Vintage Tudor ID help. Oddball dial?

[Watch Fan In HK]

Hi Everyone.

Need your expertise on an old and maybe questionable Tudor. I posted this before on a different watch collecting forum, but they weren't sure what to make of it. The few replies I got thought it's an authentic model but with an unusual dial that they haven't seen before. Possible replacement of the hands at some point.

So basically, as the pics show - it's a Tudor “Big Rose” shock resisting manual wind watch. It’s questionable because over the years I've owned it, in looking at many pics from google, online dealers and ebay – I’ve never seen a dial similar to this.

Every single Big Rose watch I’ve seen has the rose and indices embossed. The indices are of an arrow(head) design. There are no numbers on any Big Rose dial. However this one is a Big Rose model with the 3, 6, 9 numbers similar to a Ranger or Explorer dials (and some Air Tigers). In addition, the indices are in Tritium including the large Rose emblem- which would have been interesting to see glow up back in the day.

The back was opened up and back case identifies the case as a 7934. And in looking at movements - it's a 21 jewel ETA 2402.

In terms of background, I bought this watch over 10 years ago from a vintage watch dealer in California. When I dealt with this dealer I bought other vintage watches and never had any issues of fakes – so I always trusted the source. The dealer had nothing to say about it at the time and I bought it as a cheap substitute for an Explorer style watch.

I attach some photos of the dial – apologies for the quality of my older Apple I-phone. Yes, the dial is in rough shape. It was roughly treated unfortunately.

Anyone ever see anything like this? Is it an unusual model or some weird after market dial unauthorized by Tudor?

Thanks in advance for any thoughts!

[Old Expat Beast]

Interesting. The 7934 came with many different dials but I have never seen that one before. Hands are definitely replacements. The closest thing I have seen to yours is this:

[Watch Fan In HK]

Thanks for your thoughts on this.

I've thought about replacing the hands to Ranger style since you are another opinion that thinks its aftermarket -nonoriginal.

In regards to the Ranger, apparently according to the site, TudorCollectorModels - their article on Ranger was there were manual wind rangers - and 7934 was one of the non-date manual wind ref.

OTOH, mine simply doesn't say "Ranger" on it as it should and I've never seen a Big Rose Ranger.

[Old Expat Beast]

Roses started being replaced with the shield around the time Rangers came in, in the late 60s. Maybe yours is some kind of pre-Ranger dial? Hopefully someone else will have something to add here, but 60s mid-size Tudors don't seem to have a lot of followers on TRF. The pic above is a manual wind Ranger, but Rangers didn't have their own ref number until the last couple of models much later, I believe. A 7934 Ranger could have existed at some point.

[Watch Fan In HK]

Hmmm. Thanks again Old Expat Beast! Interesting idea - pre-Ranger dial...

Anyhow just very curious to know. No pecuniary interest - It's fun to know I may have an odd uncommon model. Just sent it off to servicing to a local repair guy in Hong Kong.

I was hoping to hear maybe others (and still hoping) and see if they've seen it or have other theories - but yes, I do note that the older Tudors don't have a big following (outside of maybe the Snowflake and the verified Rangers).

[Watch Fan In HK]

Let me post a few more pics.







Movement needs a servicing and cleaning for sure.