Price Guide

Price Guide to Vintage Heuer Timepieces

This Price Guide provides information regarding vintage Heuer chronographs and other timepieces. We present two lists -- an A List and a B List (we will be adding C and D lists as we develop them)-- 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:

Values for the "A List"

AAA
above $3500

AA
between $3,000 and $3,500

A
between $2,500 and $3,000

Values for the "B List"

BBB
between $2,200 and $2,500

BB
between $1,800 and $2,200

B
between $1,500 and $1,800

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 this ordering 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 chronograph 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

The "A List" [AAA = above $3,500, AA = $3,500~$3,000, A = $3,000~$2,500]

Watch Description / SPY Rating Notes

AAA Monaco Automatic
(Reference 1133)

plus for Blue w/ White Registers (McQueen version) / SPY = 40

minus for Charcoal Gray / SPY = 40

big premium for the black PVD

the McQueens are the design icons -- relatively plentiful, but still expensive; beware of newly-minted PVD

AAA Rally-Master Pair
Dashboard Timers
(Master Time and Monte Carlo)

plus for early pair (three-button Monte Carlo and 3-6-9-12 Master Time)

any decentMaster pair makes the A List; the best early pairs join the A-1 List

AAA Triple Calendar Moonphase Chronograph

the 1950's version (NOT the later re-issues)

SPY = 1

we see one per year; if you want it and find it, better grab it

AA Carrera 12 Dato
(contrasting subs dial)

black dial with white recorders / SPY = 2

big premium for silver dial with black registers / SPY = 0.3

big savings if you are satisfied with the Zodiac or Clebar "Poor Man's" versions

AA Monaco Manual Wind
(Reference 73663)

charcoal gray dial

plus for blue with white registers / SPY = 12

add $700 to $1,000 premium for the blue; beware of fakes in the blues

AA Monaco Automatic
(Reference 1533)

plus for blue dial / SPY = 4

silverburst dial / SPY = 10

the blues are scarce

AA Silverstone
(Reference 110.313)

plus for the blue version

SPY = 25 (total for all colors)

most agree that the blue one is most collectible

AA Carrera 12
(Black subs on Silver ) (Reference 2447SN)

silver dial with black registers / SPY = 6

a couple of these broke the $3500 mark, but they seem to have settled in closer to $3,000

A Carrera 12
(White subs on Black)

black dial with white registers / SPY = ???

I think this is where this model should be, comments to be added...

A Abercrombie & Fitch
Seafarer (Screw-Back)

screw-back versions made from early 1950's through 1968

these were often exposed to the sea and the sun; prinstine survivors are scarce

A First Execution Autavia;Three-Register, Manual Wind
(Reference 2446)

three large registers make this one unique among the Autavias

SPY = 3

the very first Autavias; these often show some aging; the clean ones are very scarce

A "Siffert" Autavia
(Reference 1163T)

second or thord versions / SPY = 12

plus for the Chronomatic version / SPY = 0.3

A Carrera Automatic --
18 Karat Gold
(Reference 1158CHN)

SPY = 6

many collectors won't even look at a gold Heuer; still, patient sellers can expect to bag at least $2,500

The "B List" [BBB = above $2,200~$2,500, BB = $1,800~$2,000, B = $1,800~$1,500]

Watch Description / SPY Rating Notes

BBB Autavia GMT -- Automatic

Reference 1163, Reference 11630 and Reference 11063 -- they all make the list

all three versions are toward the top of the B List; the earlier the model, the higher the price

BBB Triple Calendar Chronograph

this one came in three versions, silver dial, copper dial and black dial

SPY = 15 (total for all versions)

black seems to be the scarcest; watch for refinished dials

BBB Carrera 12 Dato
(white-on-white)

this one came in three versions

SPY = 10

[Please elaborate on the 3 versions]

BBB Heuer Mareographe / Abercrombie & Fitch
Seafarer (Snap-Back)

Heuer Mareographe sits at BBB / SPY = 2.0

Abercrombie Seafarer or Orvis Solunagraph drops to BB / SPY = 15

BB Autavia GMT -- Manual Wind

snap-back case is the standard / SPY = 15

plus for screw-back case / SPY = 1.0

[Would screw back be BBB?]

BB Carrera 12
(three registers)
Non-Contrasting subs

white-on-white is the standard

plus for white-on-black

contrasting subs makes it to the "A List"

many varieties with the Standard, Tachy and Decimal versions; this is the defining watch that stands at the center of the B List

BB Super Autavia
Dashboard Chronograph

earlier versions earn the higher ratings

SPY = 15

a true chronograph for the dashboard

BB Carrera Automatic
(Reference 1153)

dark dial (1153N) or silver dial (1153S)

SPY = 40 (total for both colors)

one of the big gainers of 2005

BB Autavia Diver 100 -- Automatic

SPY = 2

the top dog among the non-GMT Automatic Autavias

BB Pocket Chronograph
Reference 11204

SPY = 12

split-second pocket chronograph in the red or black leather case

BB Three-Register Chronograph
1950's or early 1960's
(pre-Carrera)

Valjoux 71 or 72

SPY = 20

no name on the dial (Carrera, Autavia, etc.), but the clean chronographs make the list

BB to be added

to be added

to be added

B Master Time
Dashboard Clock

three versions (early, late or 24-hour)

SPY = 30 (total for all versions)

just a simple clock; fairly common, but fairly valuable

B Bundeswehr Flyback Chronograph

needs the "3H" mark on the dial to make the list

once again, the premium goes to the early version

B Verona

makes the list with any color combination

SPY = 12

black dial is preferred by most collectors; two-tone adds "bling"

B Daytona

Blue or Fume

SPY = 25 (total for both colors)

dials often deteriorate; with any serious discoloration, the Daytona won't make the B List

B Carrera 45
(two registers) [to be added]
any good manual-wind Carrera makes at least the B-3 level

B Carrera Automatic (Reference 510.511 or 510.523) [to be added]
the only 5100-powered guy to make the list [I really think that only the 510.511 makes B list]

B Montreal (Cal 12 Movement)

must be white dial or black PVD case to make the list

SPY =

the blue ones don't quite make the cut

B Camaro 12 (Three Registers)

numerous variations

plus for the black registers on silver dial [which bumps those up to BB]

SPY = 40 (all three register versions)

a strong gainer in 2005, these went from $1200 to $1800 in a few days; and they haven't come down since

B Autavia, Three-Register , Reference 2446C (Snap-Back) [to be added]
[to be added]