Oyster Royal

Tudor

Oyster Royal

7934

circa 1956

21XXXX

Steel, screw-back, 19mm. lugs, 33mm. diameter, case back signed inside Montres Tudor SA, Geneva Switzerland, the obverse numbered 7934 & 217549

Cream with luminous Arabic numerals, closed outer minute track,

Blued steel with lume insert, blued steel sweep seconds

Manual calibre 1156, signed TUDOR Swiss Made

Brown leather by Hodinkee

In 1905 Hans Wilsdorf launched his own company in England and started producing high quality watches. Then in 1908, he registered the "Rolex" brand in La Chaux-de-Fonds Switzerland. The company remained in England fifteen years approximately and in 1920 moved to Geneva. It was not until 1946 that Hans Wilsdorf first opened Tudor. Wilsdorf chose the name Tudor because he wanted to honor the Tudor period of England. The Tudor watches used the Tudor Rose signed on the dial which is the heraldic emblem of England and takes its origin from the Tudor dynasty. Ending 1960's Tudor changes its famous Rose sign for the actual Shield sign. The main difference between Rolex and Tudor could be seen already in the 40's when the first Rolex Tudor Oyster was introduced: Inside the screwed-in Oyster case, instead of a Rolex manufactured movement, there was a movement supplied by Ebauches SA, ETA. Throughout the years, Rolex Tudor Chrono models stands out since the brand manufactures them from the beginning with Valjoux movements that were modified and improved for Rolex Tudor watches (similar to those manufactured for Rolex chronographs) including exotic dials such as the Rolex Tudor Monte Carlo series with diverse colors and designs. Rolex Tudor chronograph movements evolved from manual to automatic, with deeper cases and plastic crystals. Moreover, Rolex Tudor manufactured ladies and men's watches with the same size as Rolex: 13mm (ladies'), 17mm (mid size), 19mm (men's date) and 20mm (men's date just). Sport watches like the Rolex Tudor Submariner were also manufactured in black like the Rolex Submariner and also with blue dial. Throughout the years, some models such as the Rolex Tudor Ranger or the Rolex Tudor Ranger II have stood out for its outstanding Arabic numbered dial on 3, 6 and 9 and the special orange hands like the Rolex Explorer II "Steve McQueen" and its particular dials signed in red. Other famous watches produced were the Rolex Tudor Alarm and the Rolex Tudor Day Date with its exceptionally size for that time. The majority of these watches have been made in Stainless Steel but they can also be found in 14KT and 18KT Yellow Gold or two tone. Rolex Tudor also joined Rolex in the manufacture of the watches nowadays known as Vintage, with cases, dials and hands similar to Rolex's. Rolex Tudor always took advantage of their direct connection to Rolex in order to improve their sales. In addition, Rolex Tudor was conceived from the beginning as the "second" brand, which results in more moderate prices than its bigger, more famous brother. Rolex Tudor watches are sold through official and authorized Rolex retailers but the Tudor brand is not currently available in the United States. Still, it continues to be sold in Europe, Asia, Canada and Latin America. The French Navy used Rolex Tudor watches for its divers, the first Rolex Tudor Submariners were purchased from the Marine Natioinale in the late 60`s. In addition, the US Navy used the same model for its UDT and the Navy Seals. Rolex signed bracelets and crowns were part of the Tudor models up to 1990`s.