The Most Expensive Example Of The Ultra-Rare Heuer Autavia 2446 Ever Offered, At Over $200,000
https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/bring-a-loupe-january-27-2017
By LOUIS WESTPHALEN
FRIDAY JANUARY 27, 2017
For the second week in a row, a vintage Heuer Autavia makes the cover of Bring A Loupe, but there is a good reason for its return. The 1st execution reference 2446 offered today could indeed become the most expensive Autavia publicly sold, if its asking price is met. Our other picks for the week include a full set Rolex Daytona 6263, a stunning Omega Seamaster 300, and a funky Jaeger-LeCoultre Memovox nicknamed the "Snowdrop." But there is no doubt who the star of the show is – the Heuer 2446 is going to have collectors worldwide watching and waiting to see what happens. This is your Bring A Loupe for January 27, 2017.
Heuer Autavia Reference 2446, In Its Rarest 'Full Lume' Configuration, And In Incredible Condition
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The news shook the Heuer community this morning: a previously unknown first execution Autavia reference 2446 is being offered for sale. Without any doubt, the combination of full lume hands and big registers is the most coveted configuration for an Autavia (and we can say any Heuer) and the rarest. And when we say rare, we truly mean it, as
less than 10 surviving examples are currently known. More importantly, all Heuer addicts seem to agree that this watch is the
best looking first execution 2446 ever seen; the words "finest vintage Heuer chronograph" were even used by none other than Jeff Stein, of
OnTheDash fame (and the subject of a recent
Talking Watches) – strong words, coming from a guy who's handled literally hundreds of vintage Heuer watches.
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Just a single close-up look at the dial shows how perfect this example is, with the type of flawless dial you almost never have a chance to see. The white oversized sub-registers contrast amazingly with the black dial, as they first did when the Autavia was released in 1962. The full lume handset, a key characteristic of the first elusive execution, is just as breathtaking; the radium lume has taken on an absolutely stunning patina that can be also observed on the indexes. And naturally, there is no question as to the originality of all parts. The serial and movement numbers of this example fall right within the correct production timeline (extremely close to those another Autavia 2446, well known in the Heuer community and seen in Jeff's Talking Watches).
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A look at the case shows the same amazing state of preservation as the dial; the condition is again incredible, starting with the large, clean bevels on the lugs. Of course, not everything is perfect – there is some light chipping to the bezel but it's pretty insignificant in comparison to the impressive overall condition. The seller also adds that the caseback does not bear any watchmaker's engravings (it was common practice for the inside of the caseback to have the date of service scratched into it) which might indicate that its caliber Valjoux 72 was never serviced before. Indeed, the movement looks spotless, with none of the light traces that a servicing might produce. In short, this is probably the ultimate Heuer grail, and the type of watch I dream of being able to feature every week in this column.
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As you can imagine this one won't come cheap; it is actually the most expensive Heuer
Autavia 2446 ever offered publicly. If it sells it will become the new record for any Heuer without historical provenance, since a Heuer Monaco worn by Steve McQueen in the movie
Le Mans was
sold at auction for almost $800,000 in 2012.
So what is the listing price of this outstanding Autavia? The ask from the German dealer RareBirds is €200,000, or around $213,600. This is obviously a record for any Heuer Autavia but the rarity and condition of this example easily beats that of a later 2446 that fetched
$125,000 at Christie's last year.
Now there is a pretty big gap between the $125,000 at Christie's, and over $200,000, but Jeff Stein thinks that given the rarity and condition of this 2446, it could happen. He says, "Someone will pay $200,000 for this Autavia if they want the very best of the vintage Heuer breed . . . no one could reasonably expect to ever find another of these, in this condition." You can find this exceedingly rare
Heuer Autavia 2446 1st Execution on the seller's website.
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