HEUER quartz - 1982 | ref. 980.026
While a real quartz revolution was in place, at the beginning of the ’80s, Heuer tried to consolidate its portfolio with a “diver – quartz” line sort of weird for a name equal to (as we see today) what a spectacular and full of history chronograph means.
Sponsor of the Lake Placid Olympic Games (1980) and Moscow (1980), reediting the company policy from the ‘20s, Heuer probable was making hopes to “survive” alone during those times. Only nearly 3 years later, years that probable were not very easy, in 1985, Heuer “met” TAG Group (Techniques d’Avant-Grade) and became TAG-Heuer.
Released in 1981 the series “ref. 980.xxx” has somehow a precursor in the model ref. 8440 present in the catalogue from 1979 (see the attached image).
With enough force displayed in the catalogue [1981] appear pairs of four “divers - quartz” models: for ladies, respectively men, as follows (see the watches images in the right column):
• Heuer | ref. 980.008 | lady
• Heuer | ref. 980.011 | lady
• Heuer | ref. 980.015 | lady / “young sportsman”
• Heuer | ref. 980.016 | lady / “young sportsman”
• Heuer | ref. 980.006 | man / “professional”
• Heuer | ref. 980.007 | man / “professional”
• Heuer | ref. 980.013 | man / “sports man choice”
• Heuer | ref. 980.014 | man / “sports man choice”
Since [1982] that range extends also aggressive, the catalogues ("specialty collection" and "diving watches") from that year “enlisting” on 6 from the 7 pages, the “ref. 980.xxx” models with several variants. So, two new “sections” appear, professional respectively, “sports choice” and for small diameters are individualized the ladies models respectively, “young sportsman”.
• Heuer | ref. 980.024 | ana-digi professional / divers catalogue
• Heuer | ref. 980.027 | ana-digi professional / divers catalogue
• Heuer | ref. 980.004 | divers catalogue / crown at 04:00
• Heuer | ref. 980.021 | professional
• Heuer | ref. 980.023 | professional
• Heuer | ref. 980.028 | divers catalogue - man / pair with ref. 980.029
• Heuer | ref. 980.029 | divers catalogue - lady / pair with ref. 980.028
• Heuer | ref. 980.030 | night diving / divers catalogue
• Heuer | ref. 980.031 | night diving / divers catalogue
• Heuer | ref. 980.032 | night diving / divers catalogue
• Heuer | ref. 980.026 | man / “sports man choice”
• Heuer | ref. 980.025 | lady / pair with ref. 980.026
• Heuer | ref. 980.020 | man / “sports man choice”
• Heuer | ref. 980.018 | lady / pair with ref. 980.020
• Heuer | ref. 980.019 | “young sportsman”
• Heuer | ref. 980.022 | man / pair with ref. 980.017
• Heuer | ref. 980.017 | lady / pair with ref. 980.022
The model of this presentation - Heuer 980.026 is described within the series “The sportsman’s choice” (catalogue image attached) with the description:
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“Ref. 980.026 Quartz
Black sportwatch, quartz,
date, waterresistant to 200 meters (660 feet),
screw-in crown, unidirectional turning bezel with ratchet.
Reflection-free black finish to stainless steel case and bracelet.”
The pane glass of these models is made from mineral glass, the dials being black or orange with the only difference for the night diving model (ref. 980.03x) that has a phosphorescent dial of cream color at day light and slightly green in the dark.
The movement is quartz – AS 536121, 0 (zero) rubies.
Interesting are also the “pairs” man | lady for a few versions being highlighted in the above list. Also in the case of the presented watch existed a “pair” – model ref. 980.025 (presented image).
After the TAG taking over, the model has continued in the TAG-Heuer 1000 Professional series produced until sometimes during the ‘90s.
References:
1. blog “Classic Heuer” | Jarl Fr. Rehn-Erichsen
2. www.heuerboy.com | Nic Green (credit scans after Heuer catalogues)
3. The Heuer/TAG Heuer 1000 series | Calibre 11 | David Chalmers
4. James Bond Watches | Dell Deaton
5. Heuerville (Heuer Diver 980.026 PVD ’Black Coral’) | Stewart Morley
[up-date: October, 2010]
Brasov - August, 2009
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