Is my Vintage Heuer Authentic? All questions here please

D Donna

I was gifted a new Tag Heuer ladies watch quite a number of years ago, probably at least 15. I wore it only a few days while my other watch was being repaired. So it has been back in the original box all these years. I would like to sell it as I do not wear it but hesitate to do so in case it is fake. It did come from one of the jewellrey stores here but they also do not sell Tag Heuer anymore and have all had rumors of not being quite honest. So although the numbers are not one on top of the other but one on each of 2 sides. I am suspect but want to make sure. One number is WG1322-RO and looks original and the other number is RT8222 which looks a little bigger and not as deep engraved. How would one tell?

J Jkbenn02

Everything on that 980.026L looks correct and authentic to me. The items are all model correct for an L variant.

You’ve got a well preserved example there, enjoy it.

Btw, they never made fake 1000 series. The only worry of thing to watch out for is non-original parts or franken watches. I see nothing concerning on yours.

Thanks,

Justin
www.TAG1000Diver.com

J Jkbenn02

Everything on that 980.026L looks correct and authentic to me. The items are all model correct for an L variant.

You’ve got a well preserved example there, enjoy it.

Btw, they never made fake 1000 series. The only worry of thing to watch out for is non-original parts or franken watches. I see nothing concerning on yours.

Thanks,

Justin
www.TAG1000Diver.com

H hcron

I just got a chance to buy a vintage Autavia from a trusted person. It seems to be a Viceroy due to the colours of the dial, the case seems to be a 1163. The watch itself needs to serviced, which is ok for me. I‘m concerned about the fact, that the case does not have a number engraved between the lugs, but rather on the back of the lower left lug. Also, the number which is engraved doe not really make sense, it is 12236.

Can anyone help me adding more colour to the picture?

B beats

Hi Guys,

sorry to bother you once more 😉 Still doing a bit of research work to the 1000 diver series. In all vintage catalogues there is only the screw-in crown mentioned. In several other sources i found a bajonet and also a banjo crown / tube combination. So to sum it up there were 3 versions?

- screw-in crown
- bayonet crown (1/4 resp. 1/2 turn to close it)
- banjo crown which was pushed in only to close

My Heuer has the push in crown only - you considered this as legit. Is my research work here correct?

Thanks guys - i appreciate a lot. Btw i love watches, but i'm kinda new to the heritage world 😀

Passover

Though some material already seem to have beeen removed here before there are still corrosion holes???

Service means what - Is the watch still working?

I had a caliber 12 with a not working chrono section which turned out as great problem restoring

A working Viceroy in good conditon starts at 2500€ and has a good availability, what is the "trusted person" asking for this watch?

Good luck

SteveP

Interesting. I'm inclined to agree with the 'pre-Viceroy' theory. The '12236' you can ignore as it is evidently done by an amateur. You will notice the notch on the same lug though, indicating the movement has been upgraded at some point....and also pointing to a genuine case. This coupled with the bezel type would indicate pre-Viceroy. (it would be good to see the movement.)

The ends between the lugs are peculiar-the pits could be dirt but do they also look matt? (which they shouldn't)

Not sure who the 'trusted person' is but unless they are a Heuer specialist, they are unlikely to recognise these points. Otherwise, it all comes down to price and your attitude to risk on this one....

Best, Steve

SteveP

The price is very good for what you could be getting. As it sounds like you have the watch, if you can re-photo the ends (where the serial/model number should be) in better light and/or from a different angle that may help.

Back in the 1970s, some of the original calibre 11 movements were upgraded during service by Heuer to a calibre 11i or calibre 12 movement equivalent. These were indicated by 1/2 triangles/notches on the rear of the lug, as we see with yours. The slightly later 1163s issued in the Viceroy promotion were all/virtually all issued with the calibre 12 movements anyway, so this upgrade would not have been necessary.
Steve