Heuer Montreal 750.503N Convex Case

Heuer Montreal 750.503N Convex, Valjoux 7750, c1977-81

I do like these old Heuer tool watches, they are both elegant and tough. They are often overlooked in the world of vintage Heuers, taking a back seat to its more glamorous cousins. This underdog-ness has an appeal all of it’s own. This convex barrel style case is not huge, being slightly smaller than the concave cased Montreal (and the very similar Pasadena). It has a very nice balance to it on the wrist, and on the aftermarket Hadley Roma oyster bracelet, it really wears well. The starburst finish on the upper surface adds a nice touch, adding a touch of elegance to the toolness. The dial is lovely, the lume markers showing their age with a beautiful patina, which is matched by the faded central chrono hand that had developed a khaki colour – many fade to a pinky-orange. It really does look fantastic.

As mentioned above, the Valjoux 7750 Montreal was available in two case designs, a convex and concave style case.  The convex style seen here is the more rare variant, and until recently, only presumed to exist as a ‘non-named’ version, ie. without Montreal written on the dial. This presumption is based on the fact that there is (at the time of writing) no catalogue picture of the convex case with a named dial. So this watch seemed to be a slight mystery – of course I presumed it was possibly that it had been re-dialled, but then a fellow collector got in touch recently who has another example with the name on the dial, which was confirmed with a series of photos. Another little piece of the Heuer puzzle solved – the convex cases were available with the name on the dial.

The 7750 Montreal and Pasadena range can get a little confusing, and my research, together with some help from fellow OTDers, into these models is more clearly described here on OTD, where I shared my results.

Here is a short extract:

3) 750.503N Montreal
Black dial, Concave lip barrel case, Circular brush effect Stainless Steel.
(In OTD catalogues 1982 Speciality)

4) 750.503N Montreal (yes, same ref. no. as above but different case)
Black dial, Convex barrel case, Starburst Effect Stainless Steel.
(OTD catalogue 1977, 1978, 1981 Speciality)

Catalogue links via On The Dash 1977 Catalogue | 1978 Catalogue | 1981 Speciality catalogue

(N= Noir (black) Dial) (later models didn’t have Montreal on the dial)

 

The Bracelet
Genuine Heuer bracelets are hard to find in great condition, and when you do they can be very expensive. I bought a solid link 22mm Hadley Roma oyster style bracelet, and filed the end pieces down to 20mm, resulting in the same ‘cut-in’ look of the original. I have to say it looks the business, and dare I say it, far better than the folded original Heuer bracelet, not to mention it’s superior quality solid links. The weight of the bracelet works perfectly with the weight of the head, and is very comfortable to wear, yet you can still fell a nice weight to the whole package.  If you do fancy a change, it works very well on a NATO, and of course a rally style strap always looks good, but the bracelet would be my choice.

Filing the bracelet end pieces was pretty straightforward; I didn’t use specialist tools, just a pocket tool file, some wet n dry, and a digital micrometer/vernier caliper. I protected the closest links with some cardboard (which needs to be checked often), and simply hand filed one side, making sure my file was square-on, and periodically checking the width with the caliper – when I hit  (just under) 21mm, I did the other side. A bit of wet n dry to tidy the edges, and voila, 19.95mm endlinks.

Heuer Montreal 110.503NC

Heuer Montreal 110.503NC, Cal. 12. 43mm, c1974

It seems that every Heuer I post up here I claim that it’s a favourite, this one really is. Despite it’s mammoth size, it really is very comfortable to wear. It’s one of those watches that just ‘clicks’, it is perfect for me, it just feels right. This one was acquired from Germany, and yet again, it was in a bit of a poor state. My friend, ‘the master’ Abel worked his magic on it, and it really is a work of art.. that case.. it’s simply stunning. The dial has the beginnings of a stardust patina emanating from the central hand hole. This looks lovely, and coupled with the gorgeous creamy lume it looks pure vintage.

Update: I managed to find a mint clean dial with the same colour lume, so decided to swap it for the ‘stardust’ dial, the photo above shows it with the new dial & aftermarket custom fitted (lugs filed) Hadley Roma bracelet.

