Some of the more collectible replica vintage Heuers have been the so-called pilots’ version of the Carrera in recently years. This was an early 1970s automatic chronograph produced in solid gold, with the familiar C-shaped case. For sheer audacity – these fake watches were made in solid gold and came on gold mesh bracelets – it’s different to think of any real competition in the world of the fake Heuer watches. 
According to a recent episode of Talking Watches, we can see that Mario Andretti has one. So did his former teammate, the Swedish driver Ronnie Peterson. Today, we’re introducing a very special piece that is a re-edition of the Carrera that the “SuperSwede” received from Jack Heuer upon winning the Jo Siffert Prix Rouge et Blanc Award at the 1972 German Grand Prix. The original watch, which sold for a cheap price at Sotheby’s in 2016 and is now in the replica TAG Heuer Museum, came engraved with words “SUCCESS RONNIE PETERSON FROM JACK W. HEUER.” As a whole, fewer than 500 of the model in yellow gold are thought to have been made, and several of them ended up on the wrists of famous drivers of the day. Last November’s Heuer Parade saw two of these replica watches come up for sale.
To commemorate Peterson’s career and benefit the Ronnie Peterson Foundation, the replica TAG Heuer has made a single gold replica of his original 1158. The gold case and Milanese bracelet are on point re-editions, as is the look of the dial. But where the original 1158 came with the in-house Caliber 12 movement, an upgraded version of the Caliber 11, the new replica watch comes with what TAG Heuer today calls a Caliber 11, which is a Sellita base caliber outfitted with a chronograph module from Dubois-Depraz. 
Ronnie Peterson raced in Formula One from 1970 to 1978 for three teams. Over the course of his Formula One career, which was tragically cut short – he died in 1978, at 34, as a result of injuries sustained in a crash at Monza – Peterson won 10 Grands Prix and reached the podium 26 times.
However, the auction, titled Les Grandes Marques à Monaco, takes place May 11 in Monte Carlo, and is focused on all things racing. This unique and popular TAG Heuer replica is lot 111 and has been listed at a rather affordable price as well.
