Hi folks, I usually spend most of my time over on the general watch and vintage Omega forum and don't know a huge amount about Rolex, or in this case Tudor watches. I bought my first Tudor watch today and thought I would share to Gauge opinion and hopefully get some valuable info/feedback. I bought the watch because I'm a vintage fan, its a relatively large case for a vintage, I absolutely love the case (particularly the lugs) and its in fantastic condition. I'd be interested to know the approximate year (looks late 40's early 50's to me) and also to know what movement is likely to be residing inside. I tried to remove the back with a rubber opener, but no joy so I'll leave alone. The scratches, which are the only real negative were not done my myself.

 

If that crown is original to the watch (who could know), then it is an older style which would lead me to think late 1940s, or perhaps even up to the mid 1950s. Movement? Hard to tell. Tudor used movements that were different to those used in Rolex. Rolex and Tudor watches of the era occasionally used thinly disguised ebauche movements from (as an example ) ETA. Yours might have a clone of the ETA 1080. But we really need to see what is in the case.

 

I can't tell you what the movement or how old it is but I can say congratulations and what a nice piece you have acquired. Enjoy and wear in good health!! My old Tudor from1968 says hello!! The scratches make the watch and I feel are very much part of its history. All you need to do is add your own....

 

Many thanks, I will get it opened to check but will have to take it to a watch shop given the caseback. I'm confident the button is original, so good to hear you agree with the late 40's early 50's. Would be good to see some more watches from the same era.

 

A few more pics if your interested taken after a quick clean and crystal polish. Also, an interesting find has helped me date the watch as 40's not 50's. A close examination revealed a service date etched onto the underside of the lug dating to 1949. I can only suspect the watch would have been a year or two old before it would see a service.

 

Pictures of the exterior are not as much help as a picture of what is inside the case. Even with a picture of the movement, determining age will likely only be an educated guess. I don't know of a Tudor serial number/ date list.

 

Pictures of the exterior are all I can manage at present as the back is really tight!! I shared the pics more for info and interest as I was taking them anyhow. As explained, I can't get the watch opened until I take it to a shop but will post the pics when I do. In the absence of a cal. reference, or a serial number/date list I actually think the service date on the lug is as definitive as it might get and I think the educated guess of 5 years from manufacture wont be too far off the mark.

Think the watch is probably due a service though after 68 years!

 

Finally got round to opening up this watch. After a quick bit of research, I think the movement Is a cal.59 movement? It’s been beautifully finished and the pictures really don’t do it justice. I can’t see a Cal. reference on the movement and it neither stamped Rolex or Tudor, just Swiss Made and 17 Rubies.

 

my first tudor came as well! congrats!

 

my first Tudor

 

Thanks for sharing, a new brand for me to research and enjoy which is great.

 

It looks good - I am not expert on late 40s/ early 50s Tudors but it looks like original and nice dial (Shield and Rose), clean movement, crown is fine and period correct (and would have been replaced at service ; ) ). A little polywatch on the crystal and you are done (though it should be serviced)

 

what a great looking watch?!

 

What an absolutely lovely looking watch! So nice to see those pieces being found, and hopefully being worn again, the watch getting a second life!

 

Stunning

 

First off, what a lovely watch, and in such nice condition, great dial and hands.
I can’t help you date it from the style or movement, but it did occur to me that the date on the inside of the lug may be a commemorative date by the original owner rather then a service date by a watchmaker.

 

The movement looks like a caliber 59 which is a modified caliber FHF 30 as shown in this link to the Ranfft archive. Tudor and the earlier Oyster used more than one basic ebauche in their watches. The bridges on these basic calibers were modified to Rolex specs, and they look the same. Only way to know for sure if was FHF or one of the others would be to see the setting parts behind the dial. The basic FHF 30 was made in sub second and center second models. But the FHF 30 applies to the sub seconds model. I can’t be certain if the center seconds model was also a caliber 30. In the link, scroll down to the Tudor/Oyster version on the FHF 30. These movements were never used in Rolex watches, AFAIK.

http://www.ranfft.de/cgi-bin/bidfun-db.cgi?10&ranfft&2&2uswk&FHF_30

Up until the mid 1940s, Rolex produced both Rolex and the junior line, Oyster. There was a Rolex Tudor model. I’ve seen them. Some time circa 1947 or 1948, Rolex decided to change the name of the junior line, Oyster, to Tudor so they could offer Oyster cases both in Rolex and Tudor lines. Yours appears to be an early version of the Tudor, and I would call it late 1940s or early 1950s. Nice watch!

 

curiously, does your watch have a screw down crown? or would this hinder the manual wind.

for those into vintage tudor, did the manual wind watches have screw down crowns? thanks

 

Yes, manual wind and screw down crown. https://omegaforums.net/threads/1960s-waffle-dial-tudor-oyster-royal.68005/

 

thanks! for that. for some reason ive been after a vintage automatic with no date but screw down crown and only tudor came to mind