2447N Heuer Carrera Second Execution

Unimatic were once famously described as ‘an Italian kid educated at the Bauhaus.’ Build the Bauhaus next to Silverstone or Monza and you’d wind up with something akin to this: the uncompromisingly restrained, motorsport-adjacent, Valjoux 72 Carrera. Now I will admit, the three-sub 2447 is perhaps not quite as minimal as the two-sub 3647—but I digress. The Carrera, whether a triple or dual-register affair, is among the most iconic steel chronographs of the 60s. Although it is perhaps slightly overlooked alongside the Omega’s ‘license-to-LE’, Newman’s own, and Zenith’s ‘we really did first guys, promise’ it is every bit as significant.

1963 saw the introduction of both the Daytona and three-register 2447 Carrera, colloquially called the Carrera 12. The Carrera was penned by Jack Heuer, featuring a 36mm steel case with really elegant, long lugs. Its dial had no extraneous elements and was made to be highly legible at speed (read: contrast). Like Rolex, Heuer also utilized a Valjoux 72. More importantly, one of my all time F1 greats sported a latter gold Carrera regularly: Lauda (though sadly stolen). Siffert may have popularized Heuer in the F1 paddock with an Autavia, but I find it telling that one of the most ruthlessly efficient drivers of all time choose the most ruthlessly efficient chronograph.

This example has a well-preserved and honest wear. The elongated lugs are razor sharp and fully proportioned. Its dial is unfaded, all tritium pips present too as far as I can see here. The minute hand as a pinhole lume loss at its extremity, something which is common. In fact, it is increasingly rare to see these hands with full lume plots at all anymore. Black stripes down the hands center mark it out as a very late 60s second execution. Pushers/crown correct. The movement is said to be running well. It comes from a private collector as a naked watch.

Find this 2447N here on Chrono24 for 10000 USD.