
Wristwatches · Wristwatch
Tudor Prince Oysterdate 34 (Ref. 7944) Black Honeycomb Dial W/ Roulette Date, 1958
- Maker / attribution
- Tudor (maker)
- Date
- 1958
- Historical period
- Modern Mechanical Horology (1945 – 1969)
- Country of origin
- Switzerland
- Object type
- Wristwatch
- Dimensions
- Case 34 mm
- Stock no.
- TDR7944
- Credit line
- Dealer listing, Craft & Tailored (TDR7944)
- Catalogue title (original)
- 1958 Tudor Prince Oysterdate 34 (Ref. 7944) Black Honeycomb Dial W/ Roulette Date (English)
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Record summary
Catalogued by Craft & Tailored (dealer), Los Angeles (stock number TDR7944), this is a wristwatch by Tudor, made in Switzerland, dated 1958. The Atlas places it in the Modern Mechanical Horology period (1945 – 1969) of its Wristwatches collection. Recorded dimensions: Case 34 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 — Craft & Tailored
This 1958 Tudor Prince Oysterdate ref. 7944 captures that identity beautifully. Its classically proportioned 34mm Oyster case frames a black honeycomb dial, whose intricate texture brings depth and dimension to an otherwise restrained design. Gilt hands provide a warm contrast against the dark surface, while the alternating red and black numerals of the roulette date add another detail that makes watches of this era so engaging. Together, these elements deliver much of what collectors love about mid-century Rolex and Tudor: enduring proportions, practical construction, and distinctive details that reward a closer look. Comparable Rolex configurations often command substantial premiums, making this Prince Oysterdate a compelling expression of Tudor’s original appeal. With its black honeycomb dial and roulette date, the ref. 7944 offers both the familiarity of its shared heritage and a personality that stands comfortably on its own. SPECS Stock # TDR79960-3 Brand Tudor Style Prince Oysterdate 34 Model 7944 Serial 20XXXX Size Men's Material Stainless Steel Dial Black "Honeycomb" Millimeters 34 Bracelet Rolex 7205 Rivet-Link Oyster Bracelet W/ 57 End Pieces CASE & BRACELET The stainless steel case remains in excellent condition, retaining thick, symmetrical lugs with only light evidence of prior polishing and gentle signs of wear. The smooth stainless steel bezel remains crisp, showing similarly light wear, and the case retains its Rolex-signed Twinlock crown. The case back preserves its original factory engravings in crisp, deep condition, alongside the personalized initials “W.B.E.” The watch is fitted with a later Rolex 7205 rivet-link Oyster bracelet with 57 end pieces, complementing its vintage aesthetic beautifully. The bracelet exhibits light stretch and retains 12 links, accommodating a wrist up to 7.5 inches. DIAL & HANDS The original black honeycomb dial remains exceptionally well-preserved, with its intricate texture and warm gilt details creating an elegant vintage aesthetic. The dial exhibits only subtle signs of age, with no notable damage, and retains its beautifully preserved gold gilt text. The gilt hour markers remain in excellent condition, while the radium plots at the tips have developed a charming beige patina with minor, expected degradation. The gilt dauphine hands are also in excellent condition and have been professionally restored with tritium that complements the aged lume of the dial. The alternating red-and-black “roulette” date wheel remains original to the watch. ACCESSORIES None. The watch is keeping time, but the service history is unknown. A movement service can be purchased upon request.
Historical context
Modern Mechanical Horology (1945 – 1969)
Tool watches for divers, pilots and astronauts; electric watches anticipate the electronic age.
The classic era of the mechanical wristwatch: dive watches, chronographs for motor racing and space flight, GMT watches for jet travel, slim dress watches, automatic calendars, and the rise of Japanese manufacturers alongside Swiss, American, German and Soviet industries.
Read the period in the timelineMore wristwatches from this periodEarlier: Golden Age of Mechanical Watchmaking
Atlas type guide
Dive and water-resistant watches
Keeping water and dust out of a wristwatch was a long-standing challenge. Rolex's screw-down Oyster case (1926) and Omega's Marine (1932) were landmarks; in the early 1950s Blancpain's Fifty Fathoms and Rolex's Submariner defined the professional dive watch with rotating bezels for timing dives, luminous dials and high water resistance. The ISO 6425 standard (1982) later codified what a 'diver's watch' must do.
Dive watches became icons of post-war design and exploration, and their evolution — helium escape valves, ceramic bezels, saturation-diving depth ratings — records the history of underwater work.
What to look for
- Unidirectional or bidirectional rotating bezel with minute markings.
- Screw-down crown and case back; depth rating printed on the dial.
- Luminous hands and markers (radium before c. 1960, tritium c. 1960–1998, then Super-LumiNova).
- Reference numbers on the case between the lugs or inside the back.
Dating clues
- Screw-down Oyster cases: from 1926.
- Professional dive watches: from 1953.
- Tritium 'T' marks on dials: c. 1960–1998.
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.
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