3 Vintage Driving Watches You Can Buy Right Now
Another week, another selection of fine wristwatches—and we start with a special Heuer Carrera. Many examples of Heuer’s Ref. 1153 Carrera have been overlooked in most Carrera collecting circles, but with the current frenzy and enthusiasm that’s now surrounding Heuer, I think the market will finally look at these Carreras in a different light.
Their place in the brand’s history mustn’t be forgotten, as they were one of three watches that the brand originally used in 1969 to launch the Calibre 11—Heuer’s automatic chronograph movement developed with help from Breitling, Hamilton-Buren, and Dubois-Depraz.
Heuer Carrera Ref. 1153
Today, I’ve found a special Ref. 1153 in Crown and Caliber’s much-anticipated “Heuer 100” sale, that checks all the boxes, so to speak. In addition to a clean, signed bracelet, and an honest, charcoal gray dial, you’ll notice a line of text below the proud movement designation that reads “Abercrombie & Fitch Co.,” indicating that the watch was retailed by the luxury outfitter of sporting and excursion goods way back when. Although the tachymeter currently isn’t perfectly lined up with the dial at the moment, I still think this is an interesting Heuer that’s definitely worth making note of if you plan on bidding in this momentous sale.
Universal Geneve Compax
On the site, we’ve discussed the eponymous watches of Jochen and Nina Rindt in great detail before, given their now unique and rare nature in today’s collecting community. As previously mentioned, Nina Rindt’s chronograph of choice is now known by her own name, but collectors have taken things one step further, through accordingly naming similar variants of the watch, like this black dial “Evil Nina,” with red accents.
The example in question is being offered for sale by a trusted collector, and overall, the watch looks to be in wonderful shape, with an unpolished case, original Universal Geneve branded crystal, and a nearly flawless dial. With a rich history in racing, this 1960s piece from Universal Geneve is sure to fill the chronograph void in your collection, and then some.
“Chevy Pontiac Canada Group” Rolex Oyster Date
In all honesty, a two-tone Rolex Oyster Date is not a watch that usually gets me excited, or piques my interest. Don’t get me wrong, they’re great watches, that’ll easily last you multiple lifetimes, but they’re just a bit boring if you know what I mean. This piece on the other hand, is a different story. Allow me to explain.
In November of 1986, this Rolex was originally sold to the “Chevy Pontiac Canada Group”, which one could surmise after taking a look at the engraved caseback, which boldly displays the Chevrolet bowtie logo. This example also includes the original boxes, hangtags, and paperwork, which corroborate the timepiece’s automotive-related origins.
