2447N Heuer Carrera

The new Carrera has become ungainly in age. The original Carrera was a minimalist’s chronograph made pure. And it’s not even that much more valuable. Jack Heuer was all about Bauhaus dials. Somewhat ironically, it then became the chronograph of motorsport. And that history is massive, even coming back with the new F1 sponsorship. Yet, the main appeal of the Carrera today is that of a perfectly proportioned, warmly-vintage motorsport chronograph which is every bit a 6238 peer and yet unbelievably approachable in value.

If you’re deciding between an OG Nina, Daytona, Speedmaster, or Carrera, there’s no bad answer. Valjoux 72 collecting is a nice place to be (321 too). But the Carrera stands out as just trying to distill the formula further than its peers. The three-register 2447 Carrera was penned by Jack Heuer himself, which makes it an entirely different thing to anything TAG. Jack observed that, post WWII, many chronograph dials were cluttered with their artillery telemetre multi-scales and others to the point of being illegible. He created a unique case and crystal design aimed toward maximizing dial real estate. Consider how far the crystal extends over the case.That expansive and uncluttered mass was made to be legible, later marketed to be legible at speed (hence the racing connection). An NST was born shortly thereafter, but this is the dial he envisioned.

The 2447N was produced widely. It’s not a rare watch. But it brings to mind names like and Stewart, Villeneuve, Lauda, where the 6238 does not. Its case is distinctive and long-legged, quite charismatic. The dial has restraint that was not common in the 1960s. It is, in other words, humbly excellent. Great watches just make you smile, it doesn’t matter how. The lightweight value of these (relative to peers, not outright), lightweight visual impression, and unfussiness just make me smile. And that’s what vintage should be about: history, fun, beauty. It’s much easier to explain to a friend how they should consider loving a 10K USD 2447 compared a 100K 6238, though we all adore them both. We need watches to get the next generation of vintage enthusiasts excited, and this is one. Let’s celebrate that.

There's an honesty in this example that is great. The case is strong, nothing more to say there. The dial looks lovely, deep cream tritium matching the hands. There's a partial loss of the 3 pip, but that's pretty normal for these. Just worth noting. It's paired on a sand strap that, while not ours, looks great. It comes from a well-regarded German retailer, Heuer pin buckle included.