Heuer has now become a household name - albeit under different ownership than founded it, namely TAG Heuer, which took over in the mid-1980s. But the watch here - a crisp orange-dialed Heuer Ref. 980.016 with its original Tropic rubber dive strap - is no ordinary TAG, which in the years since the mid-1980s has had some...questionable design choices.
The diver for sale here represents old-school Heuer design, even if it comes in a smaller package, represent a bygone era for Heuer. Heuer managed to scale down all the elements of its highly popular 980 dive watch series - produced beginning in 1979 through 1982 - to make a stunning dive watch, never an easy feat.
The attention to detail and quality is remarkable, and seems more of an achievement with these smaller Heuer cases. Heuer built these divers to high standards, and rendered these waterproof to 200m – just like their bigger brothers.
Despite being officially labeled as a 32mm diver, this - like all Heuer divers – didn’t include crown guards and crown, which make it around 36mm. With 16mm lugs, make no mistake, it’s a mid-size watch - but perfect for an active man or woman.
This Heuer diver comes on its original rubber Tropic dive strap, and with nylon strap, spring bar tool, and rugged travel case.
1981 Heuer Ref. 980.016 Diver, w/Original Tropic Strap
DIAL: Vibrant orange Heuer-signed dial, with "Mercedes" hands; date at 3 o’clock position functions as designed. Dial and hand lume - including bezel pip - glows strongly.
BEZEL: Unidirectional stainless-steel bezel, matte black bezel insert is in excellent condition, and ratchets w/a satisfying click. Inlaid “pip” remains, and glows following exposure to strong light.
CASE: Stainless-steel case measures 32mm (w/o crown, 36mm with) x 40mm; matching signed caseback.
CRYSTAL: Sapphire crystal, no deep scratches.
BAND: This orange Heuer diver comes on its original Tropic rubber dive strap; however, the buckle hardware is not original; this diver also comes with a black nylon strap.
MOVEMENT: Heuer-signed Swiss ESA quartz movement.
CROWN: Stainless-steel Heuer-signed screw-down crown.