THE ESSENTIALS

MAKE: HEUER
MODEL: 11630V
YEAR: 1972
BOX/PAPERS: NO/NO
CASE DIAMETER: 42.5mm
CASE MATERIAL: STAINLESS STEEL
BRACELET MATERIAL: LEATHER
MOVEMENT: AUTOMATIC

Heuer introduced the Autavia in 1962 with reference 2446, and over the next two decades released more than 90 different variants of their flagship sports chronograph. The earliest Autavias featured a screw-back round case with a three-register dial. Compressor cases followed shortly thereafter.

A major shift came in 1969, when Heuer—along with Breitling, Hamilton-Buren, and Dubois Dépraz—developed the Calibre 11, one of the world’s first automatic chronograph movements.

The present example, Ref. 11630V “Viceroy”, was released in 1972 as part of Heuer’s third-generation Autavia line. It features the upgraded Calibre 12 movement, a thicker tonneau-shaped case, mineral glass, and a rotating bezel more commonly found on dive watches.

This watch is in exceptional condition, thanks to a sympathetic and impressively thorough overhaul by Heuer (at a cost of ~£1650). The original dial is largely free of marks, save for a few faint ones on the white subdials. The red accents on the hands and dial have retained their vivid color, and the tritium lume remains intact, having aged to a gentle creamy hue.

The case has been polished—but done expertly—preserving what is very close to the original factory finish. The pushers, crown, glass, strap, and buckle have all been replaced with NOS parts by Heuer. They also fitted a NOS bezel, completing the period-correct restoration.

The movement is running beautifully at +2 s/d, 300 amplitude, with a 0.2 ms beat error. A fantastic example of a vintage Heuer classic, and one that’s been given the attention it truly deserves.