your watch can be found in the 1970/71 Heuer catalog on page 10.4 bottom left, see catalogs onthedash.

The compressor case housing the original Val 72 movement (have a look at the signature under the balance) is time period correct and was the successor of the screw down case used on earlier Autavias. It has a snap back mechanism and was sealing itself due to different outer and inner pressures whilst diving.
The bridge is signed Heuer-Leonidas, which is the correct signature after the merger of Ed Heuer to Heuer-Leonidas late 1964.

The dial is period correct (possibly from 1969 as the little T is still present) showing the correct later generation markers. The red chronograph hand corresponds with the red marks on the outer 1/5 second rail.
1970 was a transition period for minute and hour hands therefore the all steel ones as well as the steel with black inserts were used.

The hands on your watch look well original and the match of patina between hands and dial luminous inserts are obvious.
The MH bezel is original with the little teeth at the edges to ease turning with gloves.
The Heuer signed crown is period correct and was slightly enlarged versus earlier Autavia models, fluted pushers are good.

The 145xxx number is an indication for late 69 or early 70 case production run, hence your watch could be well completed and sold around mid to late 70is, which would correspond with the date of the guy freres bracelet.

The case and horns look pretty sharp, angled surfaces still intact, maybe a very gentle polish in the past, hard to say from these rather dark pictures.

Finally value:
it is not the most desired Autavia model, however it is a very complete set just missing the papers and therefore would be normally in the 1800 to 2200 range.
Already the bracelet would sell for 400 and the box for another 200..

Cheers

Arno

www.heuerchronographs.com

: I'm hoping you can help me determine the ballpark value of this
: watch. I've owned it for 30-some years, but I rarely wear it, as
: A) for the first ten years or so I had it, I was an experimental
: machinist, and didn't wear ANYTHING that could get me caught up
: in the works of a lathe or milling machine; B) I'm a klutz, and
: I'm always banging into things; and C) It's rather too heavy to
: be comfortable. The watch is a Heuer Ref. 2446C Autavia,
: Three-Register, Manual Wind, snap-back case, with a Model 72
: 17-jewel movement made by Valjoux. The watch was just gone
: through by expert watchmaker, horologist extraordinaire, and
: Personal Friend of Mine James D. Ball. I'm thinking of selling
: it, which, of course, leads me to thinking of eBay (where I've
: participated as buyer and seller for 12 years, though I'd rather
: sell it without giving eBay/PayPal any more of my money), which
: leads me to try to find someone who can assign a rough value for
: the thing. I don't want to burden the forum with a terabyte of
: images, so I'll attach a few representative ones, that are of MY
: watch, and not generic off-the-web images.

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: The Valjoux 72 movement images were taken by Jim Ball during his
: tender ministrations; they ARE of the actual movement inside
: this watch.

: Any help, advice, or good karma is greatly appreciated.

: Regards,

: Bart Brown

: PS: Oh, yes... it runs and keeps excellent time!