The largest independent, non-commercial, consumer-oriented resource on the Internet for owners, collectors and enthusiasts of fine wristwatches. Online since 1998.
Informational Websites ChronoMaddox -- the legacy of Chuck Maddox OnTheDash -- vintage Heuer website Zowie -- Omega information
Discussion Forums ChronoMaddox Forum Heuer Forum Omega Forum
Counterfeit Watchers ChronoTools Forum ChronoTrader Forum
Vintage Heuer Discussion Forum
The place for discussing 1930-1985 Heuer wristwatches, chronographs and dash-mounted timepieces. Online since May 2003.
OnTheDash Home What's New! Price Guide Chronographs Dash Mounted Collection
Test Dial or Made in the Basement

It seems to me that Nick Biebuyck (Heritage Director at TAG Heuer) has told you what you need to know -- that this dial / watch was likely produced as a test dial (perhaps by a company that supplied dials to Heuer) or by a watchmaker, but that the watch was not serially produced by Heuer and was not a prototype made or authorized by Heuer. In any event, it's a good looking watch!!

Over the years, we have seen many watches in this "in between" category.

Jeff

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

: Thank you for your last reply, Fabrizio.

: And as an update:

: I managed to contact Mr Nicholas Biebuyck the Heritage Director at
: Tag Heuer for his opinion on this "oddball".

: Mr Biebuyck wrote back stating:

: "... I have taken a closer look at the watch and should advise
: that it is similar to a number of piece that have surfaced in
: the market over the years.

: The first point that it is worth noting is Heuer did not start
: using Lemania movements until after Jack had been pushed out of
: the business in 1982. The reason for this is that the new owners
: were Piaget group who also owned Lemania and part of their
: motivation for acquiring the brand was that they saw an
: opportunity to use their own movements.

: As you may know, Heuer had used the Calibre 11 and 12 automatic
: chronograph movement from 1969, but in the late 1970s they had
: also started to use the Valjoux 7750, which Piaget replaced with
: the 5100 after the take over, hence why Jack had no comment when
: I saw him for dinner last week.

: The other point to note at this time was the chaotic nature of the
: Swiss watch industry and the supply chain. During and following
: the quartz crisis suppliers would often be changed quickly, and
: under Piaget many elements of product creation and assembly was
: outsourced to save costs, so many things were produced with the
: Heuer name on they, but probably outside the strict control of
: the brand.

: With these elements in mind, for me I would consider the watch to
: be a composite of components that were assembled some time
: around 1982 to 1985, perhaps by a supplier or a watchmaker.
: While it is an interest watch with interesting parts as you
: mentioned, I would not consider it to be a serially produced
: watch or a prototype commissioned by the brand.

: …. For the dial, the design seems to use elements from other
: brands, my guess it is Singer or someone similar (there is
: probably a stamp on the back which would explain more) and the
: Heuer stamp has been added (quite a few original stamps will
: have been with dial suppliers)."

: I am so grateful for Mr Biebuyck"s thoughtful response and
: taking time out of his busy schedule to reply. Many thanks to
: Marco Gabello of Watchonista who has been a fantastic resource
: in helping me try and pin something down on this.

: I guess for me this confirms that it was not serially produced
: (which I had assumed) but raises the question was it produced by
: someone wanting a bespoke central chrono minutes hand or by
: someone in the early 1980s trying to create a Franken? If Singer
: did produce the dial what does the mean, if, as I believe, they
: are a quality dial maker (used by Rolex and Omega). Surely a
: faker wouldn’t go that far and why try and fake a Heuer in the
: early 1980s?

: Anyway, if anyone has any further thoughts on this please let me
: know as my curiosity is definitely piqued. What do I have when I
: have a correct Lemania case and movement 1041 with what appears
: to be a genuine Heuer stamped dial but no confirmation it was
: commissioned by Heuer? Can it be a Franken if the dial stamp is
: indistinguishable from other genuine Heuer stamped dials - ?

: Many thanks

Current Position
Chronocentric and zOwie site design and contents (c) Copyright 1998-2005, Derek Ziglar; Copyright 2005-2008, Jeffrey M. Stein. All rights reserved. Use of this web site constitutes acceptance of the terms of use. CONTACT | TERMS OF USE | TRANSLATE