Vintage Heuer Cortina 510. 513 Lemania 5012 Day Date Automatic Chronograph
Item History & Price
Vintage Heuer Cortina Automatic Chronograph 510.513
Lemania 5012 Day Date Movement
Here we have a vintage, mid 1980's Heuer Cortina Chronograph with the rare brushed and anodized blue aluminum dial sporting a Lemania 5012, 17 jewel movement. The Cortina was available during this time in a few different case and dial configurations, this model being the most rare.
Although the watch itself is labeled as a Heuer on the dial, the band states Tag Heuer (and there coul...d be a few reasons for this that I will get to) and from what information I have gathered, it is the original band.
In the mid 1980's when this watch was produced, the Heuer company was owned by Lamania (who produced the excellent movement for this watch as well as many others) but in 1985 Lemania sold the Heuer company to Techniques d'Avant Garde (TAG), and the company became Tag Heuer. A few things may have been in motion at this time and it seems this model may have been in production during this transition and by the time it was ready for market, TAG may have wanted to put their stamp on it and so included a TAG Heuer branded clasp for the band.
It is also possible that this model was regarded as a somewhat classic at the time since the movement was based on the older and proven Lamania 5100, similar to the more modern issues of TAG Heuers that are only labeled as Heuer on the dial (like the Monaco, Monza and Carrera). They have done a few of these models over the last number of years but I do not recall any going back to the 80's or even the 90's, but I do not consider myself an expert on the subject and information on this particular model is a bit scarce!
Now that the history lesson is done, onto some details about this watch.I included same shots with different lighting since different lighting will reveal different things (direct light shots on the left of each frame, indirect on the right). The soft, indirect lighting will hide some blemishes and the direct lighting will reveal more than you will see with the naked eye in person. Not to mention that the different lighting shows off how different this dial can look from a bright blue to a dark, and nearly black, blue. A very unique dial indeed.
This watch is a wearer and it does have the dings to dings to show it, but it in no way looks beat up while on the wrist. It has excellent presence and character with the fantastic racing-orange hands against the contrast of the sexy brushed blue dial. The black Tachymetere ring and the 2 black sub-dials are a great touch. The raised and beveled hour markers add nice depth and a bit of bling.The Plexiglass dome/crystal does show some scratches but you need the right lighting and be looking for them. The dome has no cracks and is smooth to the touch.The movement keeps good time and will run for about 36-40 hours once taken off and placed stationary. The day and date will begin to move at just after 10:30PM and click into place for the next day right at 12:00AM. The chronograph section works properly and all 3 chronograph markers return right to 12:00 when reset. The Lamania 5012 movement is a "hacking" movement, meaning that it stops the second when the crown is set to the time setting position so that you can set it to the second.
You can see the model number on the case back, 510.513.
As the bracelet is currently set to the middle of the adjustment area on the clasp, it fits on my 7 inch wrist (measured just above the wrist bone) with just the right amount of slack but there is a bit of adjustment either larger or smaller and their is one extra link included.
The case that the watch came with is included though it has seen better days. Not quite sure how it became so beat up and also not sure if this was the original case.
Item will be shipped via USPS Priority inside the Continental US in a well packed medium flat rate box with full insurance and signature confirmation, which will be more than the $25.00 shipping charge but I will cover the extra.
Please let me know if you have any questions or any more information on the unique piece.
Lemania 5012 Day Date Movement
Here we have a vintage, mid 1980's Heuer Cortina Chronograph with the rare brushed and anodized blue aluminum dial sporting a Lemania 5012, 17 jewel movement. The Cortina was available during this time in a few different case and dial configurations, this model being the most rare.
Although the watch itself is labeled as a Heuer on the dial, the band states Tag Heuer (and there coul...d be a few reasons for this that I will get to) and from what information I have gathered, it is the original band.
In the mid 1980's when this watch was produced, the Heuer company was owned by Lamania (who produced the excellent movement for this watch as well as many others) but in 1985 Lemania sold the Heuer company to Techniques d'Avant Garde (TAG), and the company became Tag Heuer. A few things may have been in motion at this time and it seems this model may have been in production during this transition and by the time it was ready for market, TAG may have wanted to put their stamp on it and so included a TAG Heuer branded clasp for the band.
It is also possible that this model was regarded as a somewhat classic at the time since the movement was based on the older and proven Lamania 5100, similar to the more modern issues of TAG Heuers that are only labeled as Heuer on the dial (like the Monaco, Monza and Carrera). They have done a few of these models over the last number of years but I do not recall any going back to the 80's or even the 90's, but I do not consider myself an expert on the subject and information on this particular model is a bit scarce!
Now that the history lesson is done, onto some details about this watch.I included same shots with different lighting since different lighting will reveal different things (direct light shots on the left of each frame, indirect on the right). The soft, indirect lighting will hide some blemishes and the direct lighting will reveal more than you will see with the naked eye in person. Not to mention that the different lighting shows off how different this dial can look from a bright blue to a dark, and nearly black, blue. A very unique dial indeed.
This watch is a wearer and it does have the dings to dings to show it, but it in no way looks beat up while on the wrist. It has excellent presence and character with the fantastic racing-orange hands against the contrast of the sexy brushed blue dial. The black Tachymetere ring and the 2 black sub-dials are a great touch. The raised and beveled hour markers add nice depth and a bit of bling.The Plexiglass dome/crystal does show some scratches but you need the right lighting and be looking for them. The dome has no cracks and is smooth to the touch.The movement keeps good time and will run for about 36-40 hours once taken off and placed stationary. The day and date will begin to move at just after 10:30PM and click into place for the next day right at 12:00AM. The chronograph section works properly and all 3 chronograph markers return right to 12:00 when reset. The Lamania 5012 movement is a "hacking" movement, meaning that it stops the second when the crown is set to the time setting position so that you can set it to the second.
You can see the model number on the case back, 510.513.
As the bracelet is currently set to the middle of the adjustment area on the clasp, it fits on my 7 inch wrist (measured just above the wrist bone) with just the right amount of slack but there is a bit of adjustment either larger or smaller and their is one extra link included.
The case that the watch came with is included though it has seen better days. Not quite sure how it became so beat up and also not sure if this was the original case.
Item will be shipped via USPS Priority inside the Continental US in a well packed medium flat rate box with full insurance and signature confirmation, which will be more than the $25.00 shipping charge but I will cover the extra.
Please let me know if you have any questions or any more information on the unique piece.
