The SAGA:
I’m the third custodian of this watch, having purchased it from Lord Tudor himself @vintage.robi, who had purchased it from the original owner.
As the story goes, the original owner was in Canada in some official capacity for the US Army. While there, he decided he was in the market for a new watch. His commanding officer at the time had told him that Tudor was both a more reliable and more affordable watch than its Rolex counterpart.
On March Third, 1966, taking his CO’s advice, he walked into Mitchell-Copp of 315 Portage ave., Winnipeg, Manitoba, and walked out with a brand new Tudor Submariner.
The watch was his faithful companion for a number of years, but was subsequently replaced by a dressier Omega. The Tudor went into a drawer where it spent a few decades before being rescued by a singularly motivated Tudor collector.
Tech Specs:
Year of manufacture: 1964
Serial Number: 434XXX
Dial: Flawless, transitional, silver script, underline, chapter ring dial. The luminous plots have aged evenly to a rich brûlée’d sugar-color. The dial texture could be described as semi-matte. Not truly gloss like previous gilt dials, and not a deep matte like the later maxi dials. The hands have been color matched with tritium.
Bezel insert: Excellent, faded mk II “long five” bezel insert that is original to the watch. Luminous pearl matches the dial patina quite well.
Case: True unpolished case with wide original bevels. While showing moderate wear from use, the case remains well-preserved.
Bracelet: Extremely tight swiss rivet bracet with 80 end links that is original to the watch. Dated to the second quarter of ‘65.
Movement: Modified Fleurier cal. 390
Accessories: Inner box, open warranty papers, service papers, booklets, Mitchell-Cop warranty papers (serialized, dated, signed), original T19 crystal.
Watch is currently running at COSC spec