
Wristwatches · Wristwatch
Tudor Submariner Date, Snowflake, ref. 9411, Calibre 2784, circa 1973
- Maker / attribution
- Tudor (maker)
- Date
- c. 1973
- Historical period
- Quartz Revolution (1969 – 1990)
- Country of origin
- Switzerland
- Object type
- Wristwatch
- Dimensions
- Case 40 mm
- Stock no.
- vws2445
- Credit line
- Dealer listing, Vintage Watch Specialist (vws2445)
- Catalogue title (original)
- Tudor Submariner Date - Snowflake - Reference 9411 - Calibre 2784 - c.1973 (English)
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Record summary
Catalogued by Vintage Watch Specialist (dealer), United Kingdom (stock number vws2445), this is a wristwatch by Tudor, made in Switzerland, dated c. 1973. 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 — Vintage Watch Specialist
A Handsome Tudor Submariner 'Snowflake' Dive Watch Model 9411 c.1973 In 1969, Tudor made a significant leap in the design of its Submariner line by introducing the distinctive "Snowflake" handset with references 7016 and 7021. The angular hands marked a departure from the traditional Rolex-style handset, giving Tudor’s divers a distinctive identity of their own. The Snowflake handset was originally designed at the request of the French Navy, for whom Tudor manufactured these watches throughout the 1970s. The design was particularly functional. The broad, square-ended hands could hold a greater amount of luminous material, helping divers read the time more clearly in dark or murky water. What's on Offer ‘Snowflake’ Submariners have become among the most sought-after vintage Tudor sports watches, and this ref. 9411 from circa 1973 is a particularly handsome example. The original black dial has aged beautifully. The rectangular hour markers have developed a light, caramel patina that, along with the subtle ageing on the hands, gives the dial a warm, vintage character. The crisp date aperture at 3 o'clock remains easily legible under the Cyclops, adding to the watch's practical charm. The 40mm stainless steel case retains its sharp, robust profile. Minor cosmetic marks on the case are present, as expected from a vintage tool watch, but they are nothing to detract from its sleek aesthetic. The black bidirectional bezel is in excellent condition, with the original tritium pip still intact. Altogether, it's a beautifully preserved piece. The watch also retains the familiar Rolex coronet on the Triplock crown , identified by the three dots beneath the crown emblem. The caseback is stamped Original Oyster Case by Rolex , reflecting the close relationship between Tudor and its parent company. We have paired the watch with both its original steel bracelet and a beige NATO-style strap , allowing it to be worn according to your preference. An impressive example of Tudor’s iconic tool watches that has survived the attrition that many don’t, this Submariner is now an undeniably collectible and beautiful timepiece. Condition Report: Crystal: Excellent Dial: Excellent Bezel: Very Good Case: Excellent Movement: Serviced -4s/d 254° Overall: Excellent
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
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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