Watch Spotting: At An International Meetup For Vintage Heuer Collectors
This time two weeks back, I was on a train from Geneva to Neuchâtel. After a quick transfer, I arrived in La Chaux-de-Fonds just in time for dinner at Hotel de Ville. The 2024 Heuer Collector’s Summit had begun.
Around 30 of the world’s more passionate vintage Heuer collectors were invited by the brand to meet the team, visit the manufacturer, and dig through the TAG Heuer Museum archives. If you’re a longtime Hodinkee fan, you’ll recognize names in attendance like Morgan King, Jeff Stein, George Bamford, and Eric Wind. If you’re a longtime Heuer fan, you’ll recognize others like Abel Court, Nicholas Gatehouse, and Paul Maudsley. Nicholas Biebuyck, TAG Heuer’s Heritage Director, played host, and at that first dinner, I sat next to Antoine Pin, the brand’s newly appointed CEO.
The watches were even more noteworthy than the attendees so let’s get on with it.
A TAG Heuer x The Rake & Revolution “Blue Dreamer” Carrera and a 1970s Autavia ref. 1158CHN.
A TAG Heuer Carrera 60th Anniversary and a 1960s Carrera ref. 2447NST.
A 1970s Carrera ref. 73653S.
TAG Heuer’s CEO Antoine Pin.
Nicholas Biebuyck addresses the crowd the next day at TAG Heuer headquarters.
A 1960s Carrera ref. 2447NST.
A 1970s Skipper ref. 1564.
A 1969 Monaco ref. 1133 with a “test dial.”
And its owner, the inimitable Morgan King.
A 1960s Skipper ref. 7754.
A 1960s Autavia “Rindt” ref. 2446H.
A 1969 Autavia “Chronomatic” “Siffert” ref. 1163T.
A 1970s Carrera ref. 7753 for the Belgian Air Force, an Autavia ref. 3646H “Big Eyes,” and a 1960s Skipper ref. 7754.
The star of the Summit, the first known Carrera ref. 3647T with Shamrock Oil and Gas logo.
Paul Copp was Shamrock’s Technical Director, that’s about all we know so far.
A 1970s Monaco ref. 1133B on the wrist of Julien Delcambre, Tag Heuer’s Lead Designer.
Delcambre double wristing with a TAG Heuer Split-Seconds Chronograph for Only Watch.
Now we step inside the TAG Heuer Museum with a 1960s Carrera ref. 3647S with Car and Driver logo.
A 1940s multiscale chronograph.
A 1970s Autavia ref. 3646 with Indianapolis Motor Speedway logo.
A 1940s Flieger Chronograph.
A 1970s Autavia ref. 7863C with Aero-Graphic logo.
A 1970s Carrera ref. 1158CHN gifted by Jack Heuer to Ferrari F1 Driver Ronnie Peterson.
A 1960s Carrera ref. 3147N “Dato” with Shelby Cobra logo.
A 1960s Carrera ref. 3647N with MG logo.
A 1970s Heuer Mareographe ref. 2446C.
A 1970s Bundeswehr Sternzeit Reguliert Ref. 1551SZ.
A prototype 1990s TAG Heuer 6000 made especially for Ayrton Senna.
A 1997 TAG Heuer Formula 1 Chronograph.
A 1970s Heuer Rowing stop wristwatch.
A 1950s Hervue and Autavia dashboard timer set.
A 1930s chronograph pocket watch with tachymeter.
A 1940s stopwatch with tachymeter.
A 1960s Yachting Timer stopwatch.
A 1970s Ski Nautique stopwatch.
A 1970s TV Film-Master stopwatch.
Behind the scenes, inside the archives of the TAG Heuer Heritage Department.
One of 8 1970s “Black” Monacos in the archives (ref. 74033N).
A 1950s Mareographe ref. 2444.
A 1960s Autavia “Big Eyes” ref. 2446H and a 1960s Autavia “Big Eyes” ref. 3646M.
A pair of 1960s Autavias ref. 3646 with Motor Age logos.
A 1960s Autavia ref. 3646 with Motor Age logo.
A pair of 1960s Autavia “Screw-back” GMTs ref. 2446.
A trio of Skippers ref. 7754.
A 1960s Carrera ref. 3147S with Indianapolis Motor Speedway logo.
A drawer full of 1960s Carreras.
A 1960s Orvis Solunagraph ref. 2446C.
A row of 1950s Solunars.
A 1960s Master-Time and Sebring dashboard timer set for Ferrari.
It is the TAG Heuer Heritage Department after all.
1990s TAG Heuer Professionals.
One of the 1990s TAG Heuer 1000s worn by Leo in The Wolf of Wall Street and a lume dial 1000.
A TAG Heuer Limited Edition Carrera Skipper for HODINKEE!
A 1930s chronograph with Breguet numerals and enamel dial.
And its movement, underneath a hinged caseback.
A 1970s Heuer Monaco ref. 1533G.
Our headquarters visit ended with an obligatory group shot.
Behind the scenes.
Behind the scenes 2.
At the farewell dinner, two Skippers are examined under iPhone flashlights (ref. 7754).
The only Carrera ref. 3647T with Shamrock Oil and Gas logo known (so far).
One of the other 7 1970s “Black” Monacos in the brand’s archives (ref. 74033N).
A 1960s Carrera ref. 2447S “Yachting.”
A 1960s Carrera ref. 2447S with Autoweek logo and the Shamrock Carrera ref. 3647S.
Hodinkee
