Hi Paul,
I read with interest and enjoyed your beautiful and useful post even if I don't own (unfortunately) an Autavia 2446C.
I would like to see more posts like this so Heuer know-how can grow...
Thanks for sharing.
Best.
Gianluca

: The following watch was recently posted on a UK watch forum. At
: first glance it’s a 1st execution Autavia 2446. Right?

:
:
: Picture courtesy of Daniel Berger

: Wrong.

: It’s actually a “new” discovery. Let me explain. The new part
: of the discovery is finding a 1st execution dial & dauphine
: hands in this particular case. The case in question is the not
: so “new” bit. This distinctive case, of which we have seen
: fewer than 20 samples, has actually been know about for some
: time but never really brought to the attention of the wider
: community. I call it the Transitional Autavia Screw Back Case.

: The main distinguishing feature of this case is the lugs. They are
: missing the bevelled edge that is a feature of both 1st and 2nd
: Autavia screw back cases. In addition to that the case features
: the wider bezel from the 1st execution case. In all examples I
: have seen the bezel is the type 2 version with no lume triangle
: at the 12.

: Here is a family portrait which identifies where this case (3rd
: from left) fits into the series:

:
:
: Picture by www.heuerworld.com

: I learnt about this case roughly 2 years ago shortly after seeing
: one example come up for sale on ebay. At first I dismissed it as
: a fake case with correct dial, hands, bezel and movement. Soon
: after I realised the error of my ways when I was loaned the
: example in the image above by Abel Court. Abel’s knowledge of
: vintage Heuer goes beyond the obvious and when you have
: dismantled, serviced and restored as many vintage Heuer watches
: as he has it’s no surprise that he was the one (as far as I
: know) to discover and authenticate this unusual and rarely seen
: Autavia screw back case.

: Of all the examples I have seen most featured the 3rd execution
: 2446 dial and straight steel hands. But there have been others
: like the one above with the 1st execution dial as well as a 3rd
: execution 3646 with Valjoux 92. Here is yet another unusual
: example of this transitional case with a 3646 tachy dial:

:
:

: Below is a visual comparison between a 1st execution 3646 and the
: transitional screw back case with 3rd execution dial (ignore the
: replacement red central second hand). These cases seem to be
: identical in every dimension and detail except for the absence
: of the bevel on the transitional case:

:
:
:
:
:
:
: Picture by www.heuerworld.com & Abel Court

: The obvious questions arise as the where and how this case fits
: into the history of the Autavia range generally and the early
: screw back cases specifically. The best US Heuer expert (ex
: Heuer watchmaker) has no recollection of this case, which could
: be interpreted as this was a small run or design indecision when
: updating this model. It is clear from the images above that the
: lugs are thick and the lack of a bevelled edge was not due to an
: over polish in later life. I would go as far as to say that it
: left the factory this way. And I will go even further to declare
: that this is a transitional Autavia screw back case that came
: after the 1st case/2nd dial and before the 2nd case/3rd dial
: (the Rindt Autavia). It may be obvious from the family portrait
: but the proof lies in the serial numbers.

: It is well know that there is no official record of Heuer serial
: numbers however, the watches produced certainly in the 1960’s
: and 1970’s with very few exceptions, all had serial numbers
: engraved on the case. Over time individual collectors including
: myself have built up a data base of serial numbers which paint a
: clear picture of when certain references and models started and
: finished. I have managed to compile a good sample of Autavia
: screw back case serial numbers and they paint a very interesting
: picture. Let me just say that this is not a complete record and
: there are and will always be some exceptions. The range of
: serial numbers I have are as follows:

: Case 1 & dial 1
: 48360 - 49498
: 52240 - 53047

: Case 1 & dial 2
: 53093 - 53409
: 59330 - 59793

: Transitional case
: 82848 - 83122

: Case 2 & dial 3
: 85128 - 86088
: 88220 - 90009
: 95284 - 97062

: Case 2 & GMT dial
: 100012 - 100085

: The vintage Heuer knowledge base is extensive but from time to time
: new discoveries come to light that change the picture ever so
: slightly as in this instance. The significance of this case
: alters the well know timeline of the screw back Autavia range.
: In my view it should be considered a transitional case simply
: because there is a small sample know and within that sample more
: than one dial has been found. Which brings the story right back
: to the beginning and the discovery of a 1st execution dial in
: this much later case. It was not possible to get the serial
: number of this example because it does not have one (or could
: not be found by the owner) however I can report that the
: movement was an early Ed Heuer signed Valjoux 72. The dauphine
: hands are 2nd execution Autavia so it is a real mixed bag.
: Sadly, the oral history of this piece is sketchy so we may never
: know if it was an early Autavia re-cased into this transitional
: model or whether Heuer (or some private watchmaker) was using up
: some old dials and movements during the run of transitional
: case. Nevertheless the sum of the parts makes for a very
: interesting piece that was the inspiration for this story and I
: look to seeing more of these that are out there shared with the
: community.

: Here are some more images of this transitional case for you to
: enjoy.

: Happy Easter
: Regards
: Paul
: www.heuerworld.com

:
:
: Picture courtesy of Abel Court

:
:
: Picture from Meetz World of Time

:
:
: Picture courtesy of Daniel Berger

:
:

:
:

:
:

:
:
: Picture by www.heuerworld.com and courtesy Abel Court