Tudor has come a long way from its origins as Rolex’s more affordable sibling. Today, the brand is known for producing robust, stylish watches with their own identity. But long before the Black Bay and Pelagos, Tudor made its mark with tool watches that combined Rolex DNA with accessible pricing—nowhere more evident than in vintage models like the Oysterdate and Submariner.
Founded in 1926 by Hans Wilsdorf, also the founder of Rolex, Tudor aimed to offer the same reliability and waterproofing as Rolex but at a lower cost. The formula was simple: Rolex cases, crowns and bracelets, fitted with dependable outsourced movements—typically from ETA or FEF.
This approach meant Tudor could deliver well-built, durable watches without the price tag of Rolex’s in-house calibres. Early models often featured Rolex signatures on the crown or caseback, while the dial bore the Tudor rose—linking the brand to English heritage and giving it a distinct identity.
Among the most recognisable vintage Tudors is the Oysterdate, especially models from the 1960s to 1980s. Typically housed in 34–36mm Oyster cases with screw-down crowns, these watches used hand-wound or automatic ETA movements and featured a date display at 3 o’clock. Dials ranged from silver to blue, with variations in logo and text—some with the rose, others with the later shield.
Tudor’s dive watch history began in 1954 with the reference 7922, the same year Rolex launched the Submariner. Tudor’s Sub shared key features—rotating bezel, luminous markers, Oyster case—but used modified ETA movements and had its own distinct touches.
Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, references like the 7016, 9401, and 79090 stood out, especially those issued to military forces such as the French Marine Nationale. These models, with their snowflake hands and bold markers, are now sought-after for their utilitarian appeal and historical depth.
Long viewed as “the poor man’s Rolex,” vintage Tudors are now valued on their own merits: rugged, honest, and beautifully made. They offer an accessible entry point into vintage Swiss watchmaking, with authentic heritage and real-world wearability.
Our curated collection features vintage and pre-owned Tudor watches, each carefully inspected for authenticity and condition.
