Tudor Submariner Date ref. 79090

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 is 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! This particular example dates to circa 1993 and remains in fantastic overall condition. It comes to us with an unpolished case showing normal, honest wear with clear factory finishing on the top of the lugs and crisp chamfers on the edges. It exhibits just one notable impression on the bottom left lug profile. The matte black dial inside is in virtually flawless condition, with its Tritium plots beginning to change to a light ivory color. The handset shows signs of light oxidation with lightly patinated Tritium that matches the dial. It comes fitted to a correct folded-link Oyster bracelet with a Tudor signed fliplock clasp with diving extension. The caseback even retains its caseback sticker! 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. Sounds pretty good doesn't it?