Initially released in the early 1970s, the Tudor Oysterdate was the firm’s first ever chronograph with a manual cal. 7734. Following its success, Tudor launched the ref. 94210 in 1976 as the firm’s first self-winding chronograph wristwatch, even before the Rolex Daytona.
Nicknamed the Big Block, the present ref. 92400 boasts a thick Oyster case manufactured by Rolex with a signed caseback. Featuring a black bezel insert with an asymmetric dial layout, the Tudor Oysterdate certainly vibes differently than the Rolex Daytona.
The present example from circa 1982 is presented in attractive overall condition with a nice grey dial with black registers and orange accents. An icon from the 1980s, the Tudor Oysterdate is a must have for any vintage chronograph enthusiasts.
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.