1976 Heuer Solunar ref. 279.603

A truly unique tool watch, the 1976 Heuer Solunar ref. 279.603 features an integrated tide indicator making it popular with sailors, fishermen and hunters. Production commenced in 1976 and lasted for 4 short years until 1980.

Most watch collectors are familiar with Heuer’s three main watch lines built for the race track, the Monaco, the Autavia and the Carrera, but the brand also built a wide variety of watches during the 50s, 60s and 70s for other types of sportsmen. The Skipper, the Mareograph, the Solunagraph, the Skippererra, and the Solunar were sold at various points over that three-decade span, the 1970s Solunar today one of the most uncommon of the group.

With the (provided) instructions, the watch is capable of displaying both high and low tide teams each day for two weeks.  The outer bezel indicates cycle of the tides which occurs approximately every six hours.

The Solunar is quite the rare bird, especially in mint condition. Since it was built for sailors and fisherman, most were used as tools and put through hard use.  We were lucky to source one that spent most of its life safely tucked away in a drawer.  What makes this example even more special is the originally blue dial has aged to an amazing chocolate brown (tropical) dial.

Condition:

Overall the watch is in excellent condition, all parts are original and the case in unpolished with some very light surface scratches.  The bezel is in excellent condition with no visible scratches.    The plexiglass has some marks / scratches along the bottom edge between 5 to 7pm. The movement has been fully serviced by our in-house watch maker.

Specifications:

Measurement: Across dial 45mm

Movement: Automatic ETA 2790

Crystal: Plexiglass

Catalog Dates: 76,77,78

Lug width 19mm

Strap:  Brand new, premium ‘tropic’ rubber strap from Uncle.