The Heuer Bundeswehr
If you are a fan of vintage military watches, you might have heard of the Heuer Bundeswehr. This is a flyback chronograph that was produced by Heuer (now TAG Heuer) for the West German armed forces (Bundeswehr) from the late 1960s to the early 1990s. The watch was designed to be a reliable and functional instrument for pilots, but it also became popular among other service branches and civilians.
According to Chronomaddox.com , there were over 30 variations of the Heuer Bundeswehr fly-back chronograph dial produced. These variations include different logos, symbols, markings, and fonts on the dial. Some of the main dial configurations are:
- The “classic 3H/T”: has a red 3H-symbol that appears just below the dial center, and a tiny “T” that appears just above “6”.
- The “3H-only”: has a red 3H-symbol that appears just below the center.
- The “T-only”: has a tiny “T” that appears just above “6”.
- The “clean”: has no markings beyond the “Heuer” logo.
- The “sternzeit”: worded with STERNZEIT REGULIERT markings just below the dial center.
The Heuer Bundeswehr has a distinctive look that sets it apart from other military watches. The stainless steel case has a gunmetal finish and a large crown and pushers. The black dial has white Arabic numerals, luminous hands, and two sub-dials for the chronograph function. The red 3H symbol indicates that the watch uses tritium for luminescence, while the small T above the 6 o'clock position denotes that the watch is tested for accuracy. The watch also has a rotating bezel with a 12-hour scale that can be used as a second time zone indicator.
The Heuer Bundeswehr is powered by the reliable Valjoux 230 manual-wind movement, which has a flyback feature that allows the user to reset and restart the chronograph without stopping it. This is useful for timing consecutive events or missions. The movement also has a hacking feature that stops the seconds hand when the crown is pulled out, which allows for precise synchronisation.
The Heuer Bundeswehr is not only a rare and collectible military watch, but also a piece of history and culture. It represents the era of the Cold War and the reunification of Germany. It also inspired other watch brands, such as Sinn, who acquired some of the original parts and modified them into their own models. The Heuer Bundeswehr is a watch that combines history and style in a unique way.
If you are interested in owning a Heuer Bundeswehr, you should be aware of the many variations as discussed above and number of fakes in the market. On the Dash is the most authoritative source for the Heuer Bundeswehr Bundeswehr | OnTheDash and makes for an enjoyable read.
Recently, Sinn produced a re-edition of the Heuer Bundeswehr, the Sinn 158. The watch has the distinctive gunmetal case, a black dial, and a rotating bezel with a 12-hour scale like the original Heuer. It is powered by the automatic Sellita SW 510 movement, which has a flyback and hacking feature. The watch also has a high-domed acrylic glass, luminous hands and numerals, and a red “Concorde”-shaped tip for the chronograph seconds hand. The modern watch is limited to 500 pieces. It is a truly gorgeous homage if you’re looking for reliability of a new watch and want to avoid the drawbacks of a vintage timepiece that has likely been knocked around through use as a tool watch.
The final word:
The Heuer Bundeswehr is one of the most iconic military watches ever made, and it deserves a place in any watch collection. It is a watch that will never go out of style or lose its appeal.