Tudor Chronograph BIG Block 94300 (Transitional), 1979–1980

Dealer description — Craft & Tailored

This 1979-1980 transitional Tudor Chrono Ref. 94300 is a true collectors piece and is in stunning original condition. The early Tudor Chronograph references are commonly referred to as the Tudor "Big Blocks" as the mid-case size is thicker and heaver then the big brother Rolex Daytona references. The early Tudor Chronograph references do share a lot of common traits to the big brother Rolex Daytona references including the same steel bezel with engraved tachometer scale, Rolex 78360 Oyster bracelet and 589 end-links, as well as the Rolex Trip-Lock crown and screw down pushers. The dial on this specific Tudor reference 94300 is also very similar to the Rolex Daytona's of this era as it possesses the trapezoidal applied markers and a stunning silver surface that is reminiscent of the Rolex Daytona 6265 of the same era which also posses black stepped subdials with the white chrono hands located within the subdials. The workhorse Valjoux 7750 movement is signed tudor and also possesses the signature half moon cut out rotor that will not be present at the mid to end of the 1980's. In 1979 the Tudor ref. 9420-0 bared only the chrono time writing at the three o'clock position on the dial, which would then be moved over the hour register, together with the word automatic in late 1979 and early 1980. In addition the late seventies and early eighties transitional models contained fully painted hands, in white for the silver dial, or in black for the black dial variant. The case back of this specific example is stamped 9420, whereas the mid-case is stamped 94300, increasing the uniqueness of this piece. Stock # TDWBB94300 Brand Tudor Style Big Block Chrono Time Automatic Model 94300 Serial 14424 Size Men's Material SS Dial "Panda" Silver With Black Sub Dials Millimeters 40 Bracelet Rolex Oyster 78360 With 589 End Links CASE & BRACELET The case of this 1980 Tudor Ref. 94300 chronograph aka "Big Block" has never been polished and is in original found condition. The original 78360 oyster bracelet retains all of its original links and shows very minimal stretch and is unpolished like the case of the watch. The 78360 Oyster bracelet and 589 end-links are the same that Rolex used on the Rolex Daytona's of the late 1970's and early 1980's. This specific early reference also retains the original Rolex signed Trip-Lock crown and rolex screw down pushers which are also original to this specific era of Tudor Chrono-Time 94300. The stainless steel bezel with engraved tachometer scale is in stunning original condition and shows light wear and patina consistent with the age of this specific Tudor 94300. DIAL The matte dial of this 1980 Ref. 94300 is in pristine and original condition. The "Panda" dial is a wonderful warm silver showing just the right amount of light and even patina and the black sub dials also give this watch a sunning contrast on the wrist. The date window is surrounded by the era and period correct black box which is absent from the later era productionTudor Ref. 94300 chronographs. The hands on the sub-dials are factory spec full white, which is very specific to the early Tudor 9430/0 and 94300 references. The hands, including the chrono hand, are black as they were during this time, and the lume within the hands shows close to zero lume degradation. The lume plots at the end of the specific and era appropriate applied trapezoidal indexes are fully intact. Also present is the "T SWISS T" marking, which is absent from the later era production dials. ACCESSORIES None.