KAF-Issued Heuer 73663 Autavia

When you think military-issued pieces, you probably think milsub for the Royal Navy, MN Tudors, or the dirty dozen. You probably do not imagine Heuers for the Kenyan Air Force. And yet, funky-vintage-cool does not come much more funky-vintage-cool than this KAF-issued 73663. The Autavia was, as I’m sure you know, a contraction of automotive-aviation. We often see the automotive side of the Autavia with Rindt and Siffert chronographs being worth by F1 playboys and F1 playboy-wannabes. We rarely see the aviation aspect of the autavia on display. This 73663 proudly highlights just that.

Heuer produced an estimated 250 examples of these over two years. The KAF’s demand was, apparently, not immense. The chronographs featured elongated arabic numerals, a beautiful detail specific to these runs. The watch would be instantly recognizable to Jeff Stein, but probably very few others. I love the ‘if you know, you know’ watches. The KAF Autavia has it in spades.

Its condition is really quite strong. Take as reference this one that sold in 2018 for 10K CHF. The crystal and case are only lightly marked and not polished. Its military engraving is still very visible. The dial and seconds hand are clearly legible and lightly weathered. The elongated luminous arabic numberals are beginning to degrade, but only just lightly. Everything is said to be running well from a recent service.

Find this KAF Autavia here from Bulang & Sons for 10500 EUR.