Lemania / Heuer Silverstone, cal. 5012, 70s chronograph

Lemania / Heuer Silverstone Chronograph

Calibre Lemania 5012 – 1970s

Offered here is a rare and charismatic Lemania / Heuer Silverstone chronograph, powered by the legendary Lemania calibre 5012, a close relative of the famed Lemania 5100. This watch represents a fascinating intersection of Swiss tool-watch engineering, motorsport design, and aerospace-grade reliability from the golden era of mechanical chronographs.

The Watch

The dial features a stunning textured geometric pattern, characteristic of the 1970s, which gives the watch remarkable depth and personality. Depending on the angle and intensity of the light, the dial subtly changes appearance, shifting from a deep, almost matte blue to brighter, more dynamic reflections. This interplay of light highlights the dial’s construction and reinforces its technical character, while adding a rare aesthetic dimension to a chronograph of this era.

The Silverstone case is one of the most distinctive chronograph designs of the 1970s. Its bold, cushion-shaped stainless steel case reflects the era’s motorsport influence, offering strong wrist presence while remaining highly wearable. The dial is purpose-built: highly legible, functional, and unmistakably utilitarian, with vibrant chronograph hands and a clear day-date display—hallmarks of serious professional instrumentation. The case measure 40x44,5mm excluding the crown.

This example is branded Lemania, yet closely associated with Heuer, as the Silverstone design was originally introduced by Heuer in 1974 and later shared through Lemania’s production. These Lemania-signed Silverstones are significantly rarer and highly sought after by collectors who appreciate their understated, tool-focused identity.

Lemania – A Legendary Manufacture

Founded in 1884, Lemania stands among the most important chronograph manufacturers in Swiss watchmaking history. For decades, Lemania supplied movements to many of the greatest names in horology, including Omega, Patek Philippe, Vacheron Constantin, and Heuer. Lemania’s reputation was built on robustness, innovation, and absolute reliability under extreme conditions.

Most famously, Lemania movements formed the backbone of Omega’s chronographs used in space, forever cementing the brand’s place in both watchmaking and aerospace history.

The Heuer–Lemania Silverstone

The Silverstone was Heuer’s answer to the changing tastes of the 1970s—bold, technical, and inspired by racing circuits such as Silverstone in the UK. When Lemania produced versions of the Silverstone under its own name, the result was a purist’s chronograph: less marketing-driven, more instrument-like, and mechanically identical to its Heuer counterparts.

Today, Lemania-signed Silverstones are considerably rarer than Heuer-branded examples, making them especially appealing to seasoned collectors seeking originality and historical depth.

The Movement – Lemania Calibre 5012 / 5100 Family

At the heart of this watch beats the Lemania calibre 5012, a variant within the legendary 5100 family. Introduced in the early 1970s, the Lemania 5100 was designed from the ground up as a professional tool chronograph, prioritizing durability, shock resistance, and legibility over traditional decorative refinement.

Key features include:

• Central chronograph minutes for instant readability

• Day-date complication

• Extremely robust construction with synthetic components designed to absorb shock

The Lemania 5100 family achieved near-mythical status when it was tested and approved for aerospace use, including by NASA, where it proved capable of withstanding extreme conditions. It is widely documented that the 5100-based movements were able to tolerate acceleration forces of up to 7G, making them uniquely suited for high-stress environments where other mechanical chronographs failed.

Because of this, the Lemania 5100 and its variants were used not only in space-related testing, but also by military forces, pilots, and professional divers well into the 1990s.

A True Tool-Watch Icon

This Lemania / Heuer Silverstone is not just a vintage chronograph—it is a piece of functional history. Designed for speed, stress, and precision, it embodies the uncompromising philosophy of 1970s professional watchmaking.

Rare, mechanically significant, and visually unmistakable, this watch is an outstanding opportunity for collectors who value authentic tool watches, historical movements, and true horological pedigree.