Heuer has now become a household name - albeit under different ownership than founded it, namely TAG Heuer, which took over in the mid-1980s. The pewter-cased mid-1980s TAG Heuer 3000 Ref. 932.213 here, with its original receipt, is a great example of a design TAG didn’t mess with after it assumed control of the company, before it began making some...questionable design choices.
But none of that here...
The Ref. 932 diver here represents old-school Heuer design, in a mid-sized package. Mid-1980's TAG Heuer divers, in particular divers like this one, are not common in any condition, and for good reason - they represent a bygone era for Heuer.
Given the parlous state of the Swiss watchmaking industry in the early 1980s, it likely made sense to TAG Heuer to eek out as many model variants as possible using as few unique parts as possible – however while the 1000 and 2000 series were popular, lasting several decades, the 3000 was only on sale for just over five. The 3000 design is essentially a development of the successful 2000-series launched in 1982, with the 3000 featuring squared curves to create a more technical looking watch.
TAG Heuer managed to scale down all the elements of its highly popular 980 dive watch series - produced beginning in 1979 through 1982 - to make a stunning dive watch, never an easy feat. The attention to detail and quality is remarkable, and seems more of an achievement with these smaller Heuer cases. Heuer built these divers to high standards, and rendered these waterproof to 200m – just like their elder siblings.
Birthed under the Heuer brand, the 3000 series carried over when TAG purchased the company and left the 3000 largely unchanged, apart from the obvious TAG Heuer logo. Complementing the angular case was a large 12-sided bezel that sat inside the width of the watch. While not as wide as the case itself, the bezel is very thick, and features small ball-shaped grips at each corner to make it easier to turn.
Heuer also debuted, at the same time, chronographs and three handers in quartz and automatic variations (chronographs only, as Heuer produced no automatic three hander 3000s). The all-steel grey model here is the least common colorway of the range, and is in excellent condition.
This Heuer comes with its original stainless-steel TAG Heuer-sized bracelet, nylon strap, spring bar tool, and rugged travel case.
Mid-1980s TAG Heuer 3000 Ref. 932.213 Diver, w/Original Bracelet
DIAL: TAG Heuer-signed dial and "church" hands; date at 3 o’clock position functions as designed. Dial lume - including bezel pip - glows.
BEZEL: Unidirectional bezel, with bezel insert in quite excellent condition, ratchets w/a satisfying click. Inlaid “pip” remains, and in great condition. Please note one of the black ball grips on the bezel is missing.
CASE: TAG Heuer mid-size unisex matte-color pewter case measures 35mm (w/o crown, 38mm with) x 40mm; matching original signed caseback.
CRYSTAL: Correct crystal, no cracks or scratches.
BAND: Stainless-steel TAG Heuer-signed bracelet, links remain tight and will fit up to a 7.25 inch wrist (or 8.5 inches if the wetsuit extension is used). This Heuer also comes with a black and red "Ducati" nylon strap.
MOVEMENT: TAG Heuer-signed ESA quartz movement.
CROWN: Signed screw-down locking crown.
Of note, this Heuer 3000 comes with its original receipt.