Apologies for reviving this old thread.. but I think you'll agree with me that it is well worth reviving.

These photos are stunning, and it brought it all back...

The Autavia Dato has a significant place in my life of collecting. It was one that got away. I saw one on ebay a long, long time ago. I knew bugger all about Autavias, and I wasn't sure if I was doing the right thing, it was my Birthday too, so I thought I'd treat myself. I had a lengthy email chat with the vendor, and I had satisfied myself that it was 'all good', so I clicked 'Buy it Now' on the ebay page that had been sitting there for 10 minutes or so, only to be met with a message saying that... well, basically I was too late. Only by a few seconds.

So, I've always had an eye out for one.. I know I'll get one sooner or later & I am almost glad I did miss out. It compelled me to learn about these wonderful Autavias, and now I have a collection of them, from all the decades (I think). Without missing out on this first Autavia, I wouldn't have been on this long & wonderful journey and I probably wouldn't even be here. So, I raise a glass & tip my hat to the 7863 Dato, a beautiful, beautiful watch !

Thanks for the fine photos Paul - they are achingly good.

Cheers
Stewart

: Trapped indoors by biblical amounts of rain I found myself turning
: to this great hobby and making a top 10 list from the watches in
: my collection – a Mark Moss moment. The collection has swelled
: over the past two years and there are a number of pieces
: including the mint/NOS examples that get little or no wrist
: time. My Top 10 consist of the watches I wear the most. Those
: you keep going back to time after time regardless of value,
: desirability or condition but simply because you love the look
: and feel. If I kept statistics on my daily wearer over the last
: year (which I don’t) these would be the ones that feature the
: most and therefore are the ones I would keep if I chose to slim
: the herd. (That’s a Texan expression by the way).

: Here is just one of my top ten taken with my trusty Canon G11 point
: and shoot on a light box. I just love this watch especially with
: the GF bracelet. Its not one we see that often and it shares
: some key details with the first generation 1163 – steel hour
: markers, steel hands, two registers and date window. The last
: feature gives the dial its classic proportion and the MH bezel
: adds just the right amount of detail to compliment the dial. The
: full reference is Autavia 30 Dato 7863 MH. More to follow in due
: course.

: Regards
: Paul
: www.heuerworld.com

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