95th Auction

2017/5/6

Lot 23

Heuer-Leonidas SA "Autavia", Case No. 130412, Ref. 2446C MH, Cal. Val 72, 40 mm, circa 1969

A gentleman's extremely rare "cult" wristwatch with chronograph, rotating bezel calibrated for minutes and hours, compressor case and "Reverse Panda" dial. The 2446C is the second generation manual-wind Autavia
Case: steel, "compressor" snap back with engraving. Dial: black, silver-coloured and engine-turned subsidiary registers, baton hands with luminous tritium material. Movm.: 3/4 plate movement, Glucydur balance.
Only a very small number of the Heuer Autavia reference 2446C with black dial and light auxiliary dials was produced from 1968 and 1971, making it a rare and highly sought after collector’s chronograph watch.
The C designation after the reference 22446 stands for "compressor" and refers to the snap-back construction holding the case back in place with a large C clip. It is sealed with a large rubber ring.
The bezel of the Autavia 2446C came in three variations because the watch was produced for racing as well as for aviation; the most common bezel is the one with a minute and hour display.

Sold

estimated
4.0008.000 €
Price realized
6.900 €