Tudor - The Geneva Watch Auction: FIVE Geneva Friday, May 12, 2017 | Phillips

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  • Manufacturer: Tudor
    Year: 1971
    Reference No: 7032/0
    Case No: 760'068 further stamped I.71 in caseback
    Model Name: Oysterdate “Monte Carlo”
    Material: Stainless steel
    Calibre: Manual, cal. 7734, 17 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: Leather
    Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel pin buckle
    Dimensions: 39mm. Diameter
    Signed: Case, dial and movement signed
    Accessories: Accompanied by an additional prototype dial

  • Catalogue Essay

    Rolex introduced Tudor to the market in 1945 with the intention of producing high quality watches at an affordable price. Throughout its history, with Tudor, Rolex experimented with different designs and concepts, later to be used in Rolex’s own watches.

    Accordingly, some might assert that the case of this remarkable chronograph resembles that of the iconic Rolex Daytona reference 6263, since both the acrylic bezel with printed tachometer and screw-down pushers are identical in appearance.

    This stainless steel reference is fitted with a stunning matte grey dial with orange accents throughout. Amongst collectors, it is referred to as the “Monte Carlo,” or the “Home Plate” due to its dial design resembling a home plate in baseball. These gorgeous chronographs are amongst the most sought after of all Tudor watches.

    Contrary to today, brands did not have design studios and often depended on the dial makers to offer new designs compliant with their genetic code. As such, some dials made it into production whilst other remained prototypes.

    The present lot is also accompanied by a prototype dial made by famed dial maker Singer, who also supplied dials to Tudor's sister brand Rolex. This dial displays a superb black/white/red color scheme bearing the Tudor codes, but which unfortunately never made it into production.

    It is interesting to note that this prototype dial uses a logo that Tudor stopped using in 1968/1969 and as such shows that two years prior to the launch of the reference 7030/0 Tudor and Singer had already started playing with dial designs of Tudor's future chronograph,.

    Almost a decade ago, an executive from the defunct dial maker Singer, discovered albums dating from the 1970s with prototype dials made for Rolex, Tudor, Universal Genève and other brands Singer used to supply dials to. These vibrant, unusual and creative prototype dials are a zeitgeist of the pulse of the late sixties and early seventies.

    This prototype dial was part of the discovery. It was designed for Tudor who refused it and consequently it was never mounted. This is a superb opportunity to do so, over 40 years after its creation and to enable the owner to enjoy a reference 7032/0 with authentic period parts that up until now had never existed with this dial.

    It is extremely rare to be able to unite a watch and a dial that were made for each other but for reasons valid two generations ago were never united. The present Tudor reference 7032/0 accompanied by its prototype dial will offer the rare opportunity for the collector to own not only a timepiece with the beautiful and rare “Monte-Carlo” dial but also a superb and unique, period correct, model once the prototype dial is mounted.

  • Artist Biography

    Tudor

    Swiss • 1926

    Almost twenty years after Rolex was founded, Hans Wilsdorf established Tudor with the intention of making more affordable watches without compromising the quality for which Rolex was renowned. Tudor was named after the British Dynasty that ruled England from 1485 to 1603, and their symbol came from the "War of Roses." After interchanging Rose and Shield symbols for a number of years, the firm replaced the Rose with the Shield logo from the 1960s until today.

    Some of the most recognized vintage models made by Tudor include the Submariner, a waterproof model first introduced in 1954, the Oysterdate, the earliest versions of which were nicknamed the "Monte-Carlo," the Heritage, which included the date at 6 o'clock, as well as the Pelagos, which translates to "deep sea" in Greek.

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Ref. 7032/0
A rare stainless steel chronograph wristwatch with date, accompanied by an additional prototype dial

1971
39mm. Diameter
Case, dial and movement signed

Estimate
CHF75,000 - 150,000 
€69,500-139,000
$74,300-149,000

Sold for CHF93,750

Contact Specialist
Alexandre Ghotbi
+41 22 317 81 89

The Geneva Watch Auction: FIVE

Geneva Auctions 13 – 14 May 2017