Vintage Heuer Orvis Solunagraph
Up for sale is a beautiful Heuer Orvis Solunagraph Watch
Made by Heuer and created for the outfitter Orvis which is why the dial is signed accordingly. Many of these models are known as Seafarers under this collection and this particular one as the Solunagraph.
Considered the final generation of the Seafarer collection as the entire timeline of which can be found on Jeff Stein’s post from On The Dash, here http://www.onthedash.com/abercrombie-and-fitch-seafarer/
An excerpt from OnTheDash.com on the tide pusher and it's uses reads:
"I See the Moon (and the Moon Sees Me). The tides are affected by the gravitational pull of the moon, and the cycle of high and low tides follows the same 29-1/2 day cycle as the phases of the moon. Accordingly, the tide dial on the Seafarer can be used to show the phases of the moon, from new to half to full, and back again. So when you’re not at the beach, following the tides, you can still use your Seafarer to track the phases of the moon."
Case Width: 40mm Excluding the crown
Case Thickness: 14mm including the crystal
Dial: signed Orvis Solunagraph with grey metallic dial, applied metallic indexes with luminous ends, white sub dial and silver registers. The dial was considered one of the best my watchmaker has ever seen.
Case Material: Stainless Steel with the correct unmarked caseback 3 concentric half-circles at the edge
Crystal Material: Plexi
Lug Width: 20mm
Band Material: comes with both a Camel colored rally strap and a Pomar beads of rice bracelet
Serial: 324xxx
Condition: In vintage condition and appears to be unpolished
Bezel: faded to a ghost gray and has some wear giving it an amazing look!
Movement: Valjoux 721 (base modified for tide indicator), manual wind mechanical column wheel chronograph movement, 17 jewels
Service history: Recent serviced April 2019 and running like a dream include the tide pump pusher which functions as it should. Accompanied by service papers as well.
This is considered the Second Execution has the handset and tide pusher changed to two colors in this version which is correct.
These don't come up for sale very often so it's a rare treat seeing one in the wild let alone one for sale and it won't last long.
It is also accompanied by some vintage Orvis catalogs with the advertisement for these when they were first marketed, produced and sold. Pictures of this are in the link below.