One of the reasons that I have spent time looking into the history of the Heuer and Lemania relationship recently was to find out more about the heritage of a watch that I’ve recently bought- a Heuer 510.500.

The watch on the right is a series two 510.500, distinguished from the first series by the Day/ Date feature (the first series 510.500 was date only) and often coming with the TAG Heuer logo on the bracelet, even though the dial is “Heuer”.

The 510.5XX watches were the only Lemania-powered Heuer to survive into the TAG Heuer era, with the TAG Heuer version having the reference number 510.500-12. This different model number signals more than just the addition of the TAG Heuer logo to the dial- it also signifies that most of these watches use the slower-beating 5012 Lemania movement rather than the 5100.

Heuer’s relationship with Lemania in the early 1980s was brief, but intense. As the first part of the Heuer/ Lemania story detailed, Heuer was actually owned by a consortium involving Lemania for a few short years before being sold to TAG in 1984/5. This relationship explains why there were so many Heuer models using the Lemania 5100 movement in the early 1980s.

However what this doesn’t explain is why are there so many other brands that sold almost identical version of these Heuer watches. Based on the trusty formula of two-parts research mixed with one-part assumption and one-parts guesswork, the conclusion is perhaps surprising: Because for the most part, they were not Heuer designs in the first place.

Debate over the Heuer Silverstone 510.403 Lemania- fake or real…or something in between?

Recent review of sale prices achieved for a Heuer Montreal and a TAG Heuer 510.500-12

Which Vintage Heuer models will be the big price movers in 2010? Look at these examples of the 510.500, Camaro, Montreal, Silverstone and Super Professional

The Lemania Heuer Silverstone reference 510.403 from Calibre11.com- Vintage Heuer Blog; TAG Heuer blog