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 stainless-steel cased 1982 Heuer Ref. 973.006, with its original Heuer-signed bracelet - is no ordinary TAG, which in the years since the mid-1980s has had some...questionable design choices.
The Ref. 973 divers represent old-school Heuer design 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 Heuer 2000 series was short lived - available only for a limited period and with few made. The design aged well, and wouldn’t look out of place if launched in more contemporary times. The factory bead-blasted case and bracelet, and atypical reverse triangular hour markers render the watch quite "tool like." Its "-1" demarkation indicates this example was a very late Heuer version (these were also made with "TAG Heuer"-signed dials), a common theme throughout the Heuer/TAG Heuer range when the model numbers were transitioned over from Heuer.
The attention to detail and quality is remarkable - Heuer built these divers to high standards, and rendered these waterproof to 200m. And it's attracted love from Heuer collectors as well, such as the Heuerville website, "Nicely sized, at a width of 41mm, these 2000’s sit nicely on the wrist and have quiet a low profile. They are extremely well made too, with the factory beadblasted case, crown and pushers are very tool-like. Originally designed under Heuer, these black & silver dialed 2000 series chronographs are quite stunning when studied closely, especially when offset with creamy lume like this one."
This Heuer comes with its original bracelet, nylon strap, spring bar tool, and hard plastic travel case.
1982 Heuer 2000 Ref. 973.006 Chronograph, w/Original Bracelet
DIAL: Black signed dial, with matching hands; date at 3 o’clock position functions as designed. Dial lume - including bezel pip - glows.
BEZEL: Unidirectional bezel, with bezel insert in excellent condition; bezel ratchets with a satisfying click. Inlaid “pip” remains, and in great condition.
CASE: Stainless-steel case measures 40mm (w/o mostly recessed crown, 41mm with) x 44mm; matching signed caseback.
CRYSTAL: Sapphire crystal, no deep scratches.
BAND: The Ref. 973 comes on its original Heuer-signed stainless-steel bracelet which will fit up to an approx. 6.5 inch wrist 7.5 inche if wetsuit extension is used); links remain tight. It also comes with a black nylon strap.
MOVEMENT: The Ref. 973 features the ‘super-quartz’ Calibre. 185 movement, utilizing the Dubois Depraz 2000 chronograph module mated with a quartz engine; movement hacks.
CROWN: Almost entirely recessed Heuer-signed crown.