Heuer Carrera 3647t polycase

Dear fellows

I am more the reader than the writer, but this time I would like to share a nice story of watch collecting:

As everyday a good friend of mine and I were scanning the daily private sales section in the newspaper. Very rarely one can find some treasures there. This was one of such days: a Heuer Carrera, really bad pictures but was looking promising. My friend sent it to me because he knew a nice Carrera is on my list.

We contacted the seller, he was an absolutely great guy selling the watch for bis mother. It was lying in a drawer for 13! years 📖

We met (my friend is a watchmaker) had a Coffee, and more important: a look on the watch:

Heuer Carrera 3647t polycase First execution: condition sleeping but absolutely great! Chrono not working but very promising (First Pic)




This was a good day 🍿

Of course we bought the beauty, my friend serviced it and repaired the chrono. Found out that everything was correct. Serial Number matching the polycase pointing to an early execution:



What I now own is a Heuer Carrera which was on my list, met a nice seller, had an adventure with my watchmaker friend and in the end a rare First execution Heuer, perfectly original in great condition - Ed Heuer signed Valjoux 92, Swiss only dial pointing Most probably to Radium, Red Tachy - I am truely grateful 😁



Thanks for reading, would love to have your thoughts and a great fellows chat 😀

My thoughts? Dibs plz

I don't think it's Radium, just that they hadn't started marking the T for Tritium, which was correct for the earliest reference. The crown should be unsigned as well, is it correct?

Nice watch though - you have to be careful with poly-back Carreras as there are some dodgy ones out there...

http://www.onthedash.com/chronograph/carrera-45-decimal-minutes/

We were quite cautious as it's pretty easy to get a watch with just the wrong back. But it seems to be right: unsigned crown, swiss only on the dial, also the polished ground for the tachy scale, movement signed Ed Heuer and finally the case with correct serial range 📖

Regarding Radium: I am not sure on this (need to consult a Geiger...) but there are articles which mention that the very early dials may have Radium. Will try to find the article again

Found the article, by Eric Wind (thanks Eric, was a great read 😀 ):

https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/understanding-the-earliest-heuer-carreras

And a bit better picture - finally.

I did not polish the crystal as I found it better matching the general appearence - will see if I can stand this or grab the poly watch 😁

I also found some service pictures, for those who are interested:

I've just been through Crosthwaite & Gavin and found no mention of radium, just that the early 63/64 Carrera were made before various countries made the `T' marking a requirement.

@Jkuback Have you given Jeff Stein / Mark Moss, joint keepers of The List, the serial number?

Lovely watch, my `S' says welcome

Nice catch! And a superb example

Thanks for your message 👍 How do I provide the serial number?

Look between the lugs at 6 o'clock, like this although your number will be probably 5xxxx, maybe 6xxxx.



Then email carrera<underscore>table<underscore>mm<at>btinternet<dot>com with what you know about it and photos if you like. Address needs to be substituted appropriately, of course.

If you want to know more about 1960/70s Carreras the standard (and only) work is
https://www.blurb.co.uk/b/9428004-heuer-carrera-chronographs-1963-85

Expensive but worth it.

Really terrific catch, the dial is in superb condition. I love these early dials with the metallic / slanted outer track. They may have been harder to read than the second execution dials but they look so much cooler on the wrist. Welcome to the Carrera Club!

Thank you 😀 will do so - I knew the Number, but did mit know where to send it 😉

Thank you, really appreciate your comment 😀

What’s the name of that newspaper 😀
Great catch

Nice found 👍

My early Carrera is radium too. I had some discussions with others and with Eric Wind, and it seems clear that the very early ones are all radium. The precise boundary is not clear though, and I wouldn’t guarantee that no T on the dial always means radium. There may have been transitional dials.

https://omegaforums.net/threads/exp...euer-carrera-12-ref-2447s.76313/#post-1152088