This is a
listing for a vintage HEUER Model 2000 Chronograph, Ref. 162.206, 40 Jewels Automatic LWO 283
Movement. This watch
runs perfectly, keeps accurate time and has one of the highest quality Swiss
Movements that HEUER ever
installed in its watches.  This is one of the first early classic HEUER Model 2000 with the high grade movement.  According to my research this is the first
Heuer to have the LWO 283 FORTY 40 JEWELS movement installed as the motor on their chronographs.  This Heuer Model was the predecessor to the TAG-Heuer with the LWO 283 Movement.   Heuer Item # 16.  eBay item # 376.

DESCRIPTION:

DIAL: The dial is
light granite grey. The dial is signed in black with the famous HEUER shield logo and also « 2000« , « AUTOMATIC« . « CHRONOGRAPH« ,
« 200 METRES » and « T SWISS MADE T« . The hour and minute hands are trimmed/outline in black
with luminous filling in the center. All the register hands are black as is the
sweep second hand for the chronograph timer. The continuous seconds hand
register is at the 12 o’clock position. The 30 minute register is located at
the 9 o’clock position. The hour register is located at the 6 o’clock position.
The magnified date window is at the 3 o’clock position. The diameter of the dial
measures 28mm.  The dial is in perfect
condition.

CRYSTAL: The crystal
is mineral.  No cracks, chips, breaks and
appears scratch free.

BEZEL: The bezel
is stainless steel with a black insert with the numerals and markers in white.
The numerals are at 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 with markers between. The bezel
diameter measures 30mm.  The bezel is in
mint condition. The bezel is unidirectional turning only counterclockwise as
original designed. It turns with a nice clicking feel and sound.

CROWN: The crown
is stainless steel and is signed with the famous HEUER shield logo. 
Screw down crown.  Unscrew and
pull out once to set date, second pull out to set time.

PUSHERS: The pushers
are fluted stainless steel and work perfectly starting, stopping and resetting
the hands correctly to the start position. 
Top pusher starts timer.  Push
once to start timer, second push of top pusher stops timer.  Push bottom pusher to return timer hands to
start position.

MOVEMENT: The
movement is a very high quality 40 jewels unadjusted. The movement is signed
« LWO 283 FORTY 40 JEWELS
UNADJUSTED SWISS« . The
movement runs perfectly and keeps excellent time. All the chronograph functions
work perfectly.  This is the LEMANIA LWO 283 MOVEMENT which is an ETA 2892 with piggyback Dubois Depraz module. This
movement was used in the famous HEUER AND TAG HEUER AUTOMATIC PILOT WATCH &
some Heuer 2000 Chronographs, produced from the early 80’s and shortly after
the start of the Tag Heuer Co in 1985. See History for more details.  NOTE: 
THIS IS ONE OF THE RARE EARLY LWO 283 MOVEMENTS.

BRACELET: The
bracelet is brushed non glare stainless finish with the diver’s extension. It
has 19 links. The clasp is signed with the famous HEUER shield logo.

CASE: The case is
stainless steel with the brushed non glare finish. The case back is the screw
off/on. It is signed with the famous HEUER shield logo and « SWISS SINCE 1860« . The
back is also signed « 162.206”, “WATERRESISTANT
200 METERS TESTED . STAINLESS STEEL . SWISS MADE« .  The interior of the case is hallmarked “HEUER LEONIDAS SA” and “BREVET + 503305”. Screw off
case back measures 35mm.  Measurement
between the Lugs is 20mm.  The
Measurement from lug to lug is 45mm.  The
outside diameter measurements of the case is 40mm.  All measurements are approximate.

CONDITION:  This watch runs perfectly, keeps accurate time
and has one of the highest quality Swiss Movements that HEUER ever installed in its watches.  Excellent Condition.  Please view all pictures and read
description.  If you have questions or
need more pictures please send me a eBay message and I will respong.    

WARRANTY & GUARANTEE: Please be advised that this chronograph
has no warranty. It is a previously owned chronograph. I do guarantee the chronograph to be keeping perfect time
and all function performing as intended by HEUER.

PAYMENT:  Payment can be made by any method approved by eBay.

SHIPPING:  FREE WITHIN THE
USA.  International shipping by eBay Global Shipping Program.

