It may have been the final throw of the dice for the screw back case Autavia before the compressor case took over but the final executions were very special watches. Unlike the earlier dials, which were made with two and three sub registers, the 4th executions were only produced with three sub registers for the Valjoux 72/724 movements. The dials differed from the 3rd execution Rindts most notably by replacing the steel hour markers with lume applied batons, which is why they are sometimes referred to as "all lume" 2446. The difference to the look of the dial is actually significant and the lume batons really stand out against the black dial, giving a more vibrant look. However, there are some other subtle differences to note about the 4th execution. The black dial paint is much more "matte" than the 3rd execution and therefore appears "blacker" as a consequence and the printing on the sub registers is slightly lighter. The dial was made as a "standard" and GMT variant, the latter being the smallest production GMT from Heuer. It is worth noting that this GMT uses a bespoke GMT hand which is subtly different to the later compressor case version and of course comes with a bespoke "Pepsi" GMT bezel. Note that the GMT has been seen with two subtle dial variations - the production one with "Swiss T" in the bottom sub register and one without "Swiss T" in the sub. The latter version also has more of a gap between the applied lume strips and the sub registers at 3/6/9 and less pronounced serifs on the "Heuer Autavia GMT" text. This is the version that TAG Heuer Switzerland have within their service department.

You would expect to find these final 4th execution dials towards the end of the screw back case production run and whilst the GMT had a very tight and specific serial range which spanned 9999x - 100200, there seems to be no exact serial range for the non-GMT dial. However, it should fall into the later 2446 serial batch 89xxx - 96xxx. Whilst the 2446GMT version is documented on the price list in 1968 and pictured on a pilot's wrist in the advert below, there is no mention or picture of the "standard" dial anywhere, meaning it is entirely possible that the non-GMT version was never officially released to retailers. Both versions are incredibly rare and I would estimate that fewer than 200 of each were made, and likely even fewer for the standard dial. So far, I have noted full serials for 19 GMTs and 14 of the non-GMT versions, making them one of the hardest Autavia for a collector to track down!

Values wise the 4th execution Autavias range between perhaps £15000 for an entry level example to perhaps £45000 depending on the overall condition (the GMT worth towards the top end of this compared to the standard dial). As always, the highest values are reserved for watches with crisp cases, clean dials with attractive lume and the very best condition bezels. For more info on values check out the Heuer Price Guide which covers almost all Autavia, Carrera and Monacos from 1962-85. It is now continually updated when new data allows.

Click the link below to preview and/or buy one of the two Heuer collector reference watch books to feature the 2446 4th execution, the Autavia Chronographs 1962-85 or the "Best of" Heuer holy grail book "Superstars".