Heuer Chronomatic Siffert Autavia Reference 1163

This Heuer “Chronomatic Siffert” Autavia reference 1163 is one of the most elusive grail chronographs from Heuer. It features a 1415XX serial. The very earliest Heuer automatic chronographs (Monaco, Autavia, and Carrera) said CHRONOMATIC on the dial above the Heuer shield and they date to 1969 with the model name appearing above 6 o’clock. Due to the lack of customers understanding what CHRONOMATIC meant, Heuer within a month or two of beginning production changed the dials to say “AUTOMATIC CHRONOGRAPH” above 6:00 and moved the model name above the HEUER shield logo. In the last decade, only two Jo Siffert Chronomatic models have come to auction (in addition to one prototype).

These models were nicknamed after the legendary Swiss Formula One driver Jo Siffert who famously wore a CHRONOMATIC Siffert in his career and represented Heuer. Jo was a friend of Steve McQueen and inspiration for his character Michael Delaney and lent him his watch during the filming of Le Mans, although it did not end up in the movie.

The case has been lightly polished. It features an automatic movement (Caliber 11 made by Heuer-Léonidas), and is 42mm in diameter. It is paired on a later Heuer Gay Freres single beads of rice bracelet. This example features an unusual dial missing “SWISS” above the date window.

The watch was recently serviced and is running well. The watch does not include the box and papers. This is a rare opportunity for any collector of Heuer grail watches.

PRICE: $79,000