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.

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.

Yacht Timer at left bottom in the 1936 catalog
credit: onthedash.com

Movement for reference 912 at top, same catalog
credit: onthedash.com

1959-60

p13

1959-60 catalogue
credit: onthedash.com

This old one have a very nice white case and a big crown.

heuer_yacht-timer_white_01

Ref. 33.712 (catalogue 1959-60)

1961-62

1961-62

1961-62 Catalogue
credit: onthedash.com

127498

In natural the Yacht-Timer looks very colorful and nice!

stopwatches_3

Yachting Stopwatches – for regatta only!

1962

1962

1962 Catalogue
credit: onthedash.com

1963

1963

1963 catalogue
credit: onthedash.com

credit: Mark

1964

1968

1968

1968 catalogue
credit: onthedash.com

403_615_01

Yacht Timer Reference 403.615


1969-70

1969-70

1969-70 catalogue
credit: onthedash.com

And yes – here you can see the real Autavia Skipper as first in a brochure – the Heuer Skipper 7764!

1970-71

1970-71

1970-71 catalogue
credit: onthedash.com

503_812_02

503.812 with Valjoux 7710 from 1971


1972

1972_brochure_otd

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

1973

1973 catalogue
credit: onthedash.com

403_915special_luuk

One not in the known catalogues listed (403.915 with other dial?)
credit: Luuk

 

1974

1974

1974 catalogue
credit: onthedash.com

1976

yahct-timer-cataloge-otd

1976 Yacht Timers catalogue
credit: onthedash.com

1976

1976 catalogue
credit: onthedash.com

yachttimer01

Ref.603.612 (catalogue 1976)

1977-78

1978

1977-78 Brochure
credit: onthedash.com

1980

1980

1980 Brochure
credit: onthedash.com

regatta_02

Ref 203.512 with genuine box

 

1982

1982

1982 catalogue
credit: onthedash.com

1983

1983

1983 catalogue
credit: onthedash.com

1984

HeuerAd_-Yachting_Nov-1984

1986

1986_01

1986 Brochure
credit: onthedash.com

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).

stopper203_505

Yacht Timer 203.505 – heavy, metal, black pvd

1986

1986 Brochure
credit: onthedash.com

658_915

The one and only “5dot” stopwatch not for the wrist made by Heuer
Ref. 658.915 (catalogue 1986)

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

yachttimer2

Ref. 603.615 (catalogue 1986)
unusual layout with EB 411 but used by other brands too

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.

ReferenceCatalogMovement
202.5151983Lemania 6000
203.5051982, 83Lemania 6000
203.5101982, 83Lemania 6000
203.5121980Lemania 6000
33.5121961, 62, 63AS 1564
33.7121959AS 1564
39121959, 61 Heuer 736 (AS 736)
403.6151968Valjoux 7700
403.9151973Valjoux 7710
503.5121968, 72, 73, 78Valjoux 7710
503.6151968Valjoux 7710
503.8121970-71Valjoux 7710
503.9151973, 77, 78, 80Valjoux 7710
542.9121973Valjoux 7714
603.3151977BF 411
603.6151980, 82, 83BF 411
653.5151983BF 413
653.9151982, 83BF 413
658.9151983BF 412
775.901, 775.915 (Supersport) 1973, 76, 77, 78Val 7770
912/5, 912/10, 912/151962, 63 Heuer 736 (AS 736)

Source: *1 sempervivens on http://forums.watchuseek.com – have to prove.