Description

HEUER AUTAVIA ref.2446 Second Execution

Super-rare Heuer Autavia ref.2446 “Second Execution” from 1963–-64. Original radium dial (Swiss) with “Second Execution” dauphine radium-hands. Original 38.3mm steel case with radium minutes-bezel.  Original Heuer crown and pushers. Manual Valjoux 72 movement is fully serviced. Watch comes with Hirsch Massai Ostrich strap and original (old) Heuer buckle. We also have many other strap options available.

Watch has 12-month service warranty.

Heuer Autavia

The first model of the Heuer Autavia 2446 was introduced in 1962. In the very first model, the index numbers of the dial and the top of the hands were painted entirely with radium lume. The screw-back steel case was smaller than in modern watches, 38.3 mm. The rotating bezel was available either with hour (H) or minute (M) markers. Less than ten pieces of these first Autavia models are known to exist today. One of these rare models was sold in Germany in 2017 for €200,000 to a collector from California.

The Autavia “Second Execution” model was introduced in 1963–-64. The case and bezel of the watch remained the same size as before. Small changes were made to the appearance of the dial: the 5-minute indices were now made of metal, and their luminous markers were made either of radium or tritium, depending on when the watch was made*.  Hands were still Dauphine-style and initially had triangular and later rectangular lume plots.

The Autavia “Third Execution” model was introduced in 1965. In the third model, the case grew to a size of 38.8mm, the bezel became thinner, and the size/indices of the dial and the hands were changed. The bezel no longer included a luminous triangle. This model was famously worn by Formula One driver Jochen Rindt, among other people.

You can read more about the specific differences between the models on Jeff Stein’s OnTheDash website.

* Starting from July 1, 1964, watchmakers were only allowed to use tritium for the luminous mass.