[Note: if you came here looking for the 2447NT story, click HERE to be re-routed!]
The Story Behind the Watch
If you ask a number of Heuer collectors what reference they find to be the “purest” ever made, you’ll likely have multiple people answer “the 2447N.” From a design perspective, I believe it’s the best sports chronograph ever made. Yes – I said it and I’m not running from that statement. Take, for example, the contrast between the matte black dial and sharp white sub-dial markings (as well as the strips of white on the applied metal hour indices) that makes it instantly legible from any angle on the wrist. Also notice the use of the inner tension ring as a minute track that also maintains legibility while providing a sharp contrast to the negative dark space in the dial. Finally, the distinctive Carrera 2447/3647 case with its angular lugs is perfectly at home on just about any wrist despite its 36mm diameter. The result is an icon that truly stands apart from the rest of the 1960’s sports chronos.
This one found it’s way to me through an estate dealer on eBay. I was fortunate to see the listing as soon as it was posted and quickly secured it – though it didn’t look exactly as it does now. The crystal was horribly scratched and there was grime all over the case, but a quick call to the seller ensured that all of the damage was to the crystal and not the dial. Think of it like a house with great bones – the crystal is replaceable and the grime can be washed off, but the patina couldn’t have been better and the case looked to have been a stranger to the polish wheel over the years.
The Nitty Gritty
This watch is about as good as a 2447N can get. This particular version is a second execution dial, which can be discerned by the thickness of the applied hour markers and the handset, which has a thin black strip running up the middle. Inside, the watch is powered by the ubiquitous Valjoux 72, a workhorse that has stood the test of time. Interestingly, the bridge on my particular movement is missing the “E” in -LEONIDAS, but is a perfectly genuine movement.