As with many Heuers, there is a motorsport connection to this wonderful Montreal model… One of the most talented racing drivers of the late 70s/early 80s, Stefan Bellof wore this model. He is famous, among many race wins, for setting the fastest lap ever on the Nordschleife configuration, at the Nürburgring, in a Porsche 956 in 1983. I believe his time of 6min 11secs still stands. There is footage of him driving it here.

He was tipped to become the best driver of his time.

Unfortunately he lost his life in a well documented crash at Spa, Belgium on 1st September, 1985. He was driving his Porsche 956 at the 1000 km of Spa World Sportscar Championship race. Whilst battling Jacky Ickx’s works Porsche 962C they touched and both span off at high speed. Bellof’s 956 caught fire.. and Jacky Ickx jumped out of his car & without concern for his own safety, tried to pull Bellof out of the car. Eerily, the whole incident was filmed by Ickx’s onboard camera.

Stefan Beloff setting the Nordschleife lap record (6:11) in his Porsche 956 in 1983.

With it’s smaller barrel cased brother, the Carrera 110.573B

JAC Chronograph 7750 (Cuanillon & Cie)

JAC Chronograph, Valjoux 7750 (Cuanillon & Cie), c1983/5

JAC was a sub-brand of Cuanillon & Cie, who were Heuers Swiss distributor. This makes sense, as this JAC’s design is very similar to the Heuers of the time, like the Valjoux 7750 driven Pasadena & Montreals. The design was very popular in the 80’s, with many brands building similar watches with a 7750 heart – like the Le Jour and Porsche Design variations.

I’ve never seen another JAC branded watch, and identifying this one took some time, with nothing showing up after hours of Googling. Thanks to the guys over on TZ-UK, a match was eventually found… JAC and it’s connection to Cuanillon & Cie can be found here and here.

This is a very cool looking watch, with white on black day/date and blasted finish case sitting on the original unsigned bracelet. It’s a big ol’ hefty piece too, being 44mm across (including the crown). It has a real solid tool feel about it, it’s big monotone dial only highlighted by the crisp orange chrono hand. Even the logo is kinda cool looking – in that bold solid font. Plus it is unknown to most, so the watch projects no assumptions about the piece, or wearer, but still looks like it means business. It still looks fresh and modern, but with a vintage twist – right up my street.

More reading on the history of the Val. 7750 here.

Below is a shot of the (date only) Heuer Pasadena 750.501, you can clearly see the similarities..

► WATCH GALLERY INDEX

 

