Heuer "Derek Bell" Autavia 1163

In my opinion, the automatic Autavias with black dials (most typically the “Viceroy” model made in collaboration with the American cigarette company) is one of the best buys in vintage watches at $5,000 and below. This example is the earlier model nicknamed the “Derek Bell” after the famous driver and rather than the 1-12 seen in the hour register for the Viceroy Autavia has only 3-6-9-12. This is the second version of Derek Bell dial featuring white paint on the hour markers rather than the ridged markers of the earliest versions including the Chronomatic original version. This watch also comes on its original Gay Frères beads of rice bracelet with original HLF end links and I was fortunate enough to acquire it last year from the original owner, who wore it and enjoyed it for many years until it required a service and he put away in a drawer and forgot about it. I just had the watch undergo a full service and it is ready for its next owner. It is one of the most attractively-priced examples of a Derek Bell on the market and includes the valuable Gay Frères bracelet, to boot.

SOLD