Heuer has long been associated with precision timekeeping, and known for some of the most sophisticated tool chronographs of the mid 20th century. The Seafarer and Mareograph are two wonderful examples from this period with the Mareographe, the Heuer-branded, European counterpart of the Seafarer model retailed by the Abercrombie & Fitch Co in the USA. The famed American sporting goods company saw its earliest iteration in the Heuer Solunar, a time-only watch created by Jack Heuer in the 1940s featuring a unique, brightly colored tidal indicator at 6 o’clock. Though the Solunar was ultimately unsuccessful, Heuer would combine the tidal indicator of the Solunar with a chronograph function, resulting in the Seafarer and Mareographe models.
The present model is a very rare example with a first iteration dial, which has turned a lovely uniform caramel hue. The watch is housed in a Heuer reference 346 chronograph case with screw-down case back, opposed to later models with the snap on “Compressor” style case. The dial features oversized registers with the minute register at 3 o’clock featuring two blue segments, marking 0 to 5 minutes and 10 to 15 minutes used at the start of a yachting race. At 9 o’clock is the unique, colorful tidal register.
The present watch was last seen in public when first offered by the family of the original owner in 2017. It has remained in an important American collection, preserved in excellent overall condition. The rarity of the model is matched by the rarity of the “tropical” dial, which has aged to a wonderfully warm, caramel colour that is uniform throughout. It presents collectors with an opportunity to own a hardly ever seen, uniquely American watch with wonderful character and charm.
