Heuer Skipper 'Skippererra'

Why We Love It

The word 'rare' gets overused a lot.

So let's get this out of the way - this watch IS rare.

With roughly 20 known examples in existence, the Reference 7754 Skipper — or ‘Skipperera’ — has become nothing less than a grail for watch collectors. With its iconic Carrera case and a Brilliant multicolored dial that has become the foundation for modern tribute editions by HODINKEE and Revolution, the 7754 was the first watch in a series of Heuer yachting chronographs to carry the name Skipper. 

This particular example is in great condition throughout, including an honest case with no signs of prior polishing, and a stunning dial with even patination, intact luminous material, and only a hint of edge wear. Unlike a few of the “cobbled together” Skippereras floating around, this piece has all of its correct hands, including a beautifully faded central chronograph indicator.

Furthermore, this watch comes on a period Gay Freres double-grain rice bead bracelet with ‘HEL’ endlinks — a rare prize unto itself.

We’ve had the distinct pleasure of handling a few of these special watches in our time, and even brokering one between clients. But this is the first time we’ve ever had one in stock to offer publicly - and who knows how long it might be until we do again!

The Story

The Heuer of yesteryear was one of the foremost purveyors of sports timers during the golden age of vintage chronographs- the 1960s and 70s.

While well known for their ties to Motorsports through the Monaco, Autavia and Carrera models lines, Heuer also built watches designed for use by sailors, aviators, divers and fishermen.

The Skipper may appear to be a wild amalgam of color that was just an attempt at designing a watch that sticks out in a crowd, but like all of the Heuer greats, it’s a purpose-built machine. According to noted Heuer expert Jeff Stein, the first generation Skipper was created to celebrate the America's Cup win of the New York Yacht Club's ship The Intrepid. The blue sunburst dial being chosen because of the watch's close ties to water, and the green of the sub registers matching the color of the Intrepid’s deck, with this color having been chosen because of its anti-reflective properties. The contrasting (and here faded) orange chronograph hand was chosen to increase legibility at a glance.

The multi-colored sub register at 3:00 is a classic timer feature, with each segment marking a period in the lead up to a regatta. In the 15 minutes leading up to a race, the boat skippers must gather behind the starting line at the first signal, vying with each other for the best position. The color-coding makes the chronograph easy for the skippers to read, letting them know how long until they can cross the start line, thus allowing them to plan the best course and eek out every bit of advantage.

Interestingly, Heuer never built a unique case for the Skippers, and it evolved alongside the other model lines during its production run. This is the only iteration to use the Carrera case (lending the watch it’s 'Skiperrera' nickname) as the Skipper quickly found its way into an Autavia case and stayed there for each future iteration.

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.

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.