Heuer Camaro Dato Exotic Tropical

The Heuer Camaro is the unsung hero of Heuer’s classic motorsports collection. Its unusual case design, coupled with the fact that it never received the "new fangled" Chronomatic movements, ensured that its production run was short, showing in catalogs from 1968-1972 only. Surviving examples don’t receive as much attention as its chronograph cousins, the Carrera and the Autavia—from collectors or from the brand itself, who’ve recently reissued the Autavia after it lay dormant for thirty years.

However, rather than detract from the Camaro’s desirability, its relative obscurity only increases it in our eyes.

It has a distinctive style—as unique as the other "square" Heuer -- the Monaco. While the Monaco's case is all sharp, beveled edges, the Camaro is a softened cushion with straight lugs. Thinner (and much more comfortable on the wrist), it wears larger than its 37mm would suggest, and its variance of finishing—polishing on the sides, brush finishing on the top—makes it visually arresting from any angle.

And some examples, like the one we feature here, have dials that give the watch added depth.

While many Camaros have black dials that turn tropical over time, some references of Camaro also have splashes of color. An orange chronograph hand, perhaps, that contrasts with the white hour markers. Heuer experimented with different colored hands, often alternating in the same watch, which results in a configuration that collectors have dubbed “exotic.”

This particular Camaro is a Reference 73443. Powered by the Valjoux Calibre 7734 workhorse chronograph movement, it has a date display—seen here at 6 o’clock. The sweeping chronograph hand, as well as the hand in the 30-minute counter at 3 o’clock, are a bright, vibrant orange.

Production numbers on these exotic dial Camaros are vague, but there’s no question they’re scarce, rarely seen, and get snapped up as soon as they appear.

With a case as sharp as the dial looks, this Camaro has it all. The dial has mellowed to a deep chocolate brown, which contrasts delightfully with the bright orange hands. The variance of finishing is echoed in the fluted pushers. Undoubtedly unusual, it’s weird in the right way, with the artfully-mismatched hands giving it a character that’s all its own. Furthermore, this particular watch comes complete with its original papers and self addressed envelope, completed and dated for the original owner in 1971 in Zurich. For lovers of unusual 1960s/1970s chronographs, it’s not to be missed.

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