It's true that aluminium cases were used for some Heuer models. However, a piece currently available in one foreign country has a rather 'unique' case, hands, and bezel that I have never seen before. Heuer has widely utilized the common 7710 movement in a lot of timing pieces. Two questions. 1. How to ascertain the piece is the genuine article, or at least with all correct parts? 2. Did Heuer produce many 'one-off' or 'rare' models not listed in the catalog?

YY:

Man, just when we get the page of fake chronos organized, you come with the tough questions about the dashboard guys!! Very demanding readers, we have.

Heuer definitely produced the black anodized aluminum cases (for the IFRs, Monte Carlos and even for a white-dialed Master Time). I have never seen the Auto-Rallye in black anodized case, but that certainly is not conclusive proof of anything.

Heuer did make some "special" cases, bezels, dials, etc. for these dashboard timers [ special in the sense that they are not commonly found and did not appear in the usual catalogs ]. There are cases for Master Times with chrome (rather than profectus) and no numbers; the military Montes do not have the rotating bezel; the 24-hour Super Autavia is genuine, but never appeared in a catalog . . . and the list goes on and on.

I have never seen or heard of a blatant fake of a dashboard timepiece. Some that may have been put-together, but none that are the screaming fakes. [ The market must be too small, with the two of us being among the only fools consistently chasing these guys. ]

Buy as many as you can; send good photos; and we'll sort it our from there.

Thanks for the great question.

Jeff