Heuer Professional Diver (Ref. 844/3) "Monnin Case", 1980s

Dealer description — Craft & Tailored

By the 1970s, Heuer had already established a formidable reputation in watchmaking, largely driven by its innovations in chronographs. While models like the Carrera and Autavia offered water resistance, the brand didn’t fully commit to a purpose-built dive watch until the introduction of the ref. 844, developed in collaboration with French case manufacturer Monnin. Launched in 1979, the Heuer 844 set the blueprint for the brand’s professional dive watches: robust construction, highly legible dials, and reliable ETA automatic movements. Designed with function at the forefront, it was quickly adopted by both professional divers and enthusiasts alike. Falling under the “1000 Series” designation, the ref. 844/3 represents a pivotal moment in Heuer’s evolution, bridging the gap between its chronograph-focused heritage and the modern dive watch lines that would follow, including the 1500 and 2000 Series. SPECS Stock # HURPRDV8443 Brand TAG Heuer Style Professional Diver Model 844/3 Serial 030XX Size Men's Material Stainless Steel Dial Matte Black Millimeters 42 Bracelet Heuer Jubilee-Style Bracelet W/ Flip-Lock Clasp CASE & BRACELET The robust M.R.P S.A. case is in impressive, lightly-worn condition, retaining the original factory chamfers and geometry with no notable evidence of prior polishing. The original unidirectional bezel exhibits a subtle, yet charming fade and retains its tritium pearl, while showing only nominal signs of use. The unsigned screw-down crown is original and correct for this watch. The case back retains all of its original factory markings in crisp condition. The watch comes on its original Heuer Jubilee-style bracelet with a flip-lock clasp; the bracelet retains 13 links that do show normal stretch and will fit up to a 7.5-inch wrist. DIAL & HANDS The original matte black dial remains in virtually flawless condition, showing no damage or visible age. The tritium lume plots have achieved a beautiful creamy patina and exhibit no degradation under UV light inspection. The original tritium hands have aged a few shades darker than the dial and feature some minor cracking in the minute and hour hand when inspected under UV light, though they remain stable. ACCESSORIES