Gianluca
I think it is because Heuer isn't a wide ranging collectors brand. In the sense that you can say 'Rolex' to a villager in Outer Mongolia and they will have heard of it. Say 'Heuer' in a vintage watch shop and they sometimes don't even get what you are saying.

I actually prefer it this way.. in the sense that Heuer is a little underground, under the radar. The downside is that bad examples, or frankens/fakes are not dealt with seriously... but you know, that's part of it all I guess.. avoiding the trash to find the gems.

The funny thing about collectors is that they are always happy when their brand is recognised, and goes up in value.. but it's a double edged sword.. because that Heuer you really wanted isn't $700 anymore, it's $7000. Yes, good for some, but on the whole, as a collector, I would prefer that they were still cheap!

I reckon I could bang on about this subject for ever, but.. at the end of the day, with Heuer, it's not about the money, it's about the (mostly racing) heritage and the watches.. and that is something that can never be taken away.

Generally dealers.. lets face it, at the end of the day - their bottom line is important, so they won't care if they have a fake/franken Heuer or two. If they are found to have a bad Rolex, this is bad.. but I guess it's just the way of the world. Dealers that know their Heuers (or other non-mainstream brands) get a lot of respect from me.. not because it's Heuer, but because it shows that they have a true passion about watches in general, and not just about main stream brands.

Stewart
- Heuerville