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Price
Guide to Vintage Heuer
Timepieces
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This Price
Guide provides information regarding vintage Heuer
Chronos and other timepieces. We present two lists
-- an A List and a B List -- with each of these
lists further divided into three groupings (Triple
[AAA], Double [AA], Single
[A], BBB, BB, B, etc.). The "Values"
presented are estimates of current market prices
for excellent samples of the timepieces, as
described in the Notes below.
Values are as
follows, as of February 2006:
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Values
for the "A
List"
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AAA
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above
$3500
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AA
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between
$3,000 and $3,500
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A
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between
$2,500 and $3,000
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Values
for the "B
List"
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BBB
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between
$2,200 and $2,500
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BB
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between
$1,800 and $2,200
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B
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between
$1,500 and $1,800
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In this Price
Guide, we have three tiers within the A List (AAA,
AA, A) and three tiers within the B List (BBB, BB,
B). There are differences in values between the six
tiers -- this is the purpose of creating the six
tiers. We do not distinguish between the values of
watches within a particular tier. Accordingly, the
order in which the watches are presented within a
tier does not reflect a distinction between values,
and ordering within any of the six tiers is
entirely random.
These
estimates of Value are approximations, based on
recently
observed transactions.
The market for many of these timepieces is
relatively "thin",
so much so that
it is difficult to estimate prices with any
precision. In this era of ebay, if two or three
bidders are willing to "pay whatever it takes" to
buy a particular
watch,
the result will likely be
a
sudden spike in the price for that watch.
Similarly, a fine sample of a watch may not reach
its estimated value under the particular
circumstances of a sale. In this Price Guide, we
attempt to reflect current market prices, with a
view to predictable, stable values over the
longer-term.
In terms of
its coverage, this Price Guide covers watches that
a collector may have a reasonable chance of
acquiring, within a reasonable time period (say,
within one year of active looking). There are many
additional Heuers that would fit within the price
ranges of the two Lists;
however,
we
include a watch in the Lists only if a reasonably
diligent collector could expect to find a sample
over the course of one year. Yes, the enamel Chrono
from the 1910's would be on the A List; no, it is
not included, as we attempt to keep this Price
Guide to a useful size, with the price estimates
supported by multiple transactions in the
market.
The SPY
Rating is based on "Samples Per Year" (SPY),
being an estimate of the number of samples that a
diligent collector might expect to find in a year
-- searching the internet (ebay and major dealer
websites) and the traditional vintage watch
dealers. The SPY Ratings reflect all
reasonable samples that a collector might find over
the course of a year, not merely the samples that
are in such excellent condition that they would
earn a watch its highest ranking in the Price
Guide. For example, we might see 25 decent
Silverstones in a year; only 10 of these might be
in the excellent condition required to earn the
Silverstone its AA rating ($3,000 to $3,500) in the
Price Guide.
Additional
Notes:
- condition
is assumed to be excellent or near mint; not NOS
or mint, but a very fine example; dial must be
flawless (or near flawless, for some older
models); some light wear to the case is
acceptable
- rankings/values
assume that the watch is on original strap or
bracelet (except for the older watches that
came on leather straps, few of which have
survived), but does not have the original box
and papers (which would command a premium).
- the models
listed in the Price Guide are assumed to be
odinary production models; prototypes or
extremely rare variations can be expected to
sell for a premium.
- as
described in the table above,
The Values
suggested in this Price Guide are my own
approximations, based on my watching the market on
a regular basis over a period of years. Prices of
some versions have been relatively stable over the
years; others have fluctuated considerably.
We hope that this Price Guide will be a
dynamic document, changing from time to time to
reflect activity in the market. There will likely
be some controversy regarding the ratings assigned
to some watches; there may be outrage that certain
watches are included or excluded from the A List
and the B List. Please send you comments or
suggestions to onthedash@bellsouth.net.
Jeffrey
M. Stein
February __, 2006
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The "A
List" [AAA=above
$3,500, AA=$3,500~$3,000,
A=$3,000~$2,500]
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Watch
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Description/SPY Rating
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Comments
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AAA
(Value above $3,500)
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AAA
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Monaco
Automatic
(Reference 1133)
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- plus for
Blue w/White Reg's (McQueen)
- SPY=80
(blue & gray)
- big
premium for the black PVD
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McQueens are
the design icons -- relatively plentiful, but still
expensive; beware of newly-minted black PVDs
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AAA
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Rally-Master
Pair
Dashboard Timers
(Master Time and Monte Carlo)
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- plus for
early pair (three-button Monte Carlo and
3-6-9-12 Master Time)
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any decent
Master pair makes the A List; the best early pairs
join the AAA List
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AAA
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Triple
Calendar Moonphase Chrono
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- the 50's
version (NOT later re-issues)
- SPY=1
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we see one per
year; if you want it and find it, better grab
it
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AA
($3,000 to $3,500)
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AA
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Carrera
12 Dato
(contrasting
Reg's)
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- black dial
with white Registers/SPY=2
- big
premium for silver dial with black
Reg's/SPY=0.3
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big savings if
you are satisfied with the Zodiac or Clebar "Poor
Man's" versions
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AA
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Monaco
Manual Wind (Reference 73663)
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- charcoal
gray dial
- plus for
blue with white Reg's/SPY=12
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add $700 to
$1,000 premium for the blue; beware of fakes in the
blues
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AA
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Monaco
Automatic
(Reference 1533)
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- plus for
blue dial/SPY=4
- silverburst
dial/SPY=10
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blue dials are
scarce
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AA
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Silverstone
(Reference 110.313)
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- plus for
the blue version
- SPY=25
(total for all colors)
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most agree
that blue dials are most collectible
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AA
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Carrera
12 --
Black
on White
(Ref.