HISTORY:

In
1982 Jack Heuer was forced by the Swiss banks to sell Heuer-Leonidas to a new
group of investors. This group was led by Piaget and included Nouvelle Lemania.
So effectively, Heuer was now owned by Nouvelle Lemania- and it’s no surprise
that in 1983 we see Heuer phasing out its own Calibre 11/12/14/15 Chronomatic
movement, to be replaced with the Lemania 5100 automatic movement- a low-cost
movement that was significantly cheaper to produce that Heuer’s own Chronomatic
design.

The
partnership extended beyond just Heuer using the Lemania 5100 movement. Heuer
also used the LWO 283 movement in the 1980s and early 1990s, which is an ETA
2890/92 base movement with a Lemania chronograph movement- a design later sold
by Lemania to Dubois Depraz.

The
Dubois-Depraz chronograph module is used by a number of watch manufacturers in
their « high end » products. It is utilized by among others, Audermars
Piguet in their Royal Oak Offshore, Glashtte Chronograph and Girard Perregaux
in their 7000 Chronograph and by Baume-et-Mercier in their Classic
Chronographs. Baume-et-Mercier refer to the movement both as a Lemania 283 and
a B&M caliber 13283. The 30mm diameter of the movement has been widened
from the standard 2892s 25,6 mm, so it is the exact same size as the Valjoux
7750. When introduced to the market, this caliber was marketed as a Lemania 283
A movement, the only movement Lemania ever marketed without producing it themselves.
It is now formally a Dubois-Depraz caliber, and marketed as such.

The
Lemania 283 movement has the following technical specifications;- Friction
Protection: 40 Jewels, Power reserve: 42 hours, Diameter: 30.00mm, Thickness:
6.50mm. Because the base ETA 2892 movement (which is recognised for it’s
accuracy and durability), operating at 28,800 pulsations/hour is using a
Glucodur quality balance and an Nivarox #1 Hairspring the end result is one of
the most reliable automatic movements on the market. One of the unusual things
about the Lemania movement is that the date optic is part of the movement. It
magnifies the date without the need for an unsightly bulge on the crystal or
the distortion of the underside crystal optics.

The
40 jewel Lemania 283. This movement is based on an ETA 2892 with a Dubois
Depraz Chronograph module which was developed by Dubois Depraz for Audemars
Piguet. The same Lemania movement is used in chronographs, like the Girard
Perregaux 280 and the Paul Picot Chronograph. The Dubois Depraz chronograph
module is used in the Audermars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore and Glashtte
Chronograph. The difference being that to acquire those models you would need
to spend anywhere from $7000 to $20,000. It has been said that module-type
chronograph calibres have some disadvantages against movements where the
chronograph mechanics are fully integrated. It seems that they require a lot
more disassembling when being repaired.

PERSONAL COMMENT & OBSERVATIONS: THIS IS A COLLECTOR’S
CHRONOGRAPH BY HEUER.  It is not your
ever day wearing watch but a significant piece of the Heuer history.  Of course you can wear it as an everyday
watch if you desire to do so. I have been collecting Heuer &
TAG-Heuer chronographs since 1966 when I received my first Heuer chronograph as
a graduation gift. I had a complete collection of all the TAG-Heuer Super 2000s
including the solid 18K gold bezel of which TAG-Heuer only produced 100 of each
having it own numbers 1 of 100 to 100 of 100. I have many more of the different
Heuer & TAG-Heuer models that have this movement in them. I personally feel
that the LWO 283 ETA 2892-2 is the best and most accurate movement that Heuer
& TAG-Heuer has installed in their chronographs. The Heuer and TAG-Heuer
chronographs with these movement are highly underpriced. There is no way that
you could purchase a new chronograph from any watchmaker with this movement in
it for the price these are selling for. If you want the very best movement purchase
a Heuer or TAG-Heuer with a 283 ETA 2892-2.

RARITY: On the RUSH RARITY SCALE this Historical Artifact of
Horology or Watch Making History has a rating of 97 out of 1 to 100 with 100
being the rarest. The RUSH RARITY SCALE is based on Historical Significance if
any; rarity, or numbers produced; world population; estimated number of
collectors, groups and clubs worldwide that collect a Horological item, such as
the Antiquarian Horological Society; estimated number of collectors of this
specific type of watch in the world; number of the specific items produced, or
made; age of the item; condition of the item; if the company of origin,
producer or maker still produces or makes the item or if it’s has been
discontinued or is a limited edition; year and years made or produced, and if
it is a single item or a limited production. In addition, the reputation of the
company and/or individual producing the collector piece. Many factors are
analyzed to determine the rarity.