1970s Baylor "Camaro" Chronograph 'Landeron Cal. 187'

As an homage to nearby Baylor University, the Dallas-based jeweler Zales used the name Baylor as the in-house brand for many of their watches in the late 1960s and '70s.

If some of these Baylor watches look like Heuers, it's no coincidence. In fact, it's now a well-known article of Heuer's history that the brand contracted many of its cases and movements to other brands to be retailed under their own name, essentially white-labeling their own watches. This was done to boost revenue and profits for the Heuer brand, which struggled financially throughout the '60s and '70s because of its forward-thinking processes. As a result, numerous unique watches were created, which are mostly Heuer with dials influenced by the actual retailers.

Case in point, this beautiful Baylor "Camaro" chronograph, which employs a robust Landeron Cal. 187 movement within a gold-plated case. When compared head-to-head with a Heuer Camaro ref. 7843, both watches possess the same cushion-style stainless steel 37mm case with a screw-down case back and pump pushers, the same chapter ring, and a "panda" dial with dual subsidiary registers, making it a fantastic "poor man's Heuer."

Stock #		BLYCAMCHRON
Brand		Baylor
Style		"Camaro" Chronograph
Model		N/A
Serial		N/A
Size		Men's
Material		Gold Plated Stainless Steel
Dial		Matte Black / White
Millimeters		37
Strap		2pc Handmade Leather Strap

CASE & BRACELET

The original gold-plated case shows minor signs of polishing, with the original case finishing and lug chamfers still strong. The stainless steel case back shows minor wear, with all factory engravings still strong and easy to read. The watch features its original gold-plated pump pushers and signed crown, the latter of which shows some signs of wearing down of the plating. The watch is supplied on a two-piece tan leather strap with a matching gold tang buckle.

DIAL & HANDS

The matte black dial is incredibly clean, with almost no signs of age or patina. The white chapter ring features black text that is highly legible and shows little to no wear. The white subdials at 3 and 9 o'clock pop off the dial nicely, with the latter subdial featuring a unique orange-and-black pattern. The date window, interestingly located at 12 o'clock, is surrounded with a gold outline to match the rest of the watch's accents, including the gold hands, which are immaculate.