I agree the that the ElP movement is highly sought after because of its technical specifications and its contention for maybe being the first auto chronograph..... but I certainly do worship the cal 11/12/14/15. To me the crown on the 'wrong ' side looks perfectly right! The cal 11etc movement has never given me trouble, but I don't mind a tantrum now and then, the dials and most heuers are perfectly coloured and balanced, the cases are perfectly proportioned and thick for a reason, and just rightly so. To me these heuers have character, a missing element in watches today. I really can't truly explain it. ... but there are many good movements and many great watches.... but to me none have the lure of a heuer!

: There is a passion for the ELP movement and especially for the sort
: of "original" watches built around it (see the
: wonderful El Primero Cheat Sheet by our Friend LouS
: http://www.onthedash.com/thoughts/el-primero-cheat-sheet/ ).
: Lou and others have done a lot of research on this movement and
: its history but there is still more to do. Some of the history
: may be difficult to dig up without the help of the factory which
: as Lou says is not as cooperative as the Heuer people seem to
: be. Also, the ELP, as great as it is, is not without its issues.
: The high oscillation rate means that it needs specialized
: service/lubrication which not just anyone can do etc.

: The Heuer Cal 11/12/14/15 was not really and in-house creation like
: the ELP. As you state it was sort of a thrown together pragmatic
: solution....a pretty nice one in my opinion...but it ended up
: being sort of a watchmaking dead end.

: With the exception of Omega which is making the in-house movement
: with the Daniels/Coaxial escapement, many of the other Chrono
: makers use a generic movement which they may finish in their own
: special way. Maybe the ELP is the best...?

: JohnCote