So what do we think of Lot 39, in the Antiquorum Auction, scheduled for November 15 and 16, shown below?
It is said to be from the 1950's, but the movement is marked "Heuer-Leonidas"? Would you buy a Mercedes gullwing, circa 1955, with Daimler-Chrysler marked on the valve covers? Is this a fake or maybe a sloppy description in the auction catalog? Or is it possible that Heuer had Dubey and Schalenbrand -- which developed the Index Mobile system and probably produced Index Mobile for some other brands (for example, Breitling) -- produce some Index Mobile chronographs with the Heuer name? I am very doubtful about this possibility, for the following reasons:
- we have been watching for 10 years now, and have never seen another Heuer Index Mobile offered
- our very best expert, who was with Heuer for over 40 years (including the period when this one would have been produced), has never heard of Heuer having an Index Mobile chronograph
- you can almost see that the "Heuer" logo has been re-painted on the dial; the geometry of this logo is strange and is unlike the logo that we see in this era (or any prevoius era)
- the "Swiss Made" at the bottom also looks strange; the radius of this writing does not match the radius of the other "tracks" on the dial.
My own opinion: it's a fake; dial repainted to add the Heuer name to a watch produced for some other brand. Personally, I would only be convinced that this one is genuine if someone can produce documents or literature showing that Heuer had these manufactured under its name. Of course, it would also be useful to have a look at the movement.
You can have a look at a larger photo of this timepiece, and see the other lots, in the Online Catalog.
Jeff
