Heuer

Heuer timepieces with the “Wings and Wheel” logo of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) are coveted by racing enthusiasts.  This line-up of timepieces includes an Autavia chronograph with a unique silver / white dial, as well as three versions of the Carrera 45 Dato chronograph, one with a black dial and two with silver / white dials.  Two of the IMS Autavia chronographs have been sold for prices in excess of $190,000 each (2017 and 2023).

The present stopwatch set is comprised of a pair of matching Heuer stopwatches, held in a sturdy red rubber case that is marked on the back, “Champion, Dependable Spark Plugs.”  Champion was a leading sponsor of the Indianapolis 500 and various racing teams during the 1960s.  

Each of these stopwatches has a three-function crown.  With the first press of the crown, the stopwatch starts running; the second press stops the timer, allowing the user to take an accurate reading; the third press returns all hands to zero, so that the stopwatch is ready to time the next lap or event.  Using a pair of the stopwatches in a single holder allows the enthusiast to easily time each lap of a race.  

These stopwatches (reference 33.220) appear in Heuer catalogs in the mid-1960s, offering 1/100 second timing and a central minute register, for optimal legibility.  Features important at the racetrack include incabloc shock protection, an unbreakable mainspring and non-reflecting black anodized finish for the outside cap.

The “back-story” of these sets of stopwatches is not known definitively to the community of collectors, but they are exceptionally rare, with fewer than 10 of the individual stopwatches seen in the market and this being only the second pair in the red rubber “Champion” case to be offered in a public auction.