Heuer Autavia 73663 Villeneuve

This Heuer Autavia 73663 Villeneuve is a 1970's racing chronograph with a striking black dial and orange accents. The watch was rarely worn and is preserved in an impressive TOP condition.

Compared to the four-digit automatic Autavias, the manual-wound versions with a five-digit reference are still rather undervalued vintage Heuer watches even though they are rarer than almost all automatic 1163 Autavias. The first manual-wound Autavias appeared in 1972 and were produced in a short time period of around 2 years.

Here we offer you a 1974 Villeneuve Autavia. This version, with a black dial, three gray sub-dials and orange accents, was spotted on Gilles Villeneuve's wrist (see pictures), hence the name "Villeneuve Autavia".

Thanks to its high-contrast dial housed in a cushion case, this racing chronograph has a distinctive and sporty look. The orange accents can be found on the hands, hour markers and the 30-minute counter at 3 o'clock. The dial also features a 12-hour totalizer and a small running seconds sub dial. The rotatable bezel shows a tachymeter scale up to 400 units per hour. The Valjoux caliber 7736, known for its robustness, ensures reliable timekeeping and perfect functioning of the chronograph.

Condition report
Dial: original dial in great condition, one tiny spot in the subdial at 9 o'clock, original tritium lume tested under UV light, "SWISS" signed.

Case: stainless steel cushion case in excellent condition, has been professionally lightly refurbished, intact sunburst finish, sharp lines, visible numbers between lugs.

Bezel: flawless tachymeter bezel, rotatable in both directions.

Movement: Valjoux 7736 in perfect condition, timing machine +/-9 s/d.

Strap: leather strap with original Heuer clasp.

Summing-up
For us, this version is one of the most attractive Autavias of the 70s. A rare and sought-after racing chronograph with an eye-catching look and reliable movement. The impressive condition makes this example a special and valuable collector's item.

Serial number: 201xxx (1974)

Int.Exe.: 25480