1968 Heuer Autavia Chronograph 7763

Wonderful vintage 1968 Heuer Autavia with tachymeter bezel.

Heuer Autavia Chronograph with a hand wound 17 jewel Valjoux 72 colume wheel movement. The Heuer Autavia was originally designed as an accurate elapsed timepiece for both Automotive and Aviation sports enthusiasts (Auto+Aviation = Autavia). All stainless steel case, 39mm diameter, some wear around outer turn bezel. Beautiful original dialsteel case.

Edouard Heuer began making watches under the Heuer name in 1860. He developed and patented his first chronograph in 1882, and went on to patent the 'oscillating pinion' system in 1887, which has been used in chronographs for more than a century (this watch being no exception).

In more recent times, Jack Heuer (the great-grandson of Edouard Heuer) became the majority shareholder of the company in 1962, and two years later acquired their main competitor Leonidas Watch Co, to become Heuer-Leonidas SA.

A collaboration between the experts at Heuer-Leonidas, Hamilton-Buren, Breitling, and Dubois Depraz brought to market the first ever automatic chronograph calibre, in March 1969. It was known as the Calibre 11 "Chrono-Matic" and was used in the Autavia, Monaco and Carrera models available at the time.