Tudor Submariner ref. 94010, 'RCN' Military Issued

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 lesser known but just as incredible model manufactured by Tudor. These pieces are not only more unique and uncommon than the traditional Submariner, but offer a more fun, playful design — particularly with the blue-dialed variants and what are known as 'Dots & Daggers' dials like the piece that we have here. This Ref. 94010 is a black-dial variant with a some additional provenance that further adds to its allure. More on that later. Dating to circa 1985, it features a strong, likely-unpolished Oyster case with thick lugs at each corner. It shows honest wear from use with some wear on the black bezel insert. The dial within is well preserved, with gently patinated indices and a matching 'lollipop' handset. Flip it over, and there is an engraving on the caseback. The numbers are actually mirror the factory serial number between the lugs at the usual 6 o'clock position. The noteworthy wear and that engraving are clear indications of military provenance — in this case, a Canadian Royal Navy issued diver. Research indicates that the only port of call to issue Tudor divers in this way was Halifax. It also comes fitted to a period-correct Oyster bracelet with a fliplock clasp, which is free of much of the wear of the rest of the watch. This is often the case when a bracelet was swapped out for a NATO-style strap at the time of issue and later fitted back to the watch. This is a real piece of history — a phrase often repeated in the world of watches, though rarely as deservedly as in this case. To many collectors of vintage, regardless of whether the focus is of military watches or not, this 'Milsub' has everything going for it. Military issued, properly vintage, honest condition, and its a Tudor. What more does one need?