Most readers have realized that I have not included the "unattainable" in my posting, but I have received a few messages asking why I didn't include watches like the Seafarer in the Reference 2446 screw-back case. And that's where the "attainable" / "unattainable" distinction comes into play. My criteria for a model to be included in the posting is whether the diligent collector could reasonably hope to find one for sale in a year or two of searching.

So the list of the "unattainable" is long, but fun to ponder. The following would be a few among the "unattainable":

• Seafarer in Reference 2446 screw-back case (and for that matter, the very first Seafarer, in the 346 case)
• just about any Mareographe
• the Lemania 5100 powered "Boxing" chronograph [two seen]
• Lemania 5100 powered in 18 karat gold
• anything with a test / prototype dial (we have seen test dials for the Caliber 12 Autavia and Monaco)
• Chronomatic Carrera in 18 karat gold, Ref 1158 [three seen]
• the three Chronomatic chronographs used on the first posters / advertisements
• triple calendar moonphase chronograph

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: You make some really good points Steve. I do agree there is a big
: difference between personal grails which every collector has,
: and a "community grail" which Jeff tried to define.
: One way of thinking about it is that if Jeff had asked 500
: different Heuer collectors for their personal grail lists, and
: then found which watches came up most often, I think he would
: have ended up with a very similar list to the 16 he defined.

: Anyway, I wanted to say what my personal grails are, because when
: you see the list, you can easily see there is no way many (or
: most) of them are grails across the wider Heuer community.

: So here goes a few random watches off my (very long) grail list,
: including some which I eventually found and bought, after years
: of searching:

: 1) The weird "non Calculator" Calculator with the MH/T
: bezel that Jeff showed in his article. I saw this weird watch in
: a catalog and looked for it for years. Many of us in the
: community even doubted it existed, maybe it was just some idea
: when the catalog was put together and was never really made. But
: eventually I found a perfect one, and they crop up occasionally.
: But I am not surprised it is not a community grail - its a
: weird, awkward and somewhat pointless watch. But I love it.

: 2) The Beechcraft Calculator - not a racing logo, but the
: Beechcraft aircraft company logo on a Calculator. Also one that
: most collectors don't care about, but is very rare. I eventually
: found one after years of searching.

: 3) The Boxing 5100 series watch - a standard 5100 series watch but
: with a special boxing timer inner bezel. It's another one that
: was in the catalogs which we were not sure if it was actually
: produced. Eventually one turned up (I think Peter found it?) and
: was auctioned along with a Ringmaster timer. I didn't try buy it
: as in my mind it was made in pewter grey, but in reality it was
: black PVD, which I didn't love. Thats what happens when your
: grail is based on a black and white drawing in a catalog!

: 4) Screwback Autavia cased Seafarer. I agree with Jeff that it is
: so rare it's not such a realistic grail, but it might get a lot
: of votes if price was no object. I'm still dreaming of that one.

: 5) Carrying on the catalog theme, it was always a dream for me to
: find an 1133G Monaco transitional. The 1970 catalog has a photo
: of a 1133G Monaco with transitional style square hands and blue
: lume. Did it exist? Or just a graphic designers mock up? I guess
: you could fake one by taking the hands of a Chronomatic Monaco
: and put it on an 1133G. It would be a crazy way to destroy
: value, but hey...

: 5) What about a watch that we have zero evidence it exists but it
: is possible... a Carrera 2447 NT doubled signed with Abercrombie
: and Fitch - that is a huge grail for me even if it probably
: doesn't exist!

: 7) And finally - a watch that definitely does not exist, but we can
: all dream... how cool would a solid gold Montreal be?

: There are more on my personal grail list, but thats enough for
: now..

: Any other weird personal grails out there?