Although the Carrera is without a doubt Heuer’s most famous vintage watch, the brand produced a rich array of chronographs that merit consideration.
Take this oversized one from the 1950s, for example.
It was just one in a long line of chronographs that Heuer had produced in its history. Early on, the brand had found a niche in developing specialized timekeepers, and advances like a waterproof pocket chronograph in 1897 made Heuer a leader in the field. The brand was also an early adopter of wrist-worn chronographs, releasing its first in 1914—but with the increasing popularity of wristwatches during World War I, it would be the first of many.
As had happened after the First World War, the Second World War saw a boom in chronograph production as Heuer—along with many other Swiss watch manufactures—targeted the soldiers returning home from the front. The 1940s were marked by the production of complicated, triple calendar chronographs, which attracted the attention of admirers like President Harry S Truman. But as the 1950s dawned and Heuer geared up for its centennial, there was a marked shift in chronographs aimed toward sporting men.
Chronographs produced during this time retained the clean lines of the watches worn by military personnel during the war. The cases that Heuer used for these chronographs were steel. While many of these were somewhat smaller than their 1960s successors, like the Carrera, the one that we feature here is, at 38mm, oversized for the era.
With its long, clean lines and wide open dial, it epitomizes the “look” of Heuer’s mid-century chronographs. The applied gold markers and hands give the watch an air of distinction that is belied by the sturdiness of the case. On a leather strap, it’s quite elegant enough to pass for professional wear.
While few watches in Heuer’s catalog can surpass the popularity of the Carrera, watches like this one come close. Also, with the increasing popularity of Heuer chronographs produced during the 1940s and 1950s, demand for these pieces is certainly increasing.
