NOS Heuer Autavia Ref. 3646 'Big Eyes' early 1st Execution dial

Heuer made nine versions of the two register Autavia Reference 3646.

 

The very early ‘Big eye’ Autavia’s were released in 1962-63 and are considered the ‘Holy grail’ amongst Heuer collectors.

 

These first execution dials came in up to 4 variations:

 

• 1962: First execution dial (larger registers); First execution hands (duaphine, all-lume); 30-minute register; Smaller pushers (4.0 mm); Serial ranges 486xx to 488xx (aprox.)
• 1963: First execution dial (larger registers); "thin lume" hands (duaphine, steel-edges); 30-minute register; Smaller pushers (4.0 mm); Serial ranges 48825 to 48908 (aprox.)
• 1963: First execution dial (larger registers); Second execution hands (duaphine, steel-edges); 30-minute register; Smaller pushers (4.0 mm); Serial ranges 488xx to 489xx (aprox.)
• 1963: First execution dial (larger registers); Second execution hands (duaphine, steel-edges); 45-minute register; Smaller pushers (0 mm); Serial ranges 522xx to 524xx (aprox.)

 

After this, the 2nd Execution dial came into play, featuring the less sought-after smaller registers, and both applied steel makers and lume dots for the hour markers.

 

The 1st execution Autavia’s’ ‘Big Eyes’ fetch prices up to the 50k $ mark depending on condition. Like with all watches, the dial is a terribly important part of its value.

Offered for sale here is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity; a N.O.S. Heuer Autavia Ref. 3646 1st Execution ‘Big Eyes’ 30-minute register dial. This dial is correct for the first three variations of the 1st execution Autavia Ref. 3646, giving an immense quality jump to the watch it will be suited on.

 

The dial is in New Old Stock (NOS) condition, bought from the old stock of a retired watchmaker in Spain.

 

The radium lume is 10 out of 10; complete, puffy, clean and with a lovely patina. It also reacts as it should when exposed to UV light.

 

The HEUER AUTAVIA, SWISS and outer track printings are just perfect, with no misprints or paint loss.

 

The registers are clean, preserving all printings neat and clear. There are only a few very minor dust spots on the right register.

 

The dial surface is also stunning, close to perfect if not perfect, depending on what you consider perfect for a 60+ year old dial. There are no chips either on the interior or the edges of the dial where it touches the case. Also, there’s no chipping on the hand gaps. No drag marks or other tool marks neither. It even has a tropical hue under sunlight.

 

There is just some presence of very minor spots and thin hairlines that are radium losses and other tiny dust particles probably because of storage during so many years. There’s also a little superficial circle around the 7 o’clock hour marker towards the inside of the dial that looks like a very small drop of some kind of non-aggressive liquid, which can only be seen under certain light conditions and angles.

 

Please note that you are seeing the dial with no crystal on top, and under a high-resolution macro lens. 90% of these millimetric particles can’t be seen by the human eye, even with the dial outside of the case, so imagine with the dial mounted on a case and through a crystal.

 

However, these things could be easily corrected by a skilled dial restorer, like the ones available in Italy and the USA, as there aren’t aggressive things. Most probably, almost everything could be blown or swiped away.

 

This is indeed a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity right in front of you.