
Wristwatches · Wristwatch
Heuer Monnin Mk1 Reference 844 Dive Watch, late 1970s
- Maker / attribution
- Heuer (maker)
- Date
- late 1970s
- Historical period
- Quartz Revolution (1969 – 1990)
- Country of origin
- Switzerland
- Object type
- Wristwatch
- Dimensions
- Case 42 mm
- Stock no.
- w-2231
- Credit line
- Dealer listing, Bulang & Sons (w-2231)
- Catalogue title (original)
- Heuer Monnin Mk1 Reference 844 Dive Watch (English)
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Record summary
Catalogued by Bulang & Sons (dealer), Copenhagen (stock number w-2231), this is a wristwatch by Heuer, made in Switzerland, dated late 1970s. The Atlas places it in the Quartz Revolution period (1969 – 1990) of its Wristwatches collection. Recorded dimensions: Case 42 mm. 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
The 844 was the very first dive watch to come from Heuer. The brand was highly regarded for its sports chronographs at the time and so decided to outsource the production of its dive watches to French company Georges Monnin. What is rare is to find one of these in awesome condition like the example we have today. Its one of the first series and it’s a cracker! The 42mm steel is really very cool, with huge crown guards and a super nice big bevel on sides. The Mk1 dial is flawless, as are the correct Mk1 cathedral hands (Mk2 dials were different and had Mercedes hands fitted). The watch has a military look due to the red 24-hour Arabic numerals on the inner side of the hour plots. We believe the insert may be slightly later. All told though, this truly is a stunning condition watch ! This early Heuer will come on the pictured Bulang and Sons leather strap and has been fully serviced by our watchmaker. This is a rare watch to find in such flawless condition. Don’t miss out, get in touch today! Specifications: - Heuer Monnin - Reference 844 - Serial 12xxx dates to late 1970s - 42mm steel case - Huge crown guards - Black dial with red 24 hour Arabic numerals on inside of lume plots - Cathedral hands - FE 4611A “G. Monnin” signed automatic movement - Will come on the pictured Bulang and Sons strap - Fully serviced by our watchmaker - Includes a handmade leather watch pouch
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 timelineMore wristwatches from this periodEarlier: Modern Mechanical Horology
Atlas type guide
Dive and water-resistant watches
Keeping water and dust out of a wristwatch was a long-standing challenge. Rolex's screw-down Oyster case (1926) and Omega's Marine (1932) were landmarks; in the early 1950s Blancpain's Fifty Fathoms and Rolex's Submariner defined the professional dive watch with rotating bezels for timing dives, luminous dials and high water resistance. The ISO 6425 standard (1982) later codified what a 'diver's watch' must do.
Dive watches became icons of post-war design and exploration, and their evolution — helium escape valves, ceramic bezels, saturation-diving depth ratings — records the history of underwater work.
What to look for
- Unidirectional or bidirectional rotating bezel with minute markings.
- Screw-down crown and case back; depth rating printed on the dial.
- Luminous hands and markers (radium before c. 1960, tritium c. 1960–1998, then Super-LumiNova).
- Reference numbers on the case between the lugs or inside the back.
Dating clues
- Screw-down Oyster cases: from 1926.
- Professional dive watches: from 1953.
- Tritium 'T' marks on dials: c. 1960–1998.
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.
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