Heuer Carrera Automatic
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Why We Love it
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Why We Love it
–As far as we're concerned, a vintage Heuer Carrera is about as cool a chronograph as you can get, featuring amazing vintage looks, true motorsports pedigree, and a design originally penned by the man himself: Mr. Jack Heuer. The Carrera got its name (in 1963) from the legendary cross-isthmus road race in Mexico, known as La Carrera Panamericana. At least one other noteworthy international brand also borrowed this name for one of their products (hint...it has four wheels and the engine in the back).
Originally, the Carrera was powered by manually winding chronograph movements, but with the advent of the automatic chronograph in 1969 (also pioneered by Heuer), production began shifting towards automatic in a serious way. At that time, a conglomerate of watch brands, headlined by Hamilton, Heuer and Breitling, created an automatic chronograph movement, the likes of which the world had never before seen. The top-secret work conducted at the hands of world-class engineers was dubbed Project 99.
There were three watch groups racing to be the first to release an automatic chronograph in the late 1960s; Zenith, Seiko and the joint Project 99 venture. Ultimately, out of the competition greatness grew. Zenith, the renowned Swiss manufacture, would release its famed El Primero movement that found its way into many watches, including the Rolex Daytona. Seiko, the incredibly innovative Japanese powerhouse, produced their 6139 movement that would later become the first automatic chronograph in space. While the "winner" of this unofficial contest changes depending on who you ask, under the direction of Heuer, Project 99 created some of the era's best looking watches: the Monaco, the Autavia and of course, the Carrera.
However, the costs associated with the Project 99 movement (named the Calibre 11 for retail purposes), proved to be higher than many consumers could swallow, leading to the eventual release of a "budget" variant, known as the Calibre 15. This particular example, a Reference 1553, utilizes just that type of movement, differentiated outwardly by the replacement of the 9:00 register (a 12 hour counter on Calibre 11/12 models) with a subsidiary seconds register at 10:00.
Featuring a brilliant silver dial with greyish blue subsidiary registers and outer tachymetre ring, this example is a stunning beauty, with colorful accents typical of the era. Ultimately, the Reference 1553 Carrera is one of the first - and last - Automatic executions, before the model swelled in size and lost its characteristic svelte design.
A:S Guarantee
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A:S Guarantee
+Our Pledge
Analog:Shift stands behind the authenticity of our products in perpetuity.
Condition
Since our pieces are vintage or pre-owned, please expect wear & patina from usage and age. Please read each item description and examine all product images.
Warranty
We back each Analog:Shift vintage timepiece with a one-year mechanical warranty from the date of purchase.
International Buyers
Please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.
Shipping & Returns
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Shipping & Returns
+All of our watches include complementary insured shipping within the 50 states.
Most of our products are on hand and will ship directly from our headquarters in New York City. In some cases, watches will be shipped directly from one of our authorized partners.
We generally ship our products via FedEx, fully insured, within 5 business days of purchase. An adult signature is required for receipt of all packages for insurance purposes. Expedited shipping is available at an additional cost. We are also happy to hand deliver your purchase in Manhattan or you may pick it up at our showroom.
Returns must be sent overnight or by priority international delivery, fully insured and paid for by the customer. A restocking fee may apply. Watches must be returned in the same condition as initially shipped.
We welcome international buyers, please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.
Heuer Carrera Automatic
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- Sold