Manufacturer: Orvis Year: Circa 1975 Reference No: 2446 SF Case No: 324’111 Model Name: Orvis Solunagraph Material: Stainless steel Calibre: Manual, cal. Valjoux 723, 17 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Nylon NATO Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel pass-through Dimensions: 40mm Diameter Signed: Dial signed Orvis. Case and movement signed Heuer.
Catalogue Essay
First established in Manchester, Vermont in 1856, family-owned company Orvis has specialized in supporting outdoor lifestyles since before the Civil War. Always with a focus on fishing and hunting, their expansion in the 1970s and 1980s brought increased revenue streams, one of which was a partnership with Heuer to “white label” Heuer sports watches and tailor them for the specific needs of their customers.
Essentially an Autavia reference 2446C, the waterproof compressor case is instantly recognizable, and in this instance, likely unpolished with its original bevels and finishing intact. The dial features a vivid “Carolina blue” tidal indicator. This can be adjusted to track not only tidal ebbs and flows and lunar phases, but also the feeding periods of fish and game as needed.
Interestingly, the present watch was found in a “grab bag” of watches purchased for $1 at a local Goodwill. The sides of the lugs feature very shallow, amateur engravings that were likely a cheat sheet for setting the tidal indicator – though we have not been able to figure out the exact meanings. A second series Orvis Solunagraph dating from the mid-1970s, this is an exciting find in a world where such discoveries are becoming less and less commonplace.
