Why This Watch Matters
Here is a beautiful Orvis Solunagraph made by Heuer for the American company specializing in fly fishing equipment.
The Full Story
Orvis was founded in 1856 in Manchester, Vermont by Charles F. Orvis, and since the beginning, it's been a company focused on specialty outdoor equipment with an emphasis on fly fishing. The company is still around today and prides itself on high quality goods and excellent customer service. Like today, back in the 1960s and '70s, one could go to the Orvis store to get fully outfitted for an outdoor expedition, including a trusty timepiece.
Heuer made watches for Orvis, just like the Solunagraph we have here today. This is similar to Abercrombie & Fitch, who Heuer also had a relationship with. This watch has the Orvis branding on the dial, but has Heuer on the crown, movement and case, which is correct. The Solunagraph seems like the perfect chronograph for a store specializing in fly fishing and hunting equipment because of the special feature this watch has: a tide indicator. This special register on the watch, controlled by the pusher at nine o'clock, can be used to track low and high tide, which can be useful for fishing and hunting. Heuer was producing this complication since the 1950s with the Mareograph and would even make watches with this complication for Abercrombie & Fitch under the "Seafarer" name.
Heuer made two generations of Soluagraph for Orvis. The earlier execution, like the example we're offering today, has polished match-stick style hands and a more metallic finished hour and minute bezel amongst other slight differences. Earlier executions, like this one, are nearly identical to the Heuer Mareograph of the same time period, and that watch is one of the rarest Heuers out there. Heuer used a compressor style case for these similar to those on the Autavia of the time period.
These Orvis Solunagraphs don't come up too often, and this one is in overall very good and attractive condition. Originally, these were aimed towards sportsmen who needed a reliable watch for fishing and being outdoors, but today, it offers a not-so-common chronograph with an interesting history in a well sized 40mm case. The combination of grey dial with silver and blue registers gives this watch a handsome and playful aesthetic. Inside the watch beats the legendary Valjoux 72 movement modified for the tide indicator, which is referred to as the Valjoux 721. We paired this on our Sedona in Ash Grey to match the grey dial and give this rugged watch a more casual and elevated style. A similar example sold at auction in 2016 for $50,000 at Phillips Auction house.
The Fine Print
Maker: Heuer for Orvis
Model: Solunagraph
Reference: 2446SF
Year: Circa early 1970s
Case No: 198038
Material: Stainless steel
Dimensions: 40mm diameter; 14mm thickness
Crystal: Plexiglass
Lume: Yes, tritium
Caliber: Valjoux, manually-wound, Caliber 721
Bracelet/Strap:
Lug Width: 20mm
Box/Papers: No; This does come with a period stainless steel 18mm JB Champion "Bullet" style bracelet with straight end-links