2447SN)
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- silver
dial with black Reg's/SPY=6
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a couple of
these broke the $3500 mark; now seem to have
settled closer to $3,000
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A ($2,500
to $3,000)
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A
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Carrera
12
White on Black
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- black
dial with white Reg's/SPY=4
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A
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Abercrombie
& Fitch
Seafarer (Screw-Back)
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- screw-back
versions made from early 50's through
68
- SPY=10
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these were
often exposed to the sea and the sun;
pristine
survivors are scarce
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A
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First
Execution Autavia; Three-Reg. (Reference
2446)
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- three
large Reg's make this one unique among the
Autavias
- SPY=3
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the very first
Autavias; these often show some aging; the clean
ones are very scarce
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A
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"Siffert"
Autavia
(Reference 1163T)
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- 2nd or 3rd
versions/SPY=15
- premium
for the Chronomatic version/SPY=0.3
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A
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Carrera
Automatic --
18 Karat Gold
(Reference 1158CHN)
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many
collectors won't even look at a gold Heuer; still,
patient sellers can expect to bag at least
$2,500
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The "B
List" [BBB=$2,200~$2,500,
BB=$1,800~$2,000,
B=$1,800~$1,500]
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Watch
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Description/SPY Rating
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Comments
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BBB
($2,200 to $2,500)
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BBB
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Autavia
GMT -- Automatic
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- Reference
1163, Reference 11630 & Reference 11063 --
they all make the list
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all three
versions are toward the top of the B List; the
earlier the model, the higher the
price
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BBB
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Triple
Calendar Chrono
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- three
dials -- silver, copper and dial
???
- SPY=15
(total for all versions)
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black seems to
be the scarcest; watch for refinished dials
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BBB
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Carrera
12 Dato
(white-on-white)
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bargain
hunters will be very happy with the
Clebar
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BBB
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Heuer
Mareographe
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same as
Seafarer or Solunagraph, but the Heuer is very
rare
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BB
($1,800 to $2,200)
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BB
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Autavia
GMT -- Manual Wind
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- snap-back
case is the standard/SPY=15
- screw-back
case is rarer/ SPY=2
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the red/blue
bezel is the key; show me the bezel, and I'll tell
you the value
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BB
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Carrera
12 --
three Reg's
(Ref. 2447)
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- white-on-white
is the standard
- plus for
black-on-black
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many varieties
with the Standard, Tachy and Decimal
versions
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BB
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Super
Autavia
Dashboard Chrono
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- earlier
versions may have higher Values
- SPY=15
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a true Chrono
for the dashboard
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BB
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Carrera
Automatic
(Ref. 1153)
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- dark dial
(1153N) or silver dial (1153S)
- SPY=40
(total for both colors)
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one of the big
gainers of 2005
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BB
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Autavia
Diver 100 -- Automatic
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the top dog
among the non-GMT Automatic
Autavias
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BB
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Pocket
Chrono
Reference 11204
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split-second
pocket Chrono in the red or black leather
case
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BB
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Three-Reg.
Chrono
1950's or early 60's
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pre-Carrera,
so no name on the dial;
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B ($1,500
to $1,800)
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B
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Master
Time
Dashboard Clock
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- three
versions (early, late or
24-hour)
- SPY=30
(total for all versions)
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just a simple
clock; fairly common, but fairly
valuable
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B
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Abercrombie
Seafarer or Orvis Solunagraph
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- snap-back
version (2446C case)
- SPY=10
(total for all versions)
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call these the
"Poor Man's Mareographes"
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B
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Bundeswehr
Flyback Chrono
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- needs the
"3H" mark on the dial to make the
list
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once again,
the premium goes to the early
version
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B
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Verona
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- makes the
list with any color combination
- SPY=12
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black dial is
preferred by most collectors; two-tone adds "bling"
but not any
additional
value
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B
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Daytona
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- Blue or
Fume
- SPY=15
(total for both colors)
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dials often
deteriorate; with any serious discoloration, the
Daytona won't make the B List
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B
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Carrera
45
(two Reg's)
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any good
manual-wind Carrera makes at least the B
level
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B
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Carrera
Automatic -- Black PVD
(Ref. 510.511)
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B
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Montreal
(Cal 12. Movement)
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- must be
white
dial or black
PVD case to make the list
- SPY=
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the blue ones
don't quite make the B List
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B
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Camaro 12
(Three Reg's)
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- plus for
the black Reg's on silver dial
- SPY=30
(all three-Reg. versions)
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a strong
gainer in 2005, these went from $1200 to $1800 in a
few days; and they haven't come down
since
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B
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Autavia,
Three-Reg. , Reference 2446C
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one of the
standards
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