Date identity please

[mitchtech]

Hi people,

I would like to know how old my watch is or how to find out.

Regards,

Mitch.

[JJ Irani]

Originally Posted by mitchtech

Hi people,

I would like to know how old my watch is or how to find out.

Regards,

Mitch.

Hello Mitch,

A big welcome to TRF. WOW!! That sure looks like a very old Tudor...at a rough guess, probably dating back to the '60s; but I could be wrong.

Your best bet would be Mike who's pretty good at these things. Wait for him to log on in the morning and he'll answer your questions.

Meanwhile, just have yourself a ball on TRF.

Cheers - JJ

[mike]

Hi Mitch,

I'm certainly no expert on Tudor, but I would hazzard a guess and say your watch may go back to the 50s. I seem to remember something about Tudor Royals being a popular watch with military personnel back then.

Certainly the use of T SWISS T indicates the oldest of the tritium dials used by Rolex.
Rolex used their own cases, but on Tudor models did indeed mark the back of the watch with the Rolex wording you have. Rolex also used their own crowns-yours seems to be a large crown also approiate for the era. Sadly, Rolex did not seem to keep as accurate records of the Tudor line as they did with the Rolex line.
It's my understanding that watches of this era may not have had their ser. no. between the lugs. However, if you are in a position to have the case back removed you should be able to date the watch very accurately.
There shound be a numbering code on the inside of the case back with a Roman and Arabic number----ii/60 for example. The first number will tell you the quarter the second the year. (Of course this is assuming the orginal caseback is in place.)

Another good thing about doing this is to get a view of the movement. Rolex used ETA movements in a lot of Tudors, but it's my understanding they used at least one in house movement- the 390.

Now, one question, do you know when the watch was serviced last? Reason I ask, it appears to have a latter folded link bracelet. I would imagine Tudor's of that era came with a riveted bracelet of some sort, but again my knowledge of Tudor isn't what it should be.

[mitchtech]

thanks for the info guys.

disconnected the strap and got these numbers from it:476,701 & 7934.

Hope this helps!

Mitch.

I'm with Mike... I think the Royal was discontinued before the end of the 1950s. Nice vintage piece.

[mike]

Originally Posted by mitchtech

thanks for the info guys.

disconnected the strap and got these numbers from it:476,701 & 7934.

Hope this helps!

Mitch.

Hey Mitch,
7934 would be the model number.
476xxx is the serial number. Now...here's the thing I'm unsure about with Tudor. Rolex circa 1954 went over 1 million and they started re-counting.
( I have no idea why) I don't know if Tudor was factored into that--though I suspect it was.
Using your ser. number you are circa 1947 before the "re-count" circa 1959 after. I'm inclined to go with the eariler date because of the other factors of the watch and the history of the Royal.

[mitchtech]

Thanks Mike!

1947 is awsome! gonna get it cleaned and serviced this week. will ask watchmaker what markings are inside the back cover too.

[Rockrolex]

Hi, Mitch. Didn't get a chance to welcome you last night, but we're glad to have you here. And that's a nice vintage piece you've got. Get it cleaned up and serviced professionally and it should be a beautiful watch you can wear for years to come.

[mitchtech]

Originally Posted by Rockrolex

Hi, Mitch. Didn't get a chance to welcome you last night, but we're glad to have you here. And that's a nice vintage piece you've got. Get it cleaned up and serviced professionally and it should be a beautiful watch you can wear for years to come.

Thanks for all the posotive feeback i will post pics when it has been serviced/cleaned.