September 8, 2003

Since October 2002, approximately 20 oversized chronographs bearing the "Heuer" name have been offered or sold through ebay or other websites. These chronographs have been sold as vintage "Heuer" timepieces, with prices in the range between $2500 and $4800. They are typically listed as mint or New Old Stock (NOS) timepieces, and often described as having some connection with the Targa Florio road races of the 1950's, grand prix racing, in general, or automobile rallyes.

Over the past several months, there has been considerable controversy about whether these chronographs are genuine Heuer chronographs, made by Heuer in the 1950's, or "fakes", being produced currently in Eastern Europe and Germany. In May 2003, in an article called The Great Debate, we presented the evidence for and against authenticity, and concluded that these timepieces were likely fakes. By late July 2003, after conversations with reliable sources, including representatives of TAG-Heuer, we had concluded that all of these oversized chronographs were, in fact, "fakes". In the course of our research regarding these fakes and reproductions, we also learned a great deal about the watches that Heuer did actually produce -- both the "Fleiger" (pilots) chronographs of the 1930's and 40's and Targa Florio chronographs, re-issued by TAG-Heuer in 1996.

Following below are a series of questions and answers regarding these chronographs, in the form of an article published on July 31, 2003 and entitled " Heuer Chronographs: The Real Story of the "Targa Florio" and the Oversized Reproductions . After this article, we present some further information that we have gathered since the date of its publication.