Heuer built handheld and wrist stopwatches without showing time of day for special purposes: racing, running, regatta-sailing, skiing, golfing and some more.
They are the “trailblazers” of the Heuer Skipper. First on a cord in the pocket, than as a big yacht-timer on the wrist – and at the end as a full time showing watch with the yachting chronograph function on the wrist.
Here are some of the ads of yacht timers of Heuer and some pictures in flesh – please send more if you find pictures and references to complete the page 😉
This is just a start to catalog the Heuer Yacht Timer – you can see the further developement online – stay tuned and enjoy some pictures first!
1914-1930
As my friend Mark found out, the Patent of the 5dots Yacht Timer was made in 1914 from Berna. the first known catalogue of a watch using the 5 circular apertures in the dial and the coloured red indicator disc rotating underneath was made by LEONIDAS, which was a kind of “pre-history” of Heuer too with the merging of the companies in 1964. It should be named here because some of the yachting timer and watches was made by Leonidas in the same time next to another or even in a joint venture before it became Heuer Leonidas.

1930 Leonidas Dealers Catalogue
credit: Mark regatta-yachttimers.com
So in the history of all made yachting timers this one was THE most important milestone and the base of many yachting timer of the next timer in the second half of the last century.

Leonidas Yacht Timer Grail
The same 5 dots yacht timer is known with a Abercrombie and Fitch branded dial. Movement was made by Berna. Thats different and maybe earlier then the Leonidas, because Leonidas use the Venus 120 modified with regatta module.
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Abercrombie & Fitch Yacht Timer Grail
credit: Mark regatta-yachttimers.com
There are some other yacht timer with serif fonts and enamel dial known which need to be researched. The movements should be the key to get the production dates into the right line…. will come next here.
1936
The first found entry of a Yacht Timer made by Heuer is to read in the Catalog from 1936 showing on onthedash.com.
1959-60
This old one have a very nice white case and a big crown.
1961-62
In natural the Yacht-Timer looks very colorful and nice!
1962
1963

credit: Mark
1964
1968
1969-70
And yes – here you can see the real Autavia Skipper as first in a brochure – the Heuer Skipper 7764!
1970-71
1972

1972 Brochure
credit: onthedash.com
Interesting to read at this ad is: “This exclusive yacht timer is used throughout the world by top skippers, including the INTREPID crew, winner of famous America Cup.” More about a using the first 5dot Heuer Aquastar Felsa 4000N Regatta wristwatch by the crew of the INTREPID you find here.
1973
1974
1976
1977-78
1980
1982
1983
1984
1986
Interesting facts about the 5-dots wrist-stopwatch you can find here. It seems that this was built by Lemania and labeled with Heuer (and Aquastar).
The stopwatches sometimes have the typo “Trackmaster” on the dial, see one of the 603.615 too with that. “Trackmaster” (and “Trackstar”) stopwatches were selling by Heuer from 1968 till the 1980´s. Usually they had a cheaper pinlever movement but with regulation tolerance +- 1,5 sec/h. The professional calibres were 7700 with 36.000 bph and a regulation tolerance of 0,5 sec/h. *1
It seems that some of the Yacht timers were produced over a long time period with the same dial and different cases as the Ref. 653.515. Look at the older catalogues, need to have an exact eye to see some differences for that one.
This post needs to be continued…
Update 17.08.2014
Based on my idea to show all Heuer Yachting Timer year by year printed in the catalogues the mastermind of onthedash.com, Jeff Stein worked it out. He found some catalogpages more and filled the overview with some explaination and put in a very nice overview about the movements. This overview was made by Hans Schrag, a great expert and former (TAG-) Heuer director in the United States. Great stuff!
You find Jeffs excellent post here.
Here is the table of references with movements made by Hans Schrag and published by Jeff – and my additions.
Reference | Catalog | Movement | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
202.515 | 1983 | Lemania 6000 | ||
203.505 | 1982, 83 | Lemania 6000 | ||
203.510 | 1982, 83 | Lemania 6000 | ||
203.512 | 1980 | Lemania 6000 | ||
33.512 | 1961, 62, 63 | AS 1564 | ||
33.712 | 1959 | AS 1564 | ||
3912 | 1959, 61 | Heuer 736 (AS 736) | ||
403.615 | 1968 | Valjoux 7700 | ||
403.915 | 1973 | Valjoux 7710 | ||
503.512 | 1968, 72, 73, 78 | Valjoux 7710 | ||
503.615 | 1968 | Valjoux 7710 | ||
503.812 | 1970-71 | Valjoux 7710 | ||
503.915 | 1973, 77, 78, 80 | Valjoux 7710 | ||
542.912 | 1973 | Valjoux 7714 | ||
603.315 | 1977 | BF 411 | ||
603.615 | 1980, 82, 83 | BF 411 | ||
653.515 | 1983 | BF 413 | ||
653.915 | 1982, 83 | BF 413 | ||
658.915 | 1983 | BF 412 | ||
775.901, 775.915 (Supersport) | 1973, 76, 77, 78 | Val 7770 | ||
912/5, 912/10, 912/15 | 1962, 63 | Heuer 736 (AS 736) |
Source: *1 sempervivens on http://forums.watchuseek.com – have to prove.