Skipper
Heuer introduced the Skipper in 1968, and the model was produced until the mid-1980s. The distinctive feature of the Skipper was a 15-minute chronograph recorder, with markings on the recorder color-coded to enable a yachtsman to keep track of the countdown to the start of a race. There were seven models / executions of the Skipper, as shown in the Reference Table below. Heuer did not produce cases specifically for the Skippers; rather, the Skippers were housed in cases "borrowed" from the Carrera (Ref 7753) or Autavia (Ref 7763, 73463, 11630 or 11063). Guide to This Reference Table. Reference: For certain models, Heuer designated a reference number in the catalog, but the reference number marked on the watch will correspond to the Autavia case that is used for the watch, rather then the reference number for the watch. For example, Heuer catalogs show a Ref 7764 Skipper, but these cases are marked 7763 (the reference number of the Autavia that was the donor of the case). Cases: "Source" indicates the reference number of the Carrera or Autavia case that was used for the particular Skipper model. Dimensions are measured across the front of the case (excluding the crown) and from the back of the case-back to the top of the crystal (thickness) Description -- Dial: Note that the sequence of colors on the minute recorder varies, with the earlier red, white and blue replaced by the later white, blue and red. The change was made so that the colors would correspond to the flags used to mark the 15 minute countdown sequence at the beginning of a yacht race. Earlier execution dials also had the countdown marked 10-5-0, whereas later one showed three separate scales, each marked 4-3-2-1-0. Crystal: Plastic (in earlier models) or mineral (in the later models). Movement: Movements are Valjoux 7730, Valjoux 7734 or Calliber 15, in each case modified for the Skipper's 15 minute recorder. The Skippers are unique among the Heuer chronographs, in that the chronograph minute hand jumps every 30 seconds. Catalog Dates: Dates refer to catalogs published by Heuer. "Not shown" means that this model was not shown in any Heuer catalog. Price New: Prices are retail prices, as shown in Heuer price lists. Prices are for chronographs on corfam (artificial leather) straps, rather than a bracelet. Serial Number Range / Band: Heuer did not record serial numbers of its chronographs at the time of production; the serial number information presented in this table has been compiled by today's collectors, based on samples of the watches. The ranges / bands shown were not exclusive to the Skippers, meaning that while we see Reference 7754 Skippers in the 107xxx or 108xxx "bands", we also see Carreras and Autavias within these same bands. Note that third execution 15640 Skippers, in Autavia 11063 cases, [usually] do not have serial numbers. Jeffrey M. Stein, June 11, 2011 Copyright 2011; Jeffrey M. Stein, Atlanta, Georgia. All rights reserved.
Reference (execution)	Case: Source and Dimensions (across case (AC); thickness(T))	Description (dial; bezel; and hands)	Crystal	Mvmnt.	Catalogue Dates	Price New (on strap)	Serial Number Range / Band
7754	Carrera, Ref 7753, screw-back case; 35.5 mm (AC); 13.0 (T)	Blue dial; green, blue and orange on minute recorder; polished steel hands	P	V7730	Not shown	--	107xxx; 108xxx
7764	Autavia, Ref 7763, snap-back (compressor) case; 40.5 mm (AC); 14.0 mm (T)	Black dial and bezel; red, white and blue on minute recorder; polished steel hands	P	V7730	69/70	--	133xxx; 134xxx
73464	Autavia, Ref 73463; screw-back case; TBD mm (AC); TBD mm (T)	Blue dial and bezel; red, white and blue on minute recorder; orange hands	P	V7734	71,72,73	71-$145; 72-410 SFR; 3/73-$180	263xxx
1564	Autavia, Ref 1563, screw-back case; TBD mm (AC); TBD mm (T)	Blue dial and bezel; red, white and blue on minute recorder; orange hands	P	Cal 15	73	3/73-$225	277xxx
15640 (first)	Autavia, Ref 11630, screw-back case; 42.5 mm (AC), 15.6 mm (T)	Blue dial and bezel; white, blue and red on minute recorder; orange hands	M	Cal 15	72,74,76,77	72-550 SFR; 3/73-$255; 1/78-$325; 4/78-$399	313xxx; 360xxx
15640 (second)	Autavia, Ref 11630, screw-back case; 42.5 mm (AC), 15.6 mm (T)	Black dial and bezel; white, blue and red on minute recorder; white hands	M	Cal 15	78,81	1/79-$399;6/82-$445	376xxx
15640 (third)	Autavia, Ref 11063, screw-back case; TBD mm (AC), TBD mm (T)	Black dial and bezel; white, blue and red on minute recorder; white hands	M	Cal 15	83,84,86	--	--