Latest Vintage Piece

1959 Tudor Oyster Prince 34.5mm 7965 Honeycomb Ranger/Explorer dial ***RARE*** $2,200.00 CAD. 505-00652

Vintage Tudor are a great way to get into the watch collecting hobby without spending a boatload of money. Made by Rolex, vintage models often use the same cases and bracelets as the more common and popular parent company. Rolex have been aggressively promoting Tudor over the last 15 years invigorating the brand, making them more popular than ever. A Tudor Oyster Prince isn’t uncommon, but that doesn’t mean we see them often. Encountering one from the 1950s in good condition with a “Ranger/Explorer” dial never happens. This ultra rare honeycomb dial with the 3,6,9,12 Arabic number layout is similar to what Rolex was doing at the time. The 1950s were a time of exploration and sporting adventures that were documented on television and in magazines. Rolex capitalized on the trend with their Explorer model. It was a basic looking watch, with easy to interpret 3 hand black dial, and a water resistant case. It had no calendar or other features to detract from its only duty of accurate time keeping. Our 34.5mm stainless steel Tudor Prince was built with the same characteristics in mind but with a white dial instead of Rolex’ black one. The Oyster case with its screw on back, threaded crown, and domed plastic crystal are essentially the same as a Rolex, but the incredibly rare dial is the star of the show. Over the years, dials can naturally age. Old painted lacquer dials can oxidize or craze, moisture leaks can occur, and watchmakers can slip with tools leaving small blemishes. Considering this watch was produced in early 1959, the dial is in amazing condition. Parchment patina is subtle and even, the delicate luminous material in the Alpha hands is completely intact along with the plots on the tips of the faceted hour markers. The small Tudor rose logo and all the printed text is perfect. We were delighted to see only one service etching scribed inside the threaded case back. This potentially means the watch has only been taken apart and serviced once before. Most watchmakers leave a record of service they can reference in the future if needed; so when we only see a single etching, we can be pretty confident the watch is original. The watertight threaded crown turns a full 360 degrees before releasing to the winding position. If you like old Tudors and appreciate the practicality of a simple Oyster Prince, this rare dial reference 7965 is an obvious choice. The shock protected automatic winding movement is running well but is definitely dry. Its 25 lab-grown ruby jewels protect delicate wear points with a super hard perfectly smooth surface minimizing friction. We don’t expect this watch to remain in our showcase very long before someone jumps on this opportunity. We will include a complimentary 1-year warranty for the next owner. Estate priced at $2,200.00 CAD. Stock #505-00652.

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