Tudor Submariner Date ref. 79090, Blue Dial 'LNOS'

Dealer description — Oliver & Clarke

The Submariner, namely those produced by Rolex, has long been considered the cream of the crop when it comes to watch collecting as a whole. Possibly the most iconic watch ever produced, the Submariner has long standing utilitarian roots that span decades, and everyone who’s anyone has been spotted wearing one. However, if you look deeper into the Submariner line, you may find a less known but just as incredible model manufactured by Tudor. These pieces are not only more unique and rare than the traditional Submariner, but offer much greater value. Designed as a replacement for the quintessential Tudor ‘Snowflake’ Submariners, the References 76100 and 79090 are in many collectors eyes, the last great vintage Tudor Submariner. These pieces all had matte dials with Tritium plots and matching Tritium-filled handsets, cases with lug-holes, acrylic crystals, and folded-link Oyster bracelets. In many ways, This is all stuff that we see in Rolex and Tudor models as early as the 1960s, but were produced well-into the 1990s! The example that we have here, a Ref. 79090, is quite simply the finest example of the reference that we have had the pleasure of offering on the website. Dating to circa 1992, it comes to us in virtually unworn condition, with clear factory finishing visible throughout, a crisp and vibrant navy blue bezel insert with a gently patinated Tritium pip, and a long, stretch-free folded link Oyster bracelet with a Tudor-signed fliplock clasp and dive extension. Inside, the beautiful navy blue dial is simply immaculate. The Tritium plots exhibit a light and even 'eggshell' patina and the handset matches perfectly. These Tudor Subs of the mid 1980s into the mid 1990s not only present great value next to their Rolex cousins, but are very interesting in that they offer nearly all the feel of a Rolex Submariner Date dating back to the 1960s — with the charm of an acrylic crystal, a matte dial, and even a folded-link bracelet — for only a fraction of the entry cost. And Rolex sure never made a steel Submariner with a blue dial!