Heuer Diver 980.004 (BCR)	TAG Heuer Super Pro 840.006-2	Heuer Chronograph – Ref. 12
Heuer Diver 980.021 Two-tone	Heuer Night Diver 980.032L	Heuer Diver 980.026 Black PVD
TAG Heuer Diver 980.013N	Heuer Diver 982.106 Pewter PVD	Heuer Diver 984.424 Dual Time
Heuer Diver 980.023 Deep Dive 1000m	Heuer Autavia 45 Ref. 3646M	Heuer 510.501 – Lemania 5100
Heuer Diver 980.004 (with minute markings)	Leonidas Flieger Chronographe Val. 22	Heuer Ref. 3249 Up-Down Chronograph
Silverstone Fume 110.313F	TAG Heuer Super Pro 840.006	Heuer Monza 150.501 PVD Cal. 15
Autavia 1163MH Orange Boy / Gulf	Heuer Camaro 73443 NT 30 Dato	Autavia 11630 MH Silver Dial
Heuer Diver 980.007 Orange Dial	Heuer Autavia 11630 GMT	Galco Skin Diver 5ATM Swiss
Ed. Heuer & Cie. Moonphase 188.505	Halios Bluering 73/100 Brushed 300m	Heuer Pocket Chrono Ref. 701/Dec
Heuer 3000 Chronograph 234.006	Heuer Ladies Diver 980.038/17 200m	Heuer Ref. 12 Small Shield
Autavia 11063 MH + Decomp bezel	TAG Heuer Autavia -Siffert-	TAG Heuer 844/5 Auto Diver
Carrera 110.573B (Blue) Côtes de Genève	Autavia 1163v Viceroy Racing Team	Heuer Montreal 110.503NC
Heuer Diver 982.013 PVD Pewter	Heuer Night Diver 980.031L PVD Bond	Autavia 11630 MH Black/Orange
Heuer Diver 844/3 Automatic	Heuer Diver 980.006L 1000 Series	Heuer Diver 980.006 (Norwegian)
Heuer Diver 980.006 (Rhode Island)	Pasadena 750.501 (No Name Dial)	Heuer Autavia 11630 GMT
Heuer Skipper 15640 (3rd Gen)	Heuer Diver 973.006 2000 Series	Heuer 972.008 Ladies 2000 Series
Heuer 980.032 Night Diver	Heuer 1614 Chrono (French Made)	Heuer Pilot 230.006 (Silver Dial)
TAG Heuer 273.306 2000 Series	Heuer 989.113L Night Diver	TAG Heuer 273.006-1 2000 Series
Heuer AMI 1000 Series 510.543	Heuer 982.113 Night Diver	Heuer 981.113 Night Diver -Military-
Silverstone Blue 110.313B	Heuer 844 Monnin Automatic Diver	TAG Heuer 172.006 Automatic 2000 Series
Heuer 272.006-1 2000 Series	Heuer Diver 982.006 -Great Grey-	Heuer Autavia GMT 11063
Silverstone Bordeaux 110.313R	JAC Chronograph 7750 (Cuanillon & Cie)	Heuer Autavia 30. Ref. 7763C MH
Heuer Autavia 2446C GMT Mk3	TAG Heuer 980.023N Deep Dive 1000m	Heuer Autavia 11630 Tachy Black/White
Heuer Diver 983.015 Black Coral	Heuer Diver 980.021 Two Tone	Heuer Carrera 510.511 PVD Lemania 5100
Breitling Chrono Avenger Titanium	Heuer Montreal 750.503N Convex Case	Certina DS2 PH200 Turtle Back
Hanhart 417ES Flyback Flieger McQueen	Heuer Autavia 1163T Siffert	TAG Heuer Spirotechnique 180.023
Heuer Orange Diver 980.005 Auto	Heuer Diver 935.112 Ladies Trans. Phantom	Heuer Diver 980.028 Ladies Black Coral II
Heuer Titanium Series 820.208 Ladies	Heuer Autavia 11630T Bianco	Heuer Diver 980.021 Black Bay (Custom)
Heuer Night Diver 980.032L 1000 Series	Heuer Diver 973.008 Ladies 2000 Series	Heuer Skipper 15640 2nd Gen
Omega Speedmaster Pro Moon 3570.50	Felca Seascoper Super Compressor	Heuer Titanium Series 220.206
Heuer Monaco 1133G (Sunken Black Subs)	Heuer 3000 Chronograph 232.206	Breitling SuperOcean Heritage 46
Omega Speedmaster Pro Mitsukoshi Domino	Heuer Carrera 3647NT Valjoux 92	Heuer Carrera 3648S Valjoux 92 1964-5
Heuer Autavia 2446 H Rindt	Heuer 510.501 Kenyan 82 Air Force ’82AF’ Military Issued	Tudor Submariner 9401/0 Snowflake
Rolex Submariner 5513 Gloss dial 1986	Heuer Autavia 2446C Tachy 1971-2	Heuer Audi Sport 510.533 Lemania 5100
Autavia 15630 MH Hellenic	Heuer Autavia 11630P Diver Decomp Tropic	Heuer Monaco 40th Anniversary McQueen
Autavia 11063 Alpha Orange Skunkworks	Movado Super Sea Sub Cal. 146	Heuer Diver LV Hulk 980.006 Custom
Heuer Autavia 2446C GMT Mk4	Heuer Autavia 2446C Tachy (Early)	Ollech & Wajs Caribbean 1000 Ref. 702
Fortis Marinemaster 8001 Blue c1972	Heuer Autavia 1563 Tachy (Albino)	Heuer Carrera 510.523 Lemania 5100
Omega Speedmaster Pro 145.022 1969	Heuer Diver Orange Mid Size 980.016	Wittnauer Ref. 7004A Chronograph
Bulova Marine Star 1970/80s	Rolex Submariner 1680 ’78 Superdome	Hamilton Pilots Chrono Military Issued
Heuer Regatta 134.601 Black PVD	Tudor Submariner 7016/0 1968 Snowflake	Fortis Stratoliner 571.10.142
Squale ‘1521’ Marina Militare 50 Atmos	Heuer Night Diver 980.032L Full Lume Dial	Blancpain Fifty Fathoms 3H Bund
Omega Seamaster 300 166.0324

Heuer 510.501 / Lemania 5100

Heuer ‘1000 Series’ 510.501 Series 2 Day/Date, Black PVD finish, Lemania 5100 movement.

