1972 Heuer Autavia 11630 (Silver Dial)

This 1970s Heuer Autavia 11630 has a sporty killer look thanks to its striking silver dial with bright orange accents. It is a direct successor to the 1163 ‘Orange Boy’ (which trades for more than twice the price). Even more so than the ref. 1163, this second generation has a quintessential 1970s vibe that fits Heuer so well.  Changes with the ref. 11630 were all aimed to increase reliability and usability. The outer bezel grew wider with an added luminous dot placed in the inverted triangle at 12 o'clock. The crystal was upgraded from plexiglass to mineral glass for greater durability. But the biggest difference was the case construction. The case was beefier by almost 1.5mm compared to the previous model.  There was also the shift from the Cal 11 to the improved Cal 12 movement.

The black bezel of the Autavia 11630 is bi-directional, and its tachymeter scale allows wearers to calculate average speeds of moving vehicles. This particular vintage Autavia 11630 boasts a special silver brushed dial which is much rarer than the black dial, making it the version most sought-after by collectors.    On the dial we see fantastic orange details, from the centre hands to the 12 accents on the outer seconds/minute track to the accents on the 30-minute register at 3 o’clock. Just above 6 o’clock sits the date window while at 9 o’clock is the 12-hour recorder.

The watch is complimented by the original black “rally” strap and stamped buckle.

Condition

The case is in great unpolished condition and shows intact sunburst finish, sharp edges and virtually no visible scratches.  The reference and serial numbers are clearly legible between the lugs, the cleanest we have seen. The black bezel inset is near perfect.  The luminous material on the hands and hour markers is intact and even, with some ageing on the main hands evident. Lume glows very brightly when exposed to UV then falls off quickly.

The Autavia is powered by the automatic Caliber 12.  The service history is not known. The chronograph starts, stops and resets normally. A performance check on the Timegrapher indicates that the watch may have been recently serviced as it is running very strongly and accurately for its age: 0 to +3s/d (COSC standard) with an amplitude of approximately 320. 

Specifications

Diameter: 42mm

Year of Manufacture: 1972

Crystal: Mineral

Movement: Heuer Caliber 12 automatic

Serial number: 261XXX

IMPORTANT NOTES FOR BUYERS:
1. For shipping purpose: we will mark lower values at the Buyer’s request. We ship with discrete packaging.
2. We use DHL Express for international shipping. Shipping to most destinations is normally 2-3 days.
3. Preferred payment method is via bank transfer/wire.