Tudor - The Geneva Watch Auction: XI Geneva Sunday, June 28, 2020 | Phillips

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  • Manufacturer: Tudor
    Year: Circa 1950s
    Reference No: 4463
    Case No: 12'691
    Model Name: Shock Resisting
    Material: 18K yellow gold
    Calibre: Manual, 17 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: Rolex alligator
    Clasp/Buckle: Gold plated Rolex pin buckle
    Dimensions: 33mm Diameter
    Signed: Case, dial and movement signed "Tudor", buckle and strap signed "Rolex"

  • Catalogue Essay

    The present watch offers a remarkable insight into the evolution of Tudor. The elegant dial and solid gold case classify the present piece as a dress watch, while the waterproof case and relatively simple movement are style traits typical of Tudor. This timepiece then represents a rare foray of the brand into the territories of evening/dress watches. This was a very bold move as Rolex itself was at the time focused on sports watches and Tudor was meant to be a more affordable sister brand. It was therefore highly counter intuitive for them to approach the luxury market. In fact, when making gold watches, Tudor usually employed relatively inexpensive gold-plated cases, sometimes keeping a steel back. This piece appears to be an extremely rarefied exception where the case is solid 18K gold. The brand would subsequently shy away from the luxury segment and instead focus on steel sport watches which remains their specialty even today.

    Beyond the historical interest, the present watch surprises the beholder with its absolutely exceptional condition, featuring case and dial not only unrestored, but also perfectly preserved down to the last detail, including the presence of the Rolex green sticker to the back.

  • 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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Σ66

Ref. 4463
An elegant and very well-preserved yellow gold automatic wristwatch with center seconds

Circa 1950s
33mm Diameter
Case, dial and movement signed "Tudor", buckle and strap signed "Rolex"

Estimate
CHF4,000 - 6,000 
€3,700-5,600
$4,400-6,600

Sold for CHF8,125

Contact Specialist

Alexandre Ghotbi
Head of Watches, Continental Europe and the Middle East

41 79 637 1724
aghotbi@phillips.com

The Geneva Watch Auction: XI

Geneva Auction 27 - 28 June 2020