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Heuer Montreal PVD 110.501 Cal.12 1970s — view 1 of 6
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Heuer Montreal PVD 110.501 Cal.12 1970s

DocumentedDocumented from a dealer's listing; attribution and date as stated by the dealer.
Maker / attribution
Heuer (maker)
Date
1970s
Country of origin
Switzerland
Object type
Wristwatch
Stock no.
W-338
Credit line
Dealer listing, Bulang & Sons (W-338)
Catalogue title (original)
Heuer Montreal PVD 110.501 Cal.12 1970s (English)

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Record summary

Catalogued by Bulang & Sons (dealer), Copenhagen (stock number W-338), this is a wristwatch by Heuer, made in Switzerland, dated 1970s. 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

THE BLACK HEUER CHRONO The Heuer Montreal was introduced in 1972 and the first series, which featured the Heuer Calibre 12 movement, ran for four years (before the Valjoux calibre was introduced). The Montreal case is pure funky 70s aesthetic, in a similar form to the Omega Flightmaster. The PVD coated reference 110.501 has a very stealthy look with its black dial and black chrono registers, the only splash of colour being the red pulsations scale track. The chrono pushers are the correct and original fluted steel ones on the right side of the case, with the winding crown situated on the left side of the case. This gives the watch cool balance that we love. The lume in the hands matches the hour markers; both having a rich vanilla hue. The watch has spent many years of its life on a black PVD coated steel bracelet that works really well with the watch (made by Sinn). Specification - Reference 110.501 - Dates to 1970s - Heuer calibre 12 movement - Dual Scale – Telemeter and Tachymeter - Perfect fitting PVD coated bracelet (by Sinn) - Fresh checked by our watchmaker - Incl. one Watch Strap of your choice*

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

Wristwatches

Bracelet watches were worn by women from the early nineteenth century — Breguet made one for Caroline Murat, Queen of Naples, in 1810–12 — but the wristwatch only became a man's instrument with military use and aviation in the early twentieth century. Between the World Wars it overtook the pocket watch; the 1920s and 1930s brought rectangular Art Deco cases, water-resistant cases and the first automatic winding systems.

After 1945 the wristwatch became a carrier of identity — dress watches, sports and dive watches, chronographs, calendars — produced by Swiss, American, Japanese, German, Soviet and Chinese industries. The quartz revolution after 1969 and the mechanical renaissance since the 1990s, including the rise of independent watchmakers, complete the story.

What to look for

  • The reference number (between the lugs or inside the case back) and serial number, the starting point for dating.
  • The calibre: its maker and number are often stamped under the dial or on the bridge.
  • Originality of dial, hands and crown — refinished ('redial') dials are common.
  • Case material marks: 18K/750, 14K/585, stainless steel, gold-filled, plated.

Dating clues

  • Wire-lug cases: before c. 1925.
  • Water-resistant screw-down cases: from 1926.
  • Quartz movements: from 1969; sapphire crystals widespread after c. 1980.

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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