Heuer Autavia 2446C GMT "Mark 1 First Execution"

DESCRIPTION & SIGNIFICANCE

• Up for sale is an exceptional and highly sought-after vintage Heuer Autavia GMT Reference 2446C, dating to approximately 1969.

• This specific example is an incredibly rare First Execution (Mark 1) variant, standing out as one of the earliest manual-wind GMT chronographs Heuer produced using the iconic EPSA compressor case architecture. Powered by the legendary Valjoux 724 (Valjoux 72 base) movement, this piece offers a phenomenal blend of crisp geometry, an honest unmolested dial, and incredible vintage character.

CONDITION & COMPONENTS

• Overall Grade: Excellent / Unrestored (Dial) | Very Good / Sharp Geometry (Case & Bezel)

• Originality: original factory parts with period-correct specifications. Hands, bezel, pushers, and crown.

• Key Wear Notes: Honest micro-scratches from careful, historic wear are present. The caseback has worn smooth over decades of wrist friction, which is completely expected and authentic for a true unpolished example.

MOVEMENT & PERFORMANCE

• Caliber Engine: Column-wheel manual-wind Valjoux 724 engine (Valjoux 72 base with GMT modification).

• Service History: Fully Serviced

• Metrics: [Placeholder: e.g., Running at +4s/day | 280° Amplitude | 0.2ms Beat Error]

• Functionality: Movement is visually clean with no signs of corrosion, oxidation, or component mismatch. Bridge layouts and engraving architecture match perfect factory specifications. Chronograph functions engagement is sharp, crisp, and resets to zero.

DIAL & HANDS

• Variant & Condition: Correct First Execution dial featuring the distinct smaller "flat" sub-registers that do not overlap or touch the main luminous hour plots.

• Lume & Aging: Beautifully aged, original tritium plots showing a warm, uniform creamy patina. Fully correct "T SWISS" signature below the 6 o'clock register.

• UV Reaction: [Placeholder: Insert details on how the lume behaves under UV light if tested]

• Hand Set: All hands are fully original and period-correct. The hour/minute hands are the plain, polished steel variants correct for early batches (lacking the inner red paint of later executions), paired with the signature bright red 24-hour GMT pointer.

CASE, BEZEL & CRYSTAL

• Dimensions: 40.5mm Diameter (excluding crown/pushers) x 48mm Lug-to-Lug | 20mm Lug Width | Approx. 13mm Thickness (including crystal)

• Case & Lugs: Ervin Piquerez S.A. (EPSA) compressor snap-on case. The thick, blocky "C-Case" profile retains its sharp, defined factory chamfers and geometric angles, escaping the aggressive buffing and rounded lug profiles seen on most surviving 2446Cs.

• Components: Fully correct, smooth "pump" style chronograph pushers exclusive to the Mark 1 execution. The crown features the crisp, period-correct historical Heuer shield stamp.

• Bezel & Crystal: Original bidirectional 24-hour "Pepsi" bezel. The blue half and lower half have faded gracefully into a highly desirable, beautiful blue and ghosted pink/salmon hue, offering immense vintage wrist presence. High-domed plexiglass crystal.

• Case Back: The exterior snap-on back is structurally sound with expected wear , lacking deep tool gouges. Original markings ("Autavia - HEUER") are visible and readable.

STRAP & ACCESSORIES

• Hardware: Modern TAG Heuer high-polish reissue steel shield buckle.

• Fit & Wear: Fitted on a classic, black perforated leather rally/racing strap.

• COLLECTOR NOTES

  • Provenance & Box/Papers: No box or papers.

  • Vintage Disclaimer: This is a vintage, pre-owned timepiece with nearly 60 years of history. It is an honest, used object and is not cosmetically perfect. It displays character marks, micro-scratches, and component aging consistent with its era. True to its late-1960s this vintage watch must be treated with care against hard impacts, drops, or water exposure. Please perform due diligence by carefully examining all high-resolution photographs and macro images provided to ensure this piece fully meets your personal condition standards before making a purchase.

Timegrapher reading (view)

• Rate: +39 sec/day
• Amplitude: 209°
• Beat error: 1.9ms

Measured October 1, 2026, Dial up, fully wound.

Vintage movements typically run 200 to 280° amplitude; the rate matters most for daily wear. A reading is a snapshot on the date shown.