I dismissed Camaros as the “odd ducks” of 60’s Heuer chronographs, but all of that changed when I tried on a friend’s newly-acquired Camaro at a watch meet-up. Despite the cushion case, it was remarkably slim and hugged the wrist – a far cry from the Viceroy Autavia that I had previously owned. From that point forward, it was added to my wish list.
Not long after, a friend and fellow collector said that he was thinking of selling his tropical Camaro, and I didn’t have to think about it for very long. Not only did I trust his own taste in watches given his incredible collection, but the price included a “friend discount” and was truly a no-brainer. What I didn’t expect was how quickly I would bond with the Camaro. All it takes is a quick flick of the wrist for the dial to change from a neutral black to a chocolately brown, and the contrast against the white tachymeter scale and handset maintains perfect legibility. Also – an interesting thing that I’ve noticed since taking ownership of this 7743T is how prevalent “chocolate” dials are with this particular combination. Keep your eyes peeled for them, as they’re unique, well-made, and pack a lot of bang for the buck.
The Nitty Gritty
The case is sharp and not rounded off / dull (like many examples eventually become after a date with an untrained watchmaker). The dial has faded to a beautiful chocolate brown color, and the only true blemish is an inconsistency in the minute hand lume insert. The 7743T is powered by a Valjoux 92 movement, which beats at a wonderfully lazy 18,000 bph and has stood the test of time across many brands and references.
