Heuer Bundeswehr Serial Numbers
A pictoral review of the Heuer Bundeswehr chronograph and it's many dial variations
A serial number is unique to each TAG Heuer timepiece. Serial numbers play a crucial role in demonstrating both authenticity and ownership. IT IS LOCATED ON THE BACK OF YOUR WATCH. There are two numbers engraved on the caseback of your watch. One number is directly below the other. The bottom number is your serial number. The Heuer Bundeswehr Flyback Chronograph was made for the Germany Army between the ’60s and the ’70s and it is one of the most famous issued chronographs out there. There were several variants of the ‘Bund’ with the rarest example you see here- the ‘Sternzeit Reguliert’. The aforementioned term translates to sidereal t.
Updates: Dec 2005, May 2006, Jun 2006, Aug 2006, Oct 2008, Feb 2009, Apr 2012
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- The Bundeswehr chronographs were a general Issue chronograph for a number of military forces which included the German Federal Defense Force throughout the 1960s and 70s. Trying to identify and categorize Heuer Bunds is quite the difficult task. Long story short, there are well over two-dozen dial variations to accou.
Introduction Lately there has been much discussion surrounding what constitutes an authentic Heuer Bundeswehr-spec chronograph. This is an effort to document the many dial variations and gather, in a single place, enough information to make an informed assessment of this highly regarded timepiece. if you'd like a self-contained version of this project, click here to download this page in PDF format. Findings There are 5 general configuations of Heuer-branded dials:
There are 2 general configurations of Sinn-branded dials:
Here are cropped images of each unique style, allowing you to easily scan the various styles to find one that interests you. In addition, each image has been (as much as feasible) given the same relative dimensions to make meaningful comparisons relatively easy. Click on a style that interests you to learn more specifics.
Assessment First, let me say that I believe all of these Heuer/Sinn Bundeswehr chronographs to be authentic: all have the proper movment, all have the proper case, all have the proper bezel, all have the proper crystal...etc. They only have subtle differences in their dials, apparently based on when, and by whom, they were produced or assembled. The questions for the enthusiast become:
These features seem to be associated with the work Sinn did in providing Bundeswehr-spec watches.
There was no consistency in the style of 3H-symbol - 3 styles were found. Perhaps Sinn used a number of different 3H printing screens in production? Perhaps these 3H-symbols were added by the unscrupulous? In addition, the absence of the T-symbol was not distinct to these later watches, since several early examples were found without the T-symbol. If anyone owns or knows of yet another dial variation, please forward me an in-focus, close-up scan of the dial. In addition, if anyone is in possession of any factual data around the timeline and evolution of the Bundeswehr specification and the watches produced to meet that specification, please foward that information to me for inclusion in this living document. Disclaimer These images have been borrowed without permission from the MWR and various sites that have been linked from posts on the MWR and discovered via web-searches. Since this effort is not for fiduciary gain, I'm comfortable using these images without permission. If you see a scan of your watch and would not like it to be part of this project, please contact me directly and I'll remove it. However, I encourage everyone to participate as this project is intended for the edification of the watch community as a whole. | |||||||||||||||||||
This represents an example of the 'classic' Heuer Bundeswehr chronograph:
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Yet another variation on the Heuer Bundeswehr chronograph:
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This is the most rare of Heuer Bundeswehr chronograph - the STERNZEIT REGULIERT:
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This represents a slightly different example of the Heuer Bundeswehr chronograph:
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Yet another variation on the Heuer Bundeswehr chronograph:
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Still another variation on the Heuer Bundeswehr chronograph:
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This is a copy of an advertisement from the early 1990s offering overhauled/refurbished Heuer Bundeswehr chronographs - just contact Sinn! With this, we're introducing 2 key new dial variations:
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Here is an apparent example of a Sinn-refurbished Heuer Bundeswehr chrongraph:
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Another apparent example, though slightly different, of a Sinn-refurbished Heuer Bundeswehr chrongraph:
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Another apparent example, yet another variation, of a Sinn-refurbished Heuer Bundeswehr chrongraph. There are slight differences between the dial print of these 2 examples, with the 2nd one quite different from the dial print found on most other dials:
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Here we see our first example of a Sinn-branded Bundeswehr chronograph:
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Another example of a Sinn-branded Bundeswehr chronograph:
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| Here's a scan of the original Bundeswehr specification. In addition, here's a link to the servicing manual for the Heuer Bundeswehr chronograph (written in German, file is PDF format). | |||||||||||||||||||
| While the Sternzeit Reguliert is impossibly rare, this is arguably the most rare of Heuer Bundeswehr chronographs: a unique prototype powered by the Caliber 12 automatic movement. This was submitted to the Bundeswehr for consideration, but never adopted. This amazing piece is owned by Gerd R. Lang, owner of Chronoswiss and formerly an engineer with Heuer. | |||||||||||||||||||
This is the spiritual successor of the Heuer Bundeswehr chronograph: the Sinn 156 Mil. This is a thoroughly modern interpretation, featuring:
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| This is Michael Kobold's effort in 2003 to tack onto the success of this storied timepiece: the Kobold 323 Pilot Chronograph. This watch is a Sinn 156 fitted with a Kobold-signed dial. Technical features are identical to the Sinn 156 and it even features a Sinn-signed crown! The supplies for this watch and movement are limited; Kobold's run of 323s was only 20 pieces. | |||||||||||||||||||
| This piece came to my attention in late 2005: the Sinn 155 Replica. Apparently this is specially produced in limited numbers for the Japanese market. It appears very true to the original, even featuring a hand-wound ETA7760 movement and proper 4-screw caseback. Obviously, the style of the hands is from Sinn's existing 103 flieger-style watches. | |||||||||||||||||||
| This piece came to my attention in late 2008: the second-generation Sinn 155 Replica. This was produced in limited numbers (300 pieces), possibly for the German market. Like the first-generation 155, this one captures the essence of the original; however, with critical departures in the sub-dials and the addition of a day/date display. Based on an ETA7750 movement, this necessitated the relocation of the sub-dials from 3-9 to 6-12 along with the replacement of the constant-seconds register with a 12-hour totalizer. The style of the hands is from Sinn's existing 103 flieger-style watches and is fitted with a threaded caseback. | |||||||||||||||||||
| It finally happened in 2006 - 'Ray' the notorious creator of Chinese mil-watch reproductions found on eBay got around to trying his hand on the Heuer Bundeswehr chronograph. Actually, Ray stole the idea from a mil-watch enthusiast I know. Ray's effort is pretty good at capturing the essence of the original, and even includes a reproduction of the Venus 175 column-wheel movement. The main problem people have with this watch are the issue-markings on the back and the ambiguous/dishonest descriptions used on his auction listings. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Apparently, Breitling supplied a very similar sort of watch to the Italian military forces with the 817: | |||||||||||||||||||
| These 2 watches are examples of generally similar Heuer watches apparently produced for the Italian Air Force, albeit powered by a Valjoux 7750 movement. I cannot say for certain if they are legitimate, but they sure are interesting pieces: | |||||||||||||||||||
| This interesting variant came to light in 2008. The same Valjoux 230 powered Heuer was also issued to the Norwegian Air Force in the '70s. The dial was the same as the typical 'small-t' variant without the '3H'. The most interesting feature is the unique engravings on the caseback, as pictured. | |||||||||||||||||||
