Heuer Carrera 510.523
Discussion
The Lemania 5100 driven Carrera, the last before the reissue of the Carrera in '97-ish(?).
I've eventually got it after some trans-Atlantic shenanigans and a new crystal at Heuerboy and have to say I'm very pleasantly surprised; it is far less 'blocky' or 'massif' than pictures lead you to believe and wears very unobtrusively with light proprtions and an unassuming presence.
It gets a bit geeky from hereonin I'm afraid, but maybe of interest to some -
It would appear that this watch originally came with 2 types of bracelet, the 'Jubilee' style, with fitted end pieces and a 20mm width* and the 'coffin link' style bracelet marked 'TAG Heuer' with the unfitted end pieces and 23mm width* bracelet (* - watch side of the bracelet).
Here's the catalogue picture with the 'Jubilee' style (although I've never seen one in 'real life' with this one):
And Chucks (Maddox) own 'coffin link':
The period of turmoil within Heuer during this particular phase is well known, and discrepencies, variations and alterations are quite common; this is just another one of those I think, using a TAG bracelet but Heuer dial markings - perhaps a later watch in the production run, it does look very similar to the Audi Sport bracelet, another Heuer watch.
I don't mind the white '12hr' hand original to the watch - it seems to me that you could lend reasons both for and against having it in either colour, but to me it looks fine.
Here is the caseback -
...with no markings except for a small '510.523' engraved into the caseback -
Despite looking quite a 'flat' watch head on, the side view shows the curve of the case -
And here with another Heuer, my '1000' series 510.501, also from about 1984 -
The radial 'sunburst' graining is only vestigial at best on mine, certainly the result of over-enthusiastic polishing at some stage, so perhaps when time allows I'll send it off to a Dutch watchmaker to work his magic.
The similarity between the SAAF, World Time and the Carrera have been pointed out before, ( http://forum.atgvintagewatches.com/showthread.php?... ), but just out of interest here is a direct comparison:
The case is, however, not the same as the Omega version, which is 22mm lug width and radiused lug interior plus other slight differences:
(Both courtesy of Eric/eptaz @ WuS)
BUT, I did see another Lemania dialled watch with what I suspect is this case, here on the left, owned by Greg at WuS -
Anyway, the hunt continues as to be honest I'm very pleased with this one - far more than I thought I would be to be frank, so, perhaps a 510.511 is next on the cards...?!
Andy
A great source on the history and different generations of Carrera can be found here - http://chronomaddox.com/heuer/articles/carrera_art...
I've eventually got it after some trans-Atlantic shenanigans and a new crystal at Heuerboy and have to say I'm very pleasantly surprised; it is far less 'blocky' or 'massif' than pictures lead you to believe and wears very unobtrusively with light proprtions and an unassuming presence.
It gets a bit geeky from hereonin I'm afraid, but maybe of interest to some -
It would appear that this watch originally came with 2 types of bracelet, the 'Jubilee' style, with fitted end pieces and a 20mm width* and the 'coffin link' style bracelet marked 'TAG Heuer' with the unfitted end pieces and 23mm width* bracelet (* - watch side of the bracelet).
Here's the catalogue picture with the 'Jubilee' style (although I've never seen one in 'real life' with this one):
And Chucks (Maddox) own 'coffin link':
The period of turmoil within Heuer during this particular phase is well known, and discrepencies, variations and alterations are quite common; this is just another one of those I think, using a TAG bracelet but Heuer dial markings - perhaps a later watch in the production run, it does look very similar to the Audi Sport bracelet, another Heuer watch.
I don't mind the white '12hr' hand original to the watch - it seems to me that you could lend reasons both for and against having it in either colour, but to me it looks fine.
Here is the caseback -
...with no markings except for a small '510.523' engraved into the caseback -
Despite looking quite a 'flat' watch head on, the side view shows the curve of the case -
And here with another Heuer, my '1000' series 510.501, also from about 1984 -
The radial 'sunburst' graining is only vestigial at best on mine, certainly the result of over-enthusiastic polishing at some stage, so perhaps when time allows I'll send it off to a Dutch watchmaker to work his magic.
The similarity between the SAAF, World Time and the Carrera have been pointed out before, ( http://forum.atgvintagewatches.com/showthread.php?... ), but just out of interest here is a direct comparison:
The case is, however, not the same as the Omega version, which is 22mm lug width and radiused lug interior plus other slight differences:
(Both courtesy of Eric/eptaz @ WuS)
BUT, I did see another Lemania dialled watch with what I suspect is this case, here on the left, owned by Greg at WuS -
Anyway, the hunt continues as to be honest I'm very pleased with this one - far more than I thought I would be to be frank, so, perhaps a 510.511 is next on the cards...?!
Andy
A great source on the history and different generations of Carrera can be found here - http://chronomaddox.com/heuer/articles/carrera_art...
Edited by andy_s on Friday 22 June 18:46
Why do I do it to myself, and click on links that lead to threads like this one...
I've already purchased one watch as a result of seeing one on here, and am now looking forward to acquiring a Stowa (although that's slightly on hold as I promised it to myself when I secured a promotion, and that didn't *quite* happen this year...
