Heuer Issued A.M.I Military Chronograph 510.543 it, 1980 — view 1 of 6 — View 1 of 6 · Image: Bulang & Sons · original image source (opens another website in a new tab)

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Wristwatches · Wristwatch

Heuer Issued A.M.I Military Chronograph 510.543 it, 1980

DocumentedDocumented from a dealer's listing; attribution and date as stated by the dealer.

Maker / attribution: Heuer (maker)
Date: 1980
Historical period: Quartz Revolution (1969 – 1990)
Country of origin: Switzerland
Object type: Wristwatch
Dealer: Bulang & Sons (dealer), Copenhagen
Stock no.: W-319
Credit line: Dealer listing, Bulang & Sons (W-319)
Catalogue title (original): Heuer Issued A.M.I Military Chronograph 510.543 it (English)

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Record summary

Catalogued by Bulang & Sons (dealer), Copenhagen (stock number W-319), this is a wristwatch by Heuer, made in Switzerland, dated 1980. The Atlas places it in the Quartz Revolution period (1969 – 1990) of its Wristwatches collection. The record is illustrated with 6 photographs.

Assembled from the source record's structured fields. Dates and attributions are given as the source states them; where a field is missing the Atlas leaves it blank rather than estimating.

Catalogue description

Dealer description — Bulang & Sons

HEUERS ' ITALIAN JOB ' CHRONO This watch dates to the era where Heuer was partly owned by Lemania before it was sold to Tag. This very cool and highly sought after Heuer is powered by the famous Lemania 5100 movement and was issued to the Italian Airforce and has the correct issued engravings on the case back. The watch has been fully checked over by our watchmaker. Specification - Reference 510.453 it - Type 2 Chronograph - Black 3H Tritium dial - Issued to the Italian Airforce (A.M.I.) - Dates to 1980 - Matching Heuer steel bracelet, 349 clasp - Lemania cal. 5100 automatic movement - Fresh checked by our watchmaker

Historical context

Quartz Revolution (1969 – 1990)

Seiko's Astron begins mass quartz timekeeping; traditional industries contract sharply.

Quartz and digital watches transformed the market after 1969. Swiss employment collapsed, Japanese and Hong Kong production soared, and the Swatch (1983) helped the Swiss industry recover; mechanical watches survived as luxury goods.

Read the period in the timeline More wristwatches from this period Earlier: Modern Mechanical Horology

Atlas type guide

Chronographs and split-seconds watches

A chronograph is a watch with an additional seconds hand that can be started, stopped and returned to zero independently of the timekeeping. Louis Moinet built an early example in 1816 and Nicolas Rieussec a recording 'chronographe' in 1821; Adolphe Nicole's heart-shaped reset cam (patented 1862) made the modern return-to-zero possible. Split-seconds (rattrapante) chronographs add a second hand that can be stopped for intermediate times; flyback chronographs restart instantly.

Chronographs were essential tools for doctors (pulsometer scales), artillery (telemeter), engineers and sport. In wristwatches, Valjoux, Venus, Lemania and later the automatic chronographs of 1969 (Zenith El Primero, the Chronomatic Calibre 11 group and Seiko 6139) are milestones.

What to look for

Push-pieces on the case band or a single button in the crown (monopusher).
Subsidiary registers for minutes and hours; tachymeter, telemeter or pulsometer scales.
Column wheel versus cam control visible in the movement.
Calibre markings of specialist makers (Valjoux, Lemania, Venus, Landeron).

Dating clues

Pocket chronographs with heart cam reset: after 1862.
Wrist chronographs: from c. 1910; two-button designs from the 1930s.
Automatic chronographs: from 1969.

General guidance written by the Atlas editors about this kind of object. It is not a statement about this particular piece; for that, rely on the source record above and on physical examination.

Mechanisms mentioned

Chronograph — Complication
Self-winding (automatic) mechanism — Component

Record completeness

Maker or attributionRecorded
DateRecorded
Place or countryRecorded
MaterialsNot in source
DimensionsNot in source
Narrative descriptionRecorded
Inscriptions / marksNot in source
ProvenanceNot in source
Several photographsRecorded

Editorial status: Documented — facts as published by the source; not independently verified by Atlas editors.

Explore further

Sources & image rights

Record source: Bulang & Sons (dealer), Copenhagen (opens another website in a new tab).

Image rights: © Bulang & Sons — dealer photographs; permission required (opens another website in a new tab).

Images are hosted by the Atlas for study and credited to their owner. Rights holders may request correction, credit changes or removal, or grant permission, via the editorial office.

Cite this record

"Heuer Issued A.M.I Military Chronograph 510.543 it, 1980." Bulang & Sons (dealer), Copenhagen, W-319. Catalogue record in The Horology Atlas, WatchMuseum.org, https://atlas.watchmuseum.org/museum/heuer-issued-a-m-i-military-chronograph-510-543-it-ccac5b.