This rugged chronograph is from Heuer’s ‘1000 series’ of chronographs, sometimes referred to at the ‘1000 Lemania Series’, circa 1985/6.
This is the ‘Series 2’ version of the model, which signifies that it has both day and date displays, plus a white hour sub register hand. The day only models (Series 1) has an orangey/red sub register hour hand to match the seconds & minute hands. It is driven by the legendary Lemania 5100 movement, which is highly accurate and an absolute joy to own.

This dial layout design was used in various Heuer models, in slightly different forms by the Montreal, Pasadena and Carrera models. (Montreal/Pasadena were powered by the 7750 movement).  I actually prefer the no-name ‘stealthiness’ of this model, it enhances the tool-like military feel. Heuer wasn’t the only watchmaker to utilise this successful design combined with the 5100 movement, it has appeared in numerous guises, many destined for military use. I believe this was because the Lemania 5100 movement was extremely sturdy and capable of withstanding high G-forces, so became the watch of choice amongst fighter pilots.

I love this watch, it’s a real pleasure to own. I simply love it’s understated beauty and ruggedness, a true no-nonsense chronograph with a wealth of history behind it’s movement and design. A design and movement that was so successful I could spend hours unraveling the web of great names associated with it… Orfina, Porsche, Sinn, Fortis, Omega, Tengler, Bund, Silverstone, Carrera, Cortina, Audi, etc etc… you get the picture. It was also a favourite of the great Chuck Maddox, what more could you want?! I can see why there is such a strong 5100 following.

Others have researched this far better than I could, so for some further Lemania reading, check out these superb articles from Calibre 11, On The Dash & Chuck Maddox:

Chuck Maddox – 5100’s
On The Dash – 86/1000 Series | 1985 Catalogue
Calibre 11 – Heuer 510.500
Calibre 11 – Lemania 5100 Part 1 | Calibre 11 – Lemania 5100 Part 2

Heuer Ref. 12 Chronograph

This is a stunning and extremely rare 1970’s Heuer Ref. 12. Featuring the superb and robust manual wind Valjoux 7734 movement.

I love this watch, with it’s large military-esk PVD case with black dial, bright orange chrono hand and oversized Heuer shield make it very striking indeed. I acquired the watch with it’s original French made ‘links effect’ rubber strap with unsigned buckle.  I’ve fitted the ’12’ with a new leather strap and Heuer buckle. It’s crown is unsigned as is the movement, which is correct and proper for this model.

The Ref.12 seems to have slipped under the Heuer radar due to the lack of information about it online. Another reason is that they weren’t sold in great numbers. More infamous models, like the Montreal, Pasadena and 501 series seemed to have overshadow the understated Ref.12 at the dealers.

LeJour and Arctos both made their own versions of this watch. In the early 80’s, Arctos began supplying the German military, with their version of this watch seemingly available. This general design of these type of watches is often referred to as ‘Porsche Design’, probably for kudos value. I admit to not knowing that much about the history of Porsche Design watches, so I don’t want to lump the Ref 12 into that category just yet.

Whilst researching this model, it seems that the period that this watch was produced was a time of great upheaval and turmoil for Heuer. Luckily missing information about this period is being pieced together by collectors worldwide sharing their catalogue scans, photographs and personal stories. The Ref. 12 is certainly listed in the index/price pages of late 70’s cataloges, but an actual catalog photograph is not known. This is not surprising, not all models appeared in the catalogues. Although it’s brother, the Ref.13-1, with 3 sub-dials is (Note it only has 2 operational sub-dials, the other is for aesthetic effect). See below. Also note that the strap in the catalog is not metal, it is rubber with ‘links’ effect.

The Ref.12’s brother, the Ref.13-1 in the 1979 Catalog

I put the feelers out for more information on the On The Dash Heuer forum. I’d like to thank Mark Moss for his extensive reply, which can be read in the link above. Another source of information is on the reference tables of On The Dash… it is listed under ‘French Made Chronographs’, which I believe is a minor slip up by OTD. The other Heuers in that category have ‘Made in France’ on the dial, whereas the Ref.12 (and Ref.13-1) clearly displays ‘Swiss Made’ on the dials.