In 1962 Heuer launched the Autavia chronograph, designed for automotive and aviation events. Produced for more than twenty years, the model went through a number of versions, including transitioning from a manual-wind movement to an automatic movement in 1969. This wide range of styles is part of what makes Heuer so appealing to watch collectors – there is an Autavia for everyone.

The Autavia was available in a variety of dial, bezel, and case combinations – the present example is part of the series produced with a compressor, or snap-back, case. The Compressor cases were only produced for a few years, from 1968 through 1971, and were divided into three references: the 2446C, the 7763C, and the 7863C. Of these references, the 2446C was the only one with three subsidiary dials – the 7763C and 7863C featured two subsidiary dials, and the 7863C also had a date window. All of the C references featured either a tachometer bezel or a minutes and hours bezel.

The present 2446C features a bezel with minutes and hours, and has faded to a gray color, a shade that compliments the matte black dial and light taupe color of the luminous material. With a Valjoux cal. 72 movement, recognized as one of the finest vintage chronograph movements, the present watch is a excellent example of a Heuer chronograph that has lived a rich history while maintaining all of its original character.