Heuer Carrera 510.523

[andy_s]

Very nice to receive this one eventually, first of all I had to wait for a hand-carry from the US, then off to heuerboy for a new crystal; a swift turn-around by Nic and it got to me just before leaving the UK.



First of all, I can't say this was extremely high in my list of WTBs; from pictures the case looks blocky, like the Omega 125s or Lemania cushion case style watches, and I have to say that style isn't my particular favourite. However, when I unwrapped it and tried it on I was quite smitten - not at all blocky or 'massif', it reminded me of Daniel saying his was comfortable to wear and I can now see exactly what he means - unobtrusive, quite lightly proportioned and quite unassuming.



It would appear that this watch originally came with 2 types of bracelet, the 'Jubilee' style, with fitted end pieces and a 20mm width* and the 'coffin link' style bracelet marked 'TAG Heuer' with the unfitted end pieces and 23mm width* bracelet (* - watch side of the bracelet).

Here's the catalogue picture with the 'Jubilee' style:



And Chucks own 'coffin link':



The period of turmoil within Heuer during this particular phase is well known, and discrepencies, variations and alterations are quite common; this is just another one of those I think, using a TAG bracelet but Heuer dial markings - perhaps a later watch in the production run, it does look very similar to the Audi Sport bracelet, as Dave mentioned earlier.



I don't mind the white '12hr' hand - it seems to me that you could lend reasons both for and against having it in either colour, but to me it looks fine.

Here is the caseback -



...with no markings except for a small '510.523' engraved into the caseback -



Despite looking quite a 'flat' watch head on, the side view shows the curve of the case -



And here with another Heuer, the 510.501 -





The radial 'sunburst' graining is only vestigial at best on mine, certainly the result of over-enthusiastic polishing at some stage, so perhaps when time allows I'll send it off to Mennos watchmaker to work his magic.



The similarity between the SAAF, World Time and the Carrera have been pointed out before, (here), but just out of interest here is a direct comparison:











The case is, however, not the same as the Omega version, which is 22mm lug width and radiused lug interior plus other slight differences:



(Both courtesy Eric/Eptaz@WuS)

BUT, I did see another Lemania dialled watch with what I suspect is this case, here on the left, owned by Greg at WuS -



Anyway, the hunt continues as to be honest I'm very pleased with this one - far more than I thought I would be to be frank, so, perhaps a 510.511 is next on the cards...?!



Andy

[danomar]

Glad to see you have it back, Andy!

The white hand at 6 o'clock is the original version. Heuer used orange hands on the last ones produced—my guess is the last year of production. My Carrera originally came with a white 6 o'clock subdial hand, but I had it changed when it was in for a service. I like both versions, really. The unified look of three white hands is nice, but the slightly offset look of the orange hours hand ties in nicely with the others, too.

The catalogue showing the juiblee bracelet is a bit of a red herring. No one I know of has ever gotten a 510.523 with a jubilee style bracelet. The black version, however, did come with a black jubilee style bracelet.

And, ahem, do keep me in mind with you-know-what.

Start wearing that Carrera. I guarantee it will soon become your favorite watch!

[andy_s]

Originally Posted by danomar

Glad to see you have it back, Andy!

The white hand at 6 o'clock is the original version. Heuer used orange hands on the last ones produced—my guess is the last year of production. My Carrera originally came with a white 6 o'clock subdial hand, but I had it changed when it was in for a service. I like both versions, really. The unified look of three white hands is nice, but the slightly offset look of the orange hours hand ties in nicely with the others, too.

The catalogue showing the juiblee bracelet is a bit of a red herring. No one I know of has ever gotten a 510.523 with a jubilee style bracelet. The black version, however, did come with a black jubilee style bracelet.

And, ahem, do keep me in mind with you-know-what.

Start wearing that Carrera. I guarantee it will soon become your favorite watch!

Yes, great to have it eventually - an interesting incident with it on the way to work, so I think I'll get a service/refurb sooner than later...but definitely a very convincingly and easily liked watch - I owe your rating of it to leading me to getting one and you were absolutely right - fab watch.

I thought this also about the white hour hand - I remember you mentioned about it before - and I agree that either one is good though - typical Heuer style of greenish 'print' lume as well I noticed.

It's true about the bracelet - I have never seen one either (jubilee in steel) on the 523. I prefer the end links of the jubilee style but prefer the width of the coffin linked one. The 511 looks lovely with the jubilee though. As I say above, I'd certainly consider a 511 based on my impression of the 523 here.

Ne vous inquiétez pas mon ami, je vous ai à l'esprit

Andy

[Pascal S]

Congratulations ! Great catch, Andy!

I have to confess to being more than a bit envious. Apart from the Audi Sport, the 510.523 Carrera is by far my favourite Heuer chronograph, and I mourn the missed opportunity I once had to acquire a great example of this watch. There's something fundamentally right about its design and proportions, and I can only hope being able to find one in the future

[Elio]

Utterly Fantastic Andy....Congrats .....

[danomar]

Originally Posted by andy_s

The 511 looks lovely with the jubilee though. As I say above, I'd certainly consider a 511 based on my impression of the 523 here.

I have been sorely tempted a few times to get 510.511s in the past but had difficulty justifying owning a pair. But the temptation lingers. Luckily I cannot afford one!

[andy_s]

Just to add a Bucherer, also with the same case:


(wynonie/OTD)

[Eurocontroller]

Great catch Andy and thanks for the in depth write up! I reckon it would look pretty good on a NATO too...!

Cheers,

Nick

[andy_s]

Cheers Nick - I'm not so sure about a NATO but will certainly give it a whirl - fortunately I brought them all out with me so will have a play tomorrow.

Just to add a few pics of another example (courtesy of Peter @ HeuerWorld) showing the 'hens teeth' Jubilee bracelet in s/s, a first for me I have to admit -





(Makes me wish I hadn't left my good camera with my wife...)


Another thing learned was that the Jubilee bracelet came in two versions; the TAG Heuer stamped one as mine, and another hens tooth which just had the Heuer stamping.

Did the Audi Sport have any markings at all I wonder?

Andy

[danomar]

I hate to be a skeptic, but that Jubilee bracelet looks exactly like a similar bracelet intended for the Autavia. A friend has one. We were wondering which watch it was for and discovered that it went with one of the late versions of the Autavia. There is no reason why is could not be made to fit the 510.523 Carrera, of course, but the curved part (facing the rest of the bracelet) of the end links suggests it is not quite right for the case. Note the flat-looking end links in the brochure.

The Audi Sport bracelet clasp has only "Heuer" stamped in it. It uses the usual fold-over lock. Although the Audi Sport bracelet looks like the Carrera item, they are different. For starters, the Audi Sport bracelet is 21mm wide at the end pieces, the Carrera end pieces extend beyond the lugs slightly, there is no chamfer on the top edge of each link on the Audi Sport item, and the links are shaped differently when seen from the sides.







The top bracelet shows the edge chamfer on the bottom for some inexplicable reason.

As a friend once wrote, I am a bracelet wh*re. I admit it. But it does not stop me collecting bracelets in hopes of finding the right watch to put them on.