[stashtrey]

Just took delivery of this. Very cool old Chrono from the late 60's or early 70's. Desotos is an obscure maker that has ties to Heuer. Watch works perfectly....Valjoux 7734 is excellent. Orange register and Chrono hands are a unique feature. Deep blue background on registers. Stamped France on case back. Inside is all original and smooth as silk.

Really cool old watch. Fun to hunt these down. The inside is the same as what Breitling and Heuer used. This was the best era of watch making and auto racing. Great combo.

Not all relaxes and Tags.

[tony20009]

That is a cool watch. Kudos.

I take it vintage watches are your thing. That's quite cool. I wish I have the first idea of what vintage watch -- aside from the most obvious ones that one might pick -- to choose. Not that there's something with choosing a a vintage PP or VC, for example. It's just that it takes a huge amount of research to learn what attributes exist in the various vintage watches out there.

Whereas I know a good buy (relative to what traits are important to me) when I see one in new or new-ish watches, I am totally lost with vintage ones.

All the best.

[TSM330i]

Classic! The case style gives it away as from the '70s.

Nice piece!

[lastMleft]

What time is it?

[stashtrey]

Thanks fellas.

A great site to check out for some major Heuer officianados would be www.onthedash.com....lot of smart people on there. Good historical info on 60's and 70's chronos.

One thing to look for is the Valjoux movements. I now have a Valjoux 92 Heuer and this Valjoux 7734 Desotos.

Definitely check out onthedash.com. great site that links off to other great forums specific to Heuer, omega etc. For sale forum is super active....legit stuff.

[stashtrey]

The ties of these old chronographs and auto racing are strong. Back Heuer made a deal with Joe Siffert back in the day....the Heuer Autavia 1163 is the white whale....my dad has one. Beautiful watch. Siffert wore that model so it is the "Siffert" Autavia.

Siffert used to bring his big watch box to races and between heats/laps he'd sell to other drivers and teams.

Heuer was then used to time laps...became big in the race scene. Then of course they had the Heuer (these are all "pre Tag) Monaco which Steve McQueen wore in the classic race movie, Le Mans. That became an instant classic and now originals fetch huge $$$$.

A great Heuer starter is the Carrera. Classic. They made "re edition" Heuer carrera watches on the 90's that were identical....those see on eBay and average $2000-$3000.

I just got into this. My dad is a fanatic and has been schooling me. I love the ties to the best years of auto racing.

Fun hobby.