I too was quite struck by the current price and it looks like two (and it just takes two) bidders are chasing this one and consequently bumping the price to record levels. These are not rare by any means but over the years I have seen a variety of features from the true first of the first and later executions featured. But this one has it all - Monnin signed movement, Cathedral hands and "Made in France" on the dial. The caseback is correctly stamped 844 and should also be signed G Monnin on the inside and that would complete the set. As they say in the north "thers nowt as queer as folk"
regards
Paul
www.heuerworld.com