Hi all, had to move the pix around in Photobucket, so the links got severed to my messages here. You can see the whole album of my Autavia picks here:

http://s688.photobucket.com/albums/vv241/bartbrn/Heuer%20Autavia/

Note: if there's a partially-underlined link and it doesn't work, copy the entire link (from the beginning "http://s688" all the way to the end "Heuer%20Autavia/") and paste in your browser's URL address window.

Sorry for any inconvenience!

Cheers!

Bart Brown

: For sale is my 1970/71 Heuer Autavia Chronograph, which is a
: Three-Register, Manual Wind 2446MH, with an "MH" bezel
: and Valjoux 72 17-jewel Movement in a Second Execution 2446C
: snap-back case. I am the second owner of this watch, and have
: had it for about 38 years (the original owner owned it less than
: a year, trading it in on a Seiko sometime in 1972). I haven't
: worn it for years (for reasons I detailed in my messages in the
: OnTheDash discussion forum), which is one reason it's in such
: remarkable condition. The other reason is that I have a good
: friend who is a master watchmaker, from whom I bought the watch.
: He serviced this watch completely just before I bought it, again
: about 18 years ago, and finally just a few weeks ago. It is a
: beautiful example of the Heuers being made just before the
: transition to the modular-movement automatics. The bracelet is a
: beautiful Gay & Freres Steelinox "Reiskorn"
: (Grain-of-Rice) Stahlband, with Heuer-embossed clasp.

: When I had pictures of the watch on the OnTheDash forum , looking
: for a ball-park value, forum member Arno Michael Haslinger,
: author of "Heuer Chronographs: Fascination of Timekeepers
: and Motor Sports 1960s|1970s" (Callwey Munich 2008), was
: kind enough to leave some highly informative comments, as there
: was some discussion about the various details of my watch:

: "Your watch can be found in the 1970/71 Heuer catalog on page
: 10.4 bottom left, see catalogs onthedash.

: The compressor case housing the original Val 72 movement (have a
: look at the signature under the balance) is time period correct
: and was the successor of the screw down case used on earlier
: Autavias. It has a snap back mechanism and was sealing itself
: due to different outer and inner pressures whilst diving.

: The bridge is signed Heuer-Leonidas, which is the correct signature
: after the merger of Ed Heuer to Heuer-Leonidas late 1964.

: The dial is period correct (possibly from 1969 as the little T is
: still present) showing the correct later generation markers.

: The red chronograph hand corresponds with the red marks on the
: outer 1/5 second rail.

: 1970 was a transition period for minute and hour hands therefore
: the all steel ones as well as the steel with black inserts were
: used.

: The hands on your watch look well original and the match of patina
: between hands and dial luminous inserts are obvious.

: 
The MH bezel is original with the little teeth at the edges to
: ease turning with gloves.

: 
The Heuer signed crown is period correct and was slightly
: enlarged versus earlier Autavia models, fluted pushers are good.

: The 145xxx number is an indication for late 69 or early 70 case
: production run, hence your watch could be well completed and
: sold around mid to late 70s, which would correspond with the
: date of the Gay Freres bracelet [3d quarter of 1970 -- BB].

: The case and horns look pretty sharp, angled surfaces still intact,
: maybe a very gentle polish in the past, hard to say from these
: rather dark pictures."

: (thank you, Arno)

: The only negative I must comment upon is the outside condition of
: the presentation case: while the inside is as good as it looks
: in the photo, the glue with which the outside "fabric"
: is attached to the metal case (brass, I believe), has given up
: the ghost in spots over the past 40 years, leaving an even more
: mottled appearance than the original fabric's pattern. I believe
: a specialist could easily re-glue the outside "fabric"
: to the box, but whether it would completely bring back the
: original color, I can't say. Perhaps someone on the forum with
: experience in these things could comment.

: Other than that, it's an exceptionally handsome chronograph (that
: also keeps exceptionally good time!) in very nice condition. I
: am asking $US2400.00 for the watch, bracelet and presentation
: case. I live in the State of Connecticut in the USA, and can be
: contacted through the ChronoTrader or OnTheDash Forum.