Tudor MN Submariner with Ledger entry

Tudor

Snowflake Blue

94010

circa 1979

937XXX

Stainless steel 38mm. case with original screw-down winding button. Reference and serial numbers correctly stamped between the lugs. Case back engraved outside MN79 Original Oyster Case by Rolex Geneva inside 9411 Montres Tudor SA Geneva Switzerland Patented Stainless steel.

Original faded blue bidirectional rotating bezel.

Superb original finish with original lume hour markers, signed Tudor Oyster Prince 200m=660ft Submariner

Original snowflake hands and original sweep seconds hand.

Original Calibre 2776

NATO light blue strap

This watch is registered in the Marine Nationale Registre pour la compatabilite des divers chapitres. In the ledger it states that this watch was worn by officers on board four French Naval vessels between 1982 and when it was decommissioned. The Garigliano was a minesweeper M617, built in the U.S. in 1954 for the French Navy and decommissioned in 1988. The second vessel was the destroyer D'Estrees (D629) was one of 12 Surcouf class ships built in 1954, it was decommissioned in 1985. The third was the Bevezier, an Agosta class submarine (S621) built in 1975 and decommissioned in 1995. Finally the watch was on board the submarine Flore; a diesel/electric Agosta class sub with exocet missiles, commissioned in 1977 and finally decommissioned in 2001. The Tudor MN Marine Nationale 1950's – 1983. The French navy use of Tudor is perhaps the closest cooperation between a country's armed forces and Rolex, except for the Panerai and UK Milsub connection. The very first French “Marine Nationale” watches seen date back to the mid 1950's with the Tudor Reference 7922 Submariner. The French navy employed Rolex military issued Submariners from the early 1960's till around 1968. At this time Tudor took over. It should be noted that the French navy also used other brands – including Doxa. Because of this, it is hard to ascertain how many Tudor Submariners were issued all together. However considering the rarity in the market, it is realistic to believe that the amount is similar to that of the UK Military Rolex equivalent. TIMELINE Early 1950's. Reference 7922 is developed. Introduced circa 1953. Some say for prototype use at the M.N. French navy and Rolex has always been close and it is fair to assume that Rolex developed military watches together with the M.N. in similar fashion to the Comex / Rolex association. Circa 1957. Reference 7924 turns up They all run in a specific serial number range. No engravings known. Tudor Reference 7928 Submariner, from 1959 till 1968. 1968 till 1975 (approx.) the M.N issued Tudor Reference 7016 and 7016/0 Submariners. These had black dials and these dial variations were very prone to dial rot. Few good examples exist today. This is not a problem specific for M.N issued versions though. The same issue exist on civilian versions. Snowflake configuration ran from 1974-1975 1976 till 1980 (approx.) the M.N issued Tudor Reference 94010 Snowflake submariners. These had blue dials and blue bezels. The dials were the “new” generation and not AS prone to dial discoloration. The snowflake design is quite classic with the square minute hand and square markers. 1980 till 1983 (approx.) the M.N issued Reference 94010 with Triangle markers and regular Mercedes hands. The Tudor ”94” series had the following categories 9401/0 – was produced from 1975-76. It had no Date and either Blue or black dial with “snowflake” markers and hands. 9411/0 – was Produced from 1975-76. It had a date aperture and either blue or black dial with “snowflake” markers and hands. 94010 – the present example – this was Produced from 1976-83. All of them had the Snowflake design up until 1980 and them from 1980-83 they had triangle marker dials. 94110 – was Produced between 1976-83. It had date aperture and until 1980 it had the “Snowflake” design. From 1980-83 the dial had triangle markers.

Ledger Entry