THE ESSENTIALS

MAKE: HEUER
MODEL: 1153N
YEAR: 1974
BOX/PAPERS: NO/NO
CASE DIAMETER: 39mm
CASE MATERIAL: STAINLESS STEEL
BRACELET MATERIAL: STAINLESS STEEL
MOVEMENT: AUTOMATIC

The year 1963 saw the birth of two of the most iconic sports chronographs: the Rolex Daytona and the Heuer Carrera. Unlike Rolex—known for its slow-and-steady design evolution (a 6265 from 1988 and a 6239 from 1963 are largely the same watch)—Heuer produced far more variations of the Carrera, each with distinct designs. Incidentally, Heuer also focused more on legibility and functionality when refining the Carrera, while Rolex prioritised enhancing the waterproofness and robustness of the Daytona.

By the late ’60s, Heuer was producing automatic versions of the Carrera, like this one—the 1153, which debuted in 1969. This example has survived in tremendous condition. The blue soleil dial is mint, with only a few tiny spots on the white subdials. The orange chronograph hand has retained most of its vibrancy, creating a fantastic contrast against the blue dial. The original GF-made bracelet is still present—those familiar with Heuer will know these are gold dust in today’s market. It can accommodate a 19cm wrist and is in great condition with minimal sag.

The movement was serviced within the last 12 months and is running well at -4 s/d, 270 amplitude, with a beat error of 0.1 ms.

If the 1153N is good enough for Mick Jagger, it’s good enough for us.