.

From its very inception, the Carrera was meant to break the mold set by Heuer’s earlier chronographs. Like the Autavia, the first watch that Jack Heuer had a hand in creating, the Carrera was intended to be a racing watch. But rather than rely on the tried-and-true to create the Carrera, Jack Heuer sought to create something entirely new, drawing inspiration from the work of masters of modern design.

In his student years, Jack Heuer had been inspired by the revolutionary work of Charles-Édouard Jeanneret. History would know Jeanneret as Le Corbusier, the pioneer of modern architecture (and himself a native of La Chaux-de-Fonds, the sleepy Swiss village in which Heuer’s factory was located). Le Corbusier’s concern—one might almost say obsession—with functionality was apparent in his work, which became known for its minimalism.

“Why call bottles, chairs, baskets and objects decorative?” Le Corbusier declared, in reaction to the prevailing Art Deco style of the day, which he deemed to be too fussy. “They are useful tools. Decor is not necessary.”

Clearly, one can see the correlation between Le Corbusier’s beliefs and Jack Heuer’s design of the Carrera. Jack Heuer had detested the most common components of chronographs, namely the telemeter or tachymeter scales, in the belief that they cluttered the dial unnecessarily. In fact, he had wanted to leave them out of the Carrera altogether; however, he saw the potential to clean up the dial by printing the scales on a steel tension ring, patented by a crystal manufacture in the early 1960s.

And in regards to the dial, it was available in a variety of different configurations and colors, from the black-on-black of the Reference 2447N to the sleek (but never sterile) silver of the Reference 3647S featured here.

But it’s those configurations in which black and white are combined that collectors’ eyes are drawn to—like this Reference 2447NST featured here.

This particular Reference 2447NST features a 2nd execution dial and a tachymeter scale. It’s certainly an eye-catching piece, from the dial to the sharp bevels of the lugs. Taken as a cohesive whole, the Carrera’s elegant minimalism—like Le Corbusier’s designs—remains evergreen.

The Story

The Carrera was one of Jack Heuer’s most passionate projects, and his design ethos for this watch can be summed up in one word: legibility. Jack wanted a watch that was stylish and functional, a watch that gives you everything you need and nothing you don’t. From the sharp bevels on the case to the artful openness of the dial, it's become a classic. 

In designing the Carrera, Heuer finally created something that was entirely his, and is without question the chronograph that is most associated with him. He incorporated a tension ring around the edge of the dial, and printed the tachymeter track on it. Heuer's obsession with legibility led to a dial design that was simpler to read than the Omega Speedmaster or the Rolex Daytona (released the same year as the Carrera).

What resulted was a chronograph that gave only the most necessary bits of information, with plain baton markers: clean, uncluttered, undeniably attractive.  

Our Pledge

Analog:Shift stands behind the authenticity of our products in perpetuity.

Condition

Since our pieces are vintage or pre-owned, please expect wear & patina from usage and age. Please read each item description and examine all product images.

Warranty

We back each Analog:Shift vintage timepiece with a one-year mechanical warranty from the date of purchase.

International Buyers

Please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.

All of our watches include complementary insured shipping within the 50 states.

Most of our products are on hand and will ship directly from our headquarters in New York City. In some cases, watches will be shipped directly from one of our authorized partners.

We generally ship our products via FedEx, fully insured, within 5 business days of purchase. An adult signature is required for receipt of all packages for insurance purposes. Expedited shipping is available at an additional cost. We are also happy to hand deliver your purchase in Manhattan or you may pick it up at our showroom.

Returns must be sent overnight or by priority international delivery, fully insured and paid for by the customer. A restocking fee may apply. Watches must be returned in the same condition as initially shipped.

We welcome international buyers, please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.