In the time that I've been collecting vintage Heuers, there have been several waves of watches becoming "A-graders"- you know, the ones that everyone wants (at the same time).

Phase 1: 70s Autavias all the rage- relatively inexpensive; broad range of colours and case designs
Phase 2: All about the Monaco- big increase in values for 1133B in particular
Phase 3: 60s Premium- first generation Carreras and Autavias command big prices

Sure, we've seen a burst of interest in the Silverstone, which still remains high on the list, but broadly speaking the simplistic phases above cover almost 10 years as Heuers went from undiscovered curiosities to mainstream vintage collectables.

So what happens how? I guess there are two scenarios:

1. New Heuer models makes the jump to A-grade: Montreal? Monza? 1000 Divers?

2. The A-grade remains as it is, and we see a widening gap between the A-graders and the rest.

What do you think is the next wave for collecting?

dc

 

The Skipper values kind of follow the models they were based on- the 1960s Carrera based Skipper is super hot for collectors, as is the early Autavia-based Skipper. In some cases, these 60s model will get a premium.
(Noodia's Skipperera below)


The late 70s/ 80s Skipper is one that I don't see getting to say Siffert Autavia territory, but they are a bit of a cult-watch.

Daytona will stay as it is now I reckon- a nice 70s Heuer with a unique style (and cool name), but I don't see the spark that will make someone chase a Daytona as hard as they do one of the A-grade vintage watches today. Over the last few years Daytona values have bubbled along..but no real change.

There is more info on the Daytona here: http://www.calibre11.com/heuer-daytona-series-overview/

dc

 

That's my view too Rich. On the whole, I'd be surprised if we see a new model move up...I reckon the next most likely would be the Camaro given the obsession with the 1960s, the overlap with the dials of the Carrera and the fact that it was only on sale for a couple of years.



dc

 

I think the Carreras, Autavias and Monacos still have a ways to go up yet, particularly those 60s Carreras, they're not just among the prettiest Heuers, they're among the prettiest chronographs of the era. I'd genuinely prefer to own a series one Valjoux 72 Carrera in excellent condition over a 60s Daytona and given the incredible price gap it makes the Carrera a rather excellent value piece even in today's market.

Some pieces like the Silverstone and Camaro fall into the more interesting and collectible but not necessarily beautiful category which might hold them back a bit.

 

I can see the Valjoux 72 models of Carrera/ Camaro start to get a larger premium over the Valjoux 92/ 77XX models- the Rolex Daytona connection helps!

 

Mind you while its helping those Heuer models that same Daytona connection is causing a lot of the lesser knowns to be killed off, there's a dealer in QLD that runs ads in newspapers for "Any Generic V72 Chronograph" and breaks them for parts, he's got a nice little pile of Zodiac, Wittnauer and other brand dials left over in his shop.

 

Really? What a crime.

 

I formally object. The Silverstone is dead sexy. Beautiful dials in one of the most seductive cases out there. But it IS an acquired taste, and that does limit the appeal

 

Well, when I said not beautiful I didn't mean ugly by any means, maybe just that it makes me think a little of a Carrera that's had a forceps delivery where the doctor squeezed slightly harder than he should have.

 

I love the Silverstone- it's my favourite vintage Heuer. But I don't see it gaining much. It's always been one of the more expensive Heuers, but prices not moving that much relative to others.

It's a watch that you either love or hate, same as the Monaco but without the McQueen connection

 

I actually remember somewhere seeing a set of three NOS Silverstones photographed, were they yours? It was a black/brown a blue and a burgundy/red all with stickers on the back and dent-free unpolished bezels in barn find condition.

 

All 3? You mean 4! These were mine


I bought two of these as NOS, the red one (which I never wore), and the Blue one for which I bought a second case back that I had converted into a see through back, keeping the original one with the sticker

 

What on earth is that bottom right one?! Is that a Lemania 5100 based version?

 

Exactly. When Lemania owned part of Heuer in 1982-1985, they "encouraged" Heuer to use their designs that they developed and sold to other brands, as a way of ensuring demand for their movements. When Lemania and Piaget sold to TAG, the majority of the L5100 Heuers disappeared overnight.

I like the Lemania Silverstone, but not sure how they chose to use the name as there's not much of a family resemblance!

 

Didn't actually know about the Lemania connection though I guess it makes a lot of sense given Lemania's many somewhat unsuccessful attempts to market their admittedly quite excellent movements in watches under their own brand, having a brand that was already well known and accepted like Heuer would have been a great opportunity for them.

Having said that, that Lemania dial looks remarkably cluttered and overcomplicated compared to the extremely legible, elegant and clean layout of the earlier generation Silverstones, from the video they mentioned Jack Heuer spent some time studying how to design watches that maximised legibility and minimalism, its quite clear to see in the difference between them that his approach wasn't applied by Lemania.