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The largest independent, non-commercial, consumer-oriented resource on the Internet for owners, collectors and enthusiasts of fine wristwatches. Online since 1998. | |||||||
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Vintage Heuer Discussion Forum
The place for discussing 1930-1985 Heuer wristwatches, chronographs and dash-mounted timepieces. Online since May 2003. | ||||||
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Re: OTD -- 5th Anniversary / Feb. 12th / Scan or C Posted By: Babin Jean-Christophe <[email address removed]> Date: 2/7/08 06:35:30 GMT Guys, how often does the CEO of a brand visit a website and ask for input to what their brand should offer? Let's hear some good constructive ideas! In Response To: OTD -- 5th Anniversary / Feb. 12th / Scan or Chat (jeff stein) Dear fans of onthedash. Happy birthday to this fantastic website and Heuer vintage forum. As CEO of TAG Heuer WOW! This rocks! I'm amazed by the passion filtering from the discussions as well as the documentation gathered by onthedash. 5 years ago I had been only 2 years in business with TAG Heuer and we then spent a great deal of time exploring our past with Jack Heuer to identify and capture those glorious pieces of our history which could have been re-edited. We came then with the Autavia Chrono for which we re-developped with Dubois-Depraz a module allowing to position the hour crown at 9:00 like was the Calibre 11 and 12. This was a nicely executed re-imaging of the Vintage Heuer model. I know that if this model had been equipped with an hour register I would have snapped up one of the new models in the Jo Siffert colors. We also introduced the Targa Florio which was derived from an aviator watch from the 40's. Unfortunately, this is another instance when my preference for chronographs equipped with an hour register, and bias towards 2-register chronographs not equipped with an hour register kept me from purchasing a TAG-Heuer Classic model. Now we are ouselves approaching our 150 th anniversary and plan to have a couple of re-editions. If any of you as any suggestions on the Heuer timpieces we could bring back to life for the occasion, I would be only happy and grateful. While I am sure I can talk and type all day on this topic, I'll try to keep specific examples to four things for now, with some follow up ideas... Idea/Example One: ![]() and I also own an example of it's Black dial sibling. I know that Heuer has come out with newer interpretations of the vintage Carrera models, many based on the ETA-DD piggyback module movement, but the Lemania powered original Classic Re-Edition... ![]() Is closest in mindset and heritage to the original Valjoux 72 powered model which Jeff has documented on this wonderful page...: |
In Jeff's comparative pictorial it's plain to see where the 1964 Re-Edition's blood came from. While the movement may be a Lemania, the watch remains true to the original with only modest differences which are important to have [so collector's can easily distinguish an original 1960's Heuer Carrera and the 1990's Re-Edition]. In the nearly six years since Matthias and I posted our collaborative article on the Heuer Carrera's history, I have literally, had many dozens of people enlist my aid in locating an example of the 1990's Re-Edition of the Heuer Carrera. This is a model which appeals to collectors for a number of reasons. Among them: it's closeness to the original, specifically that it displays the Heuer logo and not the more modern TAG-Heuer logo [Perhaps all Classics Re-Editions should have just the Heuer logo, especially on the dial? [!] ], that it has a traditional chronograph movement [not a piggyback module] with good parts supply thanks to Omega's continued use of it in their Speedmaster Moonwatch product line, and because it's a watch which those new to the hobby and old time collectors can meet on common ground and enjoy without completely emptying the college/retirement fund. ![]() and the 510.50x models [510.503 Olive Drab version pictured]: ![]() and here is a TAG-Heuer 510.500/12 version I picked up last year: ![]() ... the problem of Lemania 5100 being discontinued rears it's ugly head, not that Swatch Group would sell that movement to non-Swatch Group companies any more... However, TAG-Heuer can get their hands on the Valjoux/ETA 7750 movement, and indeed makes a variety of Carrera branded models using that movement: ![]() Heuer made a wonderful chronograph back in the day called the "Pasadena":
![]() I also own a Date only version of this watch which is quite similar. In fact, I like this watch so much, it's the watch pictured in the footer of most messages I post in this discussion forum. You'll see a smaller version of this picture at the end of this post... So my idea number two is to produce a Re-Edition of the Stainless Steel 750.500 "Non-Pasadena" Pasadena. I firmly believe if TAG-Heuer was to produce a "Classics" edition of the Stainless "non-"Pasadena with a plain oyster styled bracelet [mine sits on a $20 Oyster-styled bracelet] sans the TAG- portion of the logo at a fair price it would sell like like Hot cakes! Perhaps the tooling for the Pasadena's case survives, if so, it'd be very easy to resume production I would think. The only question is how to differentiate the Re-Edition from the Original Heuer product. Well... Pasadena is a city in Southern California. Heuer had a habit of naming watches after towns or race tracks... On the current NASCAR schedule there are two California tracks: Fontana and Sonoma. There is also a famous race track at Laguna Seca. Oh, last, my favourite Heuer from my personal collection ? A Mareograph from the mid 50's with blue and white dial and internal turning bezel. Waouh ! a great piece. While I was fortunate that I picked up my Heuer made Abercrombe & Fitch Seafarer before the prices on them went through the roof: Again HAPPY BIRTHDAY and thanks for your passion and suggestions Well, thank you sir, for your kind regards and interest! As I'm sure you can see, we are passionate about hour watches and the brand, both Heuer and TAG-Heuer. We know and acknowledge that TAG-Heuer the firm needs to be successful and profitable first before anything else. But beyond that, the goal of any endeavour should be to bring to the fore what one is passionate about. Most, if not all, of us here consider ourselves fans, collectors, advocates and in some instances documenters of the firm's "Family Tree" or bloodline. We would love nothing more than to see more of the firm's heritage be revived and presented in a respectful and high quality way to be offered to the public. What better way is there to enhance the brand than to honor it's past? |
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