:
: It is just past midnight, here in the eastern
: time zone of the US, and so far we have two
: Scan Day messages -- one about a
: newly-arrived jacket and the other about a
: newly-arrived camera. So maybe it's time for
: a story about a watch?

: Let's start with the story, and then well show
: a couple of photos.

: Several months ago, I received an e-mail
: message from an OnTheDash reader, which read
: in part as follows: ". . . I also
: would like to donate a Heuer Cortina to a
: good home. It is complete but in need of a
: few repairs. . . . I can send it to you and
: then it is your decision to keep it or
: distribute it elsewhere. I have never liked
: the shape of this watch and do not intend to
: ever use it again, so someone else should
: have it. At any rate I would wish to be an
: anonymous donor." Amazing!! Here was
: someone who I knew only from an occasional
: e-mail; he had purchased this Cortina new,
: approximately 25 years ago; now he wanted to
: donate the watch to a "good
: home"!! Well, this particular home is
: rather old (built in 1932) and rather busy
: (with five kids), but in terms of the Heuer
: chronos, there would be plenty of them keep
: the Cortina company and all of them are
: treated well.

: It turns out that there were only two
: conditions to my receiving this gift. I
: agreed to keep the identity of the donor
: confidential. I agreed that if I ever was
: ready to get rid of this Cortina, rather
: than selling it, I would give it to another
: good home. Of course, I was thrilled to
: accept the watch on these terms, and my
: "anonymous donor" would not even
: allow me to pay for the shipping.

: I had never actually seen a Cortina "in
: the metal", and as I waited to receive
: the watch, I made a decision: if I didn't
: really like the Cortina, I wouldn't keep it,
: just because it came to me at no cost. After
: all, to be in a "good home", the
: Cortina would need to be cherished and
: admired (and worn).

: When the Cortina arrived, it was love at first
: sight. I tend to be a minimalist --
: preferring markers to numerals, preferring a
: standard dial to one with a tachy scale, and
: preferring black and white to colors (most
: days). To my eye, the Cortina is one of
: Heuer's most beautiful designs. Simple,
: clean lines, with a couple of angles added
: for fun, and a sporty (and very comfortable)
: bracelet.

: After I received the Cortina, I sent it away
: for an overhaul. It came back during the
: summer, and with that it takes its place as
: my favorite arrival of the summer of 2004.

: Thanks again to my "anonymous donor".
: The Cortina seems to be adapting well to its
: new surroundings, with plenty of Heuers to
: keep it company when it's at home and plenty
: of wrist-time to get around town and enjoy
: some fresh air (and admiring glances).

: Jeff

Wonderful story! Fantastic looking shape. who did the case refinish Looks great! Glad the Heuer has a good home.
Peter

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