AUTAVIA MODEL, REF. 113.603 ISRAELI DEFENSE FORCES ISSUE, M-2008, CIRCA 1985

The present PVD-coated Israeli Defence Forces reference 113.603 is from the very last vintage Autavia series launched in 1985 and one of the rarest versions of the entire Autavia model. A supreme example of the ultra-rare Israeli military Autavia, it now offers collectors the opportunity to obtain probably the best example of this almost never-seen PVD version of the Heuer Autavia.

These chronographs were supplied in the 1980s to the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) or 'Tzahal' in Hebrew. The case back of the present watch bears IDF's military issue number 'M-2008', the absence of a serial number confirms that the watch was not part of the firm’s regular production.

The Autavia, the true representative of Heuer’s sporting heritage, was released in 1962. It was the first new model launched under the guidance of the firm’s new CEO Jack Heuer, the name a combination of its target markets, the manufacture of timekeeping devices for motorsports and the production of cockpit instruments for military and civil aviation: AUTomotive and AVIAtion. Its solid construction, excellent legibility and the rotating bezel made it the perfect chronograph for pilots, divers and other military personnel – including the Israel Defence Forces.