Heuer Carrera First Execution

As far as we're concerned, a vintage Heuer Carrera is about as cool a chronograph as money can buy.

From its inception, the Carrera was meant to break the mould 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 tried-and-true engineering and design language to create the Carrera, Jack Heuer sought to introduce 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.

This example, a Reference 2447N, features the classic - arguably perfectly- proportioned 35mm case and uncluttered dial that expresses that minimalist design language brilliantly. Fitted with barrel pushers, a domed acrylic crystal and a noir, or black, dial that houses applied beveled indices and a triple register chronograph display. It features all the hallmarks of a late ‘first-execution’ Carrera which include a polished, ‘matchstick’ handset, an unsigned crown, silver printing and ‘ T Swiss’ located in the 6 o'clock sub register.

Powered by a Valjoux 72 manual-winding movement, this example features an exceptional case and a very honest dial with light patination throughout. It comes fitted to a black perforated leather rallye-style strap with a signed stainless steel buckle.

Taken as a cohesive whole, the first servies Carrera’s elegant minimalism—like Le Corbusier’s designs—remains evergreen.

In 1962, Jack Heuer inherited the company that his great-grandfather had founded in Saint-Imier nearly a century before.

He had already played a role in the design of some timepieces, starting with the Solunar in the late 1940s. But in 1962, the responsibility of running the company fell on his shoulders, and he found himself faced with the daunting task of safeguarding his ancestor’s legacy while at the same time forging his own. His chosen path? Moving into a line of technical instruments for use in sporting and transportation applications.

The Heuer name was not unknown in motor racing and aviation circles. Starting in 1911, when the sport of automobile racing was still in its infancy, the company produced dashboard clocks for cars, boats, and even airplanes. Jack Heuer, a longtime racing aficionado, saw an opportunity to revitalize — or at the very least, to reexamine — the company’s already-successful line of chronographs.

He had first tried his hand with the Autavia, which at the time of his succession was a stopwatch with a virtually illegible dial. In its place he launched the line of Autavia wrist chronographs, the first line of chronographs produced by Heuer to be named, rather than simply numbered. The Autavia was purpose-built for racers and pilots, and attracted the attention of Formula 1 racers and devotees such as Jochen Rindt and Steve McQueen.

In designing the Carrera in 1963, Jack Heuer created something that was entirely his, and is without question the chronograph that is most associated with the brand today. 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 with plain baton markers that gave only the most necessary bits of information — clean, uncluttered, undeniably attractive.

The brand grew to become a powerhouse in chronographs in particular, and the list of famous designs from the 1960s and 1970s can’t be counted on two hands. However, one innovation from 1969 deserves particular mention: the famed Caliber 11. This caliber (and its successors) was the result of a multinational race to build the world’s first automatic chronograph movement. It would go on to power the famed Monaco — made famous by actor Steve McQueen — as well as automatic versions of the Autavia, Carrera and more.

Falling on hard times in the wake of the Quartz Crisis, Heuer was ultimately purchased by Technique Avant Garde (TAG), and subsequently by Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessey, who brought the brand into the modern age. Early TAG Heuer quartz divers from the 1980s have found newfound appreciation in collector’s circles, while the brand’s modern catalog is a mix of vintage-inspired reissues and unique collections, such as the Connected smartwatch line.

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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.

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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.