Info on auction buy Tudor ‘7904’

[Dotoverninety]

Hi all, I’m a fan/owner of modern Tudor watches but my knowledge of older references is non-existent.

I purchased this recently at an auction, didn’t pay a lot for it but I liked how it looked, especially the oyster case. Very little info was provided with the watch other than being a 7904 from 1950s.

Trying to find out whether it’s real, also how much of it is original. The text/logo on the dial isn’t shown very well in the photo, it looks very crisp in reality. Unfortunately I can’t get the case back off as I don’t have a matching die and failed with the duct tape/rubber ball methods.

Case is 34mm. Lume is inactive. Case back is stamped 7904 and looks like it was dragged along the ground but otherwise in reasonable condition apart from cracked crystal.

Crown is Rolex with Brevet.

Winds well, reserve lasts over 24h and keeps time ok.

Thanks.

 

[nkhandekar]

It looks like someone wanted to remove an inscription from the case-back.

 

[nicks]

Those were made by Rolex/Tudor for the Commonwealth market, with many different model names on the dial. Lots of English cities, among other things.

As you said, the picture isn’t great for judging the dial. I’ll go with original, based on the faint radium burn.

The hands are wrong for sure, but overall a goodish find. Wonder what the inscription might have been.

Edited: Feb 1, 2024

 

[Dotoverninety]

Thanks for the replies!

That makes sense, the wear on the back is not at all reflective of the wear on other parts and far too severe for desk diving.

I’d also like to know what the inscription said. Equally, why it was removed. Although possibly something as unromantic as thinking the value would be higher without it.

The hands are quite a strange color up close. Almost blued like heated metal. The lume is entirely inactive so they must have been replaced a while ago.

I’m going to get the crystal changed so whilst it’s having that done will hopefully be able to take the back off and see how the movement is.

Still very happy with it, I have relatively small wrists so the 34mm size is a good fit.

 

[Dotoverninety]

Another question on this one, does anyone know what bracelet/end links would fit this? Probably a repro given how much I spent on the watch but I’m not sure what I’m looking for beyond a 19mm lug/34mm case.

 

[vibe]

A 357/7835 combo typically works, but measure the lug width. Some tudors have lug width that is actually a bit smaller than 19mm. For example on my Tudor Ranger (a real one from 1980) the original bracelet is like 18.5mm. One would have to file the endlinks if you wanted to fit new endlinks or a different Rolex bracelet.

 

[Dotoverninety]

vibe

A 357/7835 combo typically works, but measure the lug width. Some tudors have lug width that is actually a bit smaller than 19mm. For example on my Tudor Ranger (a real one from 1980) the original bracelet is like 18.5mm. One would have to file the endlinks if you wanted to fit new endlinks or a different Rolex bracelet.

Many thanks!