).However, I've always had a hankering for a vintage Heuer, largely because of seeing Steve McQueen wearing a Monaco in Le Mans, and the watches in your post above are the sort of thing I've been looking at (something like a Heuer 510.503).
Need to start doing my homework about these, and get a feel for all the various models and prices, so the link will prove very useful I suspect.
Nick M said:
Why do I do it to myself, and click on links that lead to threads like this one...
I've already purchased one watch as a result of seeing one on here, and am now looking forward to acquiring a Stowa (although that's slightly on hold as I promised it to myself when I secured a promotion, and that didn't *quite* happen this year... ).
However, I've always had a hankering for a vintage Heuer, largely because of seeing Steve McQueen wearing a Monaco in Le Mans, and the watches in your post above are the sort of thing I've been looking at (something like a Heuer 510.503).
Need to start doing my homework about these, and get a feel for all the various models and prices, so the link will prove very useful I suspect.
Vintage Heuer (like a lot of stuff) is certainly a task in itself to get your head around, apart from the obvious and not-so-obvious incorrect ones there's also the question of what's a good one to have in terms of a) what you like and b) what you intend doing with it (wear or collect sort of thing). It can be a minefield (all vintage but Heuer esp.) but very rewarding when you get your homework done and gain a bit of knowledge about them and pick up something you like and know why you like it. I've already purchased one watch as a result of seeing one on here, and am now looking forward to acquiring a Stowa (although that's slightly on hold as I promised it to myself when I secured a promotion, and that didn't *quite* happen this year...
).However, I've always had a hankering for a vintage Heuer, largely because of seeing Steve McQueen wearing a Monaco in Le Mans, and the watches in your post above are the sort of thing I've been looking at (something like a Heuer 510.503).
Need to start doing my homework about these, and get a feel for all the various models and prices, so the link will prove very useful I suspect.
Chucks link was written in about 2002/3 iirc, so although it's a great reference and overview (the guy was prodigious), I'd recommend passing some time on chronocentric/OnTheDash and Heuerworld particularly - guys like Fabrizio, MarkM, PeterM, Jeff Stein, StewartM are complete experts immersed in the field and post regularly, although as with any fora, if you search yourself enough then you'll find the answers have already been given at some point. Andy Tims here has had more than his fair share too.
The only thing about the 510.50x or '1000' series is the shrouded lugs which can make for a quite 'bulky' look, which I find hard to carry off with my princess wrists. My whole emphasis for a few years has been Lemania watches, but these weren't involved with Heuer until the final days of the old firm; just before, after and during the TAG buyout; generally people who are Heuercentric will go for the older Cal 12 and upwards auto chronos or even the hand wound earlier ones, so the tail enders (to me, the last of the old Heuers) like the Carrera above don't perhaps have as wide an interest - although all the people I mentioned before have one and also wear them regularly...
Anyway, enjoy the reading!
LukeBird said:
Great write up as always Andy.
I do love that SAAF Lemania, I just wish it had a date; I can't get on without them.
I'm sure you mean 'day', as there is a date there somewhere I do love that SAAF Lemania, I just wish it had a date; I can't get on without them.
It's still a huge favourite of mine, but you can't find crystals or bezels for it for love nor money so it's only rarely worn - funerals, assassinations and the like...Edited by andy_s on Sunday 24th June 17:33
Thanks, very helpful.
I'd definitely be buying something with a view to wearing it, so I guess that's an important consideration. I don't have the largest of wrists and so have always steered away from large watches, but I recently tried a 44mm Breitling on my wrist and was pleasantly surprised by how it looked. The wife wasn't (she'd seen the price tag), but that's another story...
andy_s said:
LukeBird said:
Great write up as always Andy.
I do love that SAAF Lemania, I just wish it had a date; I can't get on without them.
I'm sure you mean 'day', as there is a date there somewhere I do love that SAAF Lemania, I just wish it had a date; I can't get on without them.
It's still a huge favourite of mine, but you can't find crystals or bezels for it for love nor money so it's only rarely worn - funerals, assassinations and the like...Did they do a non-date version as well, I'm sure I'd seen one that was!
Regardless, don't have the sort of cash they seem to command, at the moment.
In fact I'm finding it very difficult what I would actually like to buy next, not having bought anything for a while, I seem to have an aversion to spending any money! I wanted something for a special occasion, but I can't even decide what I want for that!
LukeBird said:
Well don't I feel like a bloody mug!
Did they do a non-date version as well, I'm sure I'd seen one that was!
Regardless, don't have the sort of cash they seem to command, at the moment.
In fact I'm finding it very difficult what I would actually like to buy next, not having bought anything for a while, I seem to have an aversion to spending any money! I wanted something for a special occasion, but I can't even decide what I want for that!
Did they do a non-date version as well, I'm sure I'd seen one that was!
Regardless, don't have the sort of cash they seem to command, at the moment.
In fact I'm finding it very difficult what I would actually like to buy next, not having bought anything for a while, I seem to have an aversion to spending any money! I wanted something for a special occasion, but I can't even decide what I want for that!
- not a mug, just a brain fart - think you were thinking of the Benrus:
Anyway - nothing worse than buying under pressure - I'm sure you'll get inspired with a bit of browsing!
Ah well, if it was a good offer then fairy muff...crikey - this must be some wedding!
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