SPEZIFIKATIONEN
Rare Tudor Oyster Prince Submariner reference 7928, with a stainless steel case, riveted Oyster bracelet, and Tudor-FEF 390 self-winding movement, from 1963.
Stainless steel case measuring 39mm
Original crown (reference 700)
Original crystal (Tropic 19)
Original “Thin Four” bezel insert
Rivet Oyster bracelet
Tudor-FEF 390 self-winding movement inside
ANALYSE
The Tudor Oyster Prince was launched in the mid-1940s by Rolex’s sister company. Its purpose was to be an everyday watch, indestructible, waterproof, and precise. Its success was immediate, thanks in part to a massive marketing campaign that portrayed this line of new watches as ready for any adventure, including that of British Captain J.D. Walker, who wore an Oyster Price when he reached the Arctic north of Greenland with his crew in 1952. Two years after that incredible pioneering feat, Tudor launched a diving watch with a water resistance of up to 100 meters: the Submariner (ref. 7922). It was born a year after its bigger brother, the Rolex Submariner, and, being equipped with in-house movements, was poised to establish itself on the market in a widespread and forceful manner. Between 1955 and 1958, this successful model underwent numerous modifications and technical improvements, such as water resistance to 200 meters with the reference 7924. However, the most iconic model was born in the early 1960s: the reference 7928. In 1959, it implemented a 39mm case size instead of the 37mm of previous models, and for the first time introduced two crown guards that protected the crown from accidental impacts during dives. This technical and practical development was of great importance for the safety of divers, even in a military context.
This wonderful Submariner 7928 from 1963 has an incredible gilt dial with a closed gilt minute track. The dial is further punctuated by the typical and now iconic tritium hour markers and dots. At 12 o’clock, the “Tudor Oyster Prince” signature is located beneath the small rose symbol. At 6 o’clock is the depth gauge in meters and feet, and immediately below it is the inscription “Submariner Rotor Self-Winding.” The dial features only the word “Swiss” at the bottom edge, without the two tritium “Ts.” This is an interesting detail, as the watch was produced during the transition from radium to tritium, which occurred between 1962 and 1963. The hands are of the so-called “Mercedes” shape, have silver bezels, and contain the well-preserved original luminous paste.
Framing the dial is a beautiful bidirectional bezel with a graduated decompression indicator. The Bakelite insert still has its original dot intact within the triangle. This insert is very rare and sought-after by collectors because it was produced for only two years and is called the “Thin Four” due to the pointed shape of the number 4.
The untouched case features all the recognizable features of the Oyster design. This splendid case is also known as “PCG,” an acronym indicating the shape of the protrusions that protect the crown (“Pointed Crown Guards”). Inside the crown guards is the logoed crown without the three dots (reference 700).
The watch is completed by the wonderful riveted Oyster bracelet, which closes with the signed and logoed foldover clasp.
Under the screw-down case back lies the self-winding Tudor 390 movement. It was produced exclusively for Tudor by Fabrique Ebauches Fleurier based on the time-only calibre 380. This 28.2mm wide calibre is equipped with a bi-directional rotor, has 17 jewels and runs at 18,000 A/h.
