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Price
Guide to Vintage Heuer
Timepieces
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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:
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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 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
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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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Notes
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AAA
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Monaco
Automatic
(Reference 1133)
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- plus for
Blue w/ White Registers (McQueen version) / SPY
= 40
- minus for
Charcoal Gray / SPY = 40
- big
premium for the black PVD
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the McQueens
are the design icons -- relatively plentiful, but
still expensive; beware of newly-minted PVD
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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
decentMaster pair makes the A List; the best early
pairs join the A-1 List
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AAA
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Triple
Calendar Moonphase Chronograph
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- the 1950's
version (NOT the 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
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Carrera
12 Dato
(contrasting
subs
dial)
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- black dial
with white recorders / SPY =
2
- big
premium for silver dial with black registers /
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 registers / 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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the blues 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 the blue one is most
collectible
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AA
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Carrera
12
(Black
subs on Silver )
(Reference 2447SN)
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- silver
dial with black registers / SPY =
6
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a couple of
these broke the $3500 mark, but they seem to have
settled in closer to $3,000
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A
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Carrera
12
(White subs on Black)
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- black
dial with white registers / SPY =
???
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I think this
is where this model should be, comments to be
added...
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A
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Abercrombie
& Fitch
Seafarer (Screw-Back)
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- screw-back
versions made from early 1950's through
1968
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these were
often exposed to the sea and the sun;
prinstine
survivors are scarce
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A
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First
Execution Autavia;Three-Register, Manual Wind
(Reference 2446)
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- three
large registers 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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- second or
thord versions / SPY = 12
- plus 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
= above $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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Notes
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BBB
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Autavia
GMT -- Automatic
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- Reference
1163, Reference 11630 and 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 Chronograph
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- this one
came in three versions, silver dial, copper dial
and black 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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- this one
came in three versions
- SPY =
10
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[Please
elaborate on the 3 versions]
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BBB
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Heuer
Mareographe / Abercrombie & Fitch
Seafarer (Snap-Back)
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- Heuer
Mareographe sits at BBB / SPY =
2.0
- Abercrombie
Seafarer or Orvis Solunagraph drops to BB /
SPY = 15
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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
- plus for
screw-back case / SPY = 1.0
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[Would
screw back be BBB?]
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BB
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Carrera
12
(three registers)
Non-Contrasting
subs
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- white-on-white
is the standard
- plus for
white-on-black
- contrasting
subs makes it to the "A List"
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many varieties
with the Standard, Tachy and Decimal versions; this
is the defining watch that stands at the center of
the B List
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BB
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Super
Autavia
Dashboard Chronograph
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- earlier
versions earn the higher ratings
- SPY =
15
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a true
chronograph for the dashboard
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BB
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Carrera
Automatic
(Reference 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
Chronograph
Reference 11204
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split-second
pocket chronograph in the red or black leather
case
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BB
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Three-Register
Chronograph
1950's or early 1960's
(pre-Carrera)
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- Valjoux 71
or 72
- SPY =
20
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no name on the
dial (Carrera, Autavia, etc.), but the clean
chronographs make the list
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BB
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to be
added
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to be
added
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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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Bundeswehr
Flyback Chronograph
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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"
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B
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Daytona
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- Blue or
Fume
- SPY =
25 (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 registers)
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[to
be added]
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any good
manual-wind Carrera makes at least the B-3
level
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B
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Carrera
Automatic (Reference 510.511 or
510.523)
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[to
be added]
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the only
5100-powered guy to make the list
[I
really think that only the 510.511 makes B
list]
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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 cut
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B
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Camaro 12
(Three Registers)
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- numerous
variations
- plus for
the black registers on silver dial
[which
bumps those up to BB]
- SPY =
40 (all three register 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-Register , Reference 2446C
(Snap-Back)
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[to
be added]
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[to be
added]
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