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Tudor Oysterdate Chronograph 7149 Monte Carlo Grey Dial, 1974 — view 1 of 6
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Tudor Oysterdate Chronograph 7149 Monte Carlo Grey Dial, 1974

DocumentedDocumented from a dealer's listing; attribution and date as stated by the dealer.
Maker / attribution
Tudor (maker)
Date
1974
Country of origin
Switzerland
Object type
Wristwatch
Dimensions
Case 40 mm
Stock no.
W-1938
Credit line
Dealer listing, Bulang & Sons (W-1938)
Catalogue title (original)
Tudor Oysterdate Chronograph 7149 Monte Carlo Grey Dial (English)

View the source record (dealer listing) ↗ (opens another website in a new tab)Suggest a correction

Record summary

Catalogued by Bulang & Sons (dealer), Copenhagen (stock number W-1938), this is a wristwatch by Tudor, made in Switzerland, dated 1974. The Atlas places it in the Quartz Revolution period (1969 – 1990) of its Wristwatches collection. Recorded dimensions: Case 40 mm. The record is illustrated with 6 photographs.

Assembled from the source record's structured fields. Dates and attributions are given as the source states them; where a field is missing the Atlas leaves it blank rather than estimating.

Catalogue description

Dealer description — Bulang & Sons

The second series in grey… Tudor’s second series of chronographs were given the nickname Monte Carlos by collectors due to the dial layout that had a striking resemblance to the gaming tables seen in the casinos of Monaco’s famous gaming center. This stunning chrono features a grey and orange dial in really superb condition. The orange has stayed striking and vibrant and there is no spotting on the grey areas as can often be seen on these watches. The lume on the hour markers has at some point had small dots added in tritium, but these are only subtly noticeable under a loupe. The later black tachymeter bezel, that was added at service we assume, has faded to a blue colour and remains in good condition. The case, including lugs and crown guards, is good and thick all round. The solid link Oyster bracelet, with 580 endlinks and a clasp stamped ‘VD’, is in great condition with minimal stretch. The watch has been fully serviced by our watchmaker. Specifications: - Tudor Monte Carlo Chrono 7149 - 40mm steel case - Serial 825xxx dating to 1974 - Faded to blue tachymeter bezel - Grey and orange dial - Bracelet reference 78360 with 580 endlinks - Fully serviced by our watchmaker - Includes a handmade leather watch pouch

Historical context

Quartz Revolution (1969 – 1990)

Seiko's Astron begins mass quartz timekeeping; traditional industries contract sharply.

Quartz and digital watches transformed the market after 1969. Swiss employment collapsed, Japanese and Hong Kong production soared, and the Swatch (1983) helped the Swiss industry recover; mechanical watches survived as luxury goods.

Read the period in the timelineMore wristwatches from this periodEarlier: Modern Mechanical Horology

Atlas type guide

Chronographs and split-seconds watches

A chronograph is a watch with an additional seconds hand that can be started, stopped and returned to zero independently of the timekeeping. Louis Moinet built an early example in 1816 and Nicolas Rieussec a recording 'chronographe' in 1821; Adolphe Nicole's heart-shaped reset cam (patented 1862) made the modern return-to-zero possible. Split-seconds (rattrapante) chronographs add a second hand that can be stopped for intermediate times; flyback chronographs restart instantly.

Chronographs were essential tools for doctors (pulsometer scales), artillery (telemeter), engineers and sport. In wristwatches, Valjoux, Venus, Lemania and later the automatic chronographs of 1969 (Zenith El Primero, the Chronomatic Calibre 11 group and Seiko 6139) are milestones.

What to look for

  • Push-pieces on the case band or a single button in the crown (monopusher).
  • Subsidiary registers for minutes and hours; tachymeter, telemeter or pulsometer scales.
  • Column wheel versus cam control visible in the movement.
  • Calibre markings of specialist makers (Valjoux, Lemania, Venus, Landeron).

Dating clues

  • Pocket chronographs with heart cam reset: after 1862.
  • Wrist chronographs: from c. 1910; two-button designs from the 1930s.
  • Automatic chronographs: from 1969.

General guidance written by the Atlas editors about this kind of object. It is not a statement about this particular piece; for that, rely on the source record above and on physical examination.

Read next:Flyback chronographChronograph

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