Tudor Prince Chronograph Albino (Ref. 79280), 1997 — view 1 of 6 — View 1 of 6 · Image: Huntington Company · original image source (opens another website in a new tab)

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Wristwatches · Wristwatch

Tudor Prince Chronograph Albino (Ref. 79280), 1997

DocumentedDocumented from a dealer's listing; attribution and date as stated by the dealer.

Maker / attribution: Tudor (maker)
Date: 1997
Historical period: Mechanical Renaissance (1990 – 2010)
Country of origin: Switzerland
Object type: Wristwatch
Dimensions: Case 40 mm
Dealer: Huntington Company (dealer)
Stock no.: Product 8056531681463
Credit line: Dealer listing, Huntington Company (product 8056531681463)
Catalogue title (original): 1997 Tudor Prince Chronograph Albino - Box & Papers (Ref. 79280) (English)

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

Record summary

Catalogued by Huntington Company (dealer) (stock number Product 8056531681463), this is a wristwatch by Tudor, made in Switzerland, dated 1997. The Atlas places it in the Mechanical Renaissance period (1990 – 2010) 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 — Huntington Company

Worth The Read The Prince Date Chronograph has always been a serious value proposition for the vintage watch market. The Prince Date took much of its design from the 4 and 5 digit Daytona lineup. A thick steel bezel, beautiful brushed lugs, and a sleek dial layout. The 79200 reference were first introduced in 1995. They featured a Valjoux 7750 automatic movement with a Tudor-signed rotor. The late 90s also introduced a new era for Tudor. Watches that once shared cases and parts with Rolex saw a change. The case, bracelet, and crown were now all signed Tudor. The white dial with silver registers is one of the rarer dial variants in the later references. Nicknamed the 'Albino' dial, it was only produced for a short period of time. Also, this is the most attractive version of the dial. The later ones would have TIGER under the 12 o'clock subregister, and the 79180 is a less attractive silver dial. Out of the three Albino variations, this is the one to own. Specifications Reference: 79280 Model: Prince Chronograph Movement: Automatic Year: 1997 Contents: Box, Booklet, Hangtag & Papers. Case: The 40mm case is in nice condition with normal wear. Dial: The rare 'Albino' dial is in perfect condition and one of the last tritium dials produced. Strap & Buckle: The original Oyster bracelet is very clean and well preserved.

Historical context

Mechanical Renaissance (1990 – 2010)

Mechanical watches return as cultural objects; independent watchmaking flourishes.

Mechanical watches returned as cultural and luxury objects. Complications, tourbillons and new materials proliferated; independent watchmakers such as George Daniels, F.P. Journe and Philippe Dufour revived artisanal watchmaking; collecting vintage watches became a major field.

Read the period in the timeline More wristwatches from this period Earlier: Quartz Revolution

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.

Mechanisms mentioned

Chronograph — Complication
Self-winding (automatic) mechanism — Component

Record completeness

Maker or attributionRecorded
DateRecorded
Place or countryRecorded
MaterialsNot in source
DimensionsRecorded
Narrative descriptionRecorded
Inscriptions / marksNot in source
ProvenanceNot in source
Several photographsRecorded

Editorial status: Documented — facts as published by the source; not independently verified by Atlas editors.

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Sources & image rights

Record source: Huntington Company (dealer) (opens another website in a new tab).

Image rights: © Huntington Company — dealer photographs; permission required (opens another website in a new tab).

Images are hosted by the Atlas for study and credited to their owner. Rights holders may request correction, credit changes or removal, or grant permission, via the editorial office.

Cite this record

"Tudor Prince Chronograph Albino (Ref. 79280), 1997." Huntington Company (dealer), Product 8056531681463. Catalogue record in The Horology Atlas, WatchMuseum.org, https://atlas.watchmuseum.org/museum/tudor-prince-chronograph-albino-ref-79280-1997-a6e7c3.