Prince Oyster

TUDOR, PRINCE OYSTERDATE, 200M 660FT, SUBMARINER, « SNOWFLAKE », REF.9411-0

ICONEEK price: SOLD

Iconeek is proud to introduce here one of the coolest of all vintage Tudors,  a very nice and attractive Tudor Submariner, the ref. 9411, so called « Snowflake ». if you had been looking for a nice « Snowflake », this is a one to consider! Among sports wristwatches, the Tudor Submariner « Snowflake » is already an icon, and Tudor re-introduce the model in different flavors.

The original Tudor Oyster-Prince Submariner « Snowflake » was introduced in 1969 as the ref. 7016, no date, and 7021-0, caliber 2484 with 17 jewels and red date, in both blue and black. A new identity for Tudor sports watches was born. (The Rolex Submariner was introduced in 1953). These models were made until the mid 1970’s and were replaced around 1973-1974  by the ref. 9401/0 (with no-date,Blue or black dial with “snowflake” markers and hands) and ref. 9411/0 (with date, Blue or black dial with “snowflake” markers and hands)  models, which were essentially the same except for a change to updated ETA movements.

The Submariner Tudor ref. 9411 was available with black dial and matching black bezel or navy blue dial with blue bezel, such as the present watch. However, as the black model is way too similar to its big brother the Rolex 5513, reason why collectors widely prefer the blue one. If it is basically a Rolex Submariner minus the in-house Rolex movement, the blue dial and matching bezel catch you, give a stunning look, especially after seeing so many black Rolex Subs. But not only, Tudor Submariners are seemingly more rare than their similarly aged vintage Rolex counterparts.

Under the plexi glass,the original dial is in excellent shape and attractive condition, no spotting, no chip, with its creamy snowflake pattern painted luminous square, triangular and rectangular indexes and luminous hands. We find also a minute/second division and an aperture for the date at 3h. The 94-series Tudors, incidentally, are notable for better quality dials versus their predecessors, which tended to spot.

The stainless steel tonneau-shaped case comes a plexi glass with magnifying loup for the quick date, sharp and chamfered lugs. The ref. 9411/0 and serial number 798114 are clearly and deeply engraved between the lugs. Water resistance is done by a Rolex triplock crown and a screwed case back, engraved deeply « Original Oyster case by Rolex Geneva». The bi-directional rotating bezel has a nicely faded bezel insert.

The watch is powered by an Eta 2784, mechanical self-winding movement, with quick date set, 25 jewels, hack mechanism, flat hairspring, monometallic balance, shock-absorbers, rotor signed « Tudor, Auto-Prince ». The present watch comes with the correct  stainless steel Rolex Oyster bracelet, ref. 7836, end-links no. 380 and deployant clasp with Rolex logo, seen on the previous ref. 7021, with little to no stretch, as well as a fitted Tudor presentation box. The approx. overall length is 185 mm. As the present watch was made in 1973, the year where references changed, it makes sens that first batches were delivered with the « old » ref. 7836 bracelet.

The “Snowflake” is a collector favorite, Tudor Subs are hot right now and only seem to be getting hotter. This particular example of the 1970s “Snowflake” Sub has a beautifully aged dial, hands, and bezel combination, as well as an extremely good condition Rolex-manufactured case. Because a great Tudor Sub is hard to find, gives you that awesome vintage Rolex look (for whose who simply refuse to wear Rolex no matter the model), with a more sexy and glamour colored dial face, these watches are perhaps one of the most in demand sports watches today.

Condition: 9/10, very good original overall condition, excellent thick case, light signs of wear in places, the blue bezel has faded nicely and bears a scratch near 20, lovely patina on hands and indexes, a slight restauration of tritium on the hour hand.