Oysterdate Monte Carlo

TUDOR, OYSTERDATE,  aka MONTE-CARLO,  Ref. 7159/0

ICONEEK Price: SOLD

The present Oysterdate Tudor is a superb and very attractive vintage chronograph, in fact, one of the most iconic vintage sport’s watch of the 1970s. The present reference 7159/0 with fixed steel bezel, equivalent to the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona Ref. 6265, was made in 1972. The model is nicknamed « Monte-Carlo » because of its orange and black chronograph division that remind us the casino roulette.

The present ref. 7159 belongs to the second generation of the model, started in 1970 with references  7031 and 7032, easily recognizable with their “homeplate” indexes dial and caliber 7734, 18000 alt/h. Launched in 1971, ceased around 1977, this second series bring the introduction of new technical improvements, valjoux 234 with 21’600 alt/h and column-wheel mecanism, as well as blue bezels. This second series is composed of three references: 7149/0 (replacing 7031/0), ref. 7159/0 (replacing ref. 7032/0) and Ref. 7169/0 (based on the prototype 7033/0 with rotating bezel).

This wristwatch is characterized by a massive 39.5 mm polished and brushed stainless steel Oyster-type case with brushed lugs and polished band. The brushed steel stepped bezel is engraved with a tachymeter scale to 500 uph (units per hour). The screw-down case back is engraved “Original Oyster Case by Rolex  Geneva”,  “Triplock” crown, protected by the crown  guard, and pushers are screwed as well. The inside case back is engraved « I.72 ». The size is a bit bigger than the Rolex 6265 of the same area. The plexi glass is set at 6 with a “cyclops” lens to magnify the date. The steel bracelet is a Rolex Oyster one, ref. 7836, with endlinks no. 380, also found on some Rolex. The size between the lugs is 20 mm.

Under the screwed case back, the watch is powered by a hand wound, mechanical movement, caliber Valjoux 234, chronograph with column wheel and date, rhodium-plated, 17 jewels, straight-line lever escapement, monometallic balance, shock absorber, self-compensating flat balance spring. Under the glass, the original two-tone dial, anthracite and black, is very attractive. The dial bears luminous baton indexes, an outer 1/5th seconds scale with 5 minute/second orange Arabic markers, two subsidiary dials for the seconds and the 45-minute register, an aperture for the date at 6, luminous steel baton hands and on orange chronograph hand. Dial, case, movement and bracelet are signed.

The Tudor Monte-carlo is very colorful, the contrast is great and less classical and conventional design than a Rolex Cosmograph. The Tudor Monte-Carlo chronograph is an icon of the 1970s design. The model is amongst the firm’s most popular models and enjoys nowadays great popularity amongst collectors. The vintage charm of the 1970s, very trendy!

Condition: 8.5/10, in extremely good overall condition, superb dial with warm and natural patina on the indexes and hands