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Old Expat Beast · 1 June 2016, 06:14 PM

Just got this in from Canada. I'll write more about it when I've done more homework and seen how it runs. There are a few of these 'Oyster-only' dials in the Dowling & Hess book, all from Canada, but this one has a Tudor 59 movement and Tudor caseback rather than the Oyster Watch Company I've seen on similar watches. I'm guess it's about 1945-6, hopefully all original, but maybe not.

Case seems in great condition, with no scratches on the back of the lugs, and sharp edges. Dial looks clean – or cleaned – but I don’t think it’s been redone. Still got the Oyster Patent winding crown.

Movement was just serviced with a new mainspring. Looks pretty clean to me but I'm no expert.

Top photo is mine, the others are from the sale. All comments welcome!

R.W.T. · 1 June 2016, 06:47 PM

That's a nice clean watch Adam! I like it!

34 MM is big for that as well.

I could sure use that mvt. ring it's the same for 6282.

mine is in 3 pieces.

crowncollection · 1 June 2016, 07:15 PM

Nice piece

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Old Expat Beast · 1 June 2016, 07:51 PM

Thanks guys. It's 31mm.

andromeda160 · 1 June 2016, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

Thanks guys. It's 31mm.

I Was going to say I thought it was a bit smaller. Another gem for the collection though, very clean for its age.

yannis · 1 June 2016, 07:55 PM

Nice one Adam! 70 y.o. piece!! Congrats!

mineral · 2 June 2016, 01:29 AM

Small but attractive. Love the dial.

Old Expat Beast · 2 June 2016, 09:16 AM

Looks like it's going to the wife anyway. Love at first sight. I thought the hands would be hard to distinguish, as they look so similar in photos, but the hour hand is noticeably thicker in reality, making it a very legible watch. Still ticking over night and keeping time.

speedolex · 2 June 2016, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

Looks like it's going to the wife anyway. Love at first sight. I thought the hands would be hard to distinguish, as they look so similar in photos, but the hour hand is noticeably thicker in reality, making it a very legible watch. Still ticking over night and keeping time.

I just love sub-seconds, it's a shame few make them any more. Pretty watch, Adam.

joe100 · 2 June 2016, 10:37 AM

Looks like a fine example of a Commonwealth Oyster

Rebel · 2 June 2016, 10:44 AM

I'm not familiar with this. Looking forward to more info as you decide to inform us.

Dr.Smellody · 2 June 2016, 10:52 AM

That's really nice. Beautiful. Can't wait to hear more about it.

Old Expat Beast · 2 June 2016, 11:06 AM

Well, as far as I can gather, the "Oyster" was a cheaper series made by Rolex during WWII, and aimed at the Canadian military. Not unlike Tudor in the sense that it had a regular oyster case with screwdown crown, non in-house movement, and the fact that this one has a Tudor-signed movement and caseback (rather than Oyster Watch Company seen on others I have looked at) suggests that it might be some kind of transitional piece, and released just before or around the time that Tudor became a separate company. But this was wartime and I have no idea how Rolex got cases and movements from Switzerland to Canda and elsewhere in the Commonwealth. Its all very opaque. Here are some pics of others from the Dowling and Hess book.

michael067 · 2 June 2016, 12:41 PM

Very clean, looks like a nice piece.

superstarmar · 2 June 2016, 01:10 PM

That watch is sexy sassy dressy Adam!!!
Very nice ...

Looking forward to more pics .... Congrats ...

droptopman · 2 June 2016, 01:57 PM

Very nice watch. Never seen one before. Looks to be in excellent condition. Great find.

adam78 · 2 June 2016, 11:53 PM

Adam, ref. 4453 is more commonly a Tudor case reference, so it's no wonder that it shares Tudor ancestry. Yours is in quite amazing condition (helps that the dial/hands are non-luminous).

I have a "normal" Tudor version, also with a cal. 59. Yours is also likely a few years earlier (though the SN is confusing), which might explain why it wasn't branded Tudor on the dial. Mine's from 1946, which is the first year of the Tudor rose-in-shield, I believe, when Tudor became an established sub-brand (replacing "Oyster").

Old Expat Beast · 3 June 2016, 10:46 AM

Hi Adam,
Yours is absolutely gorgeous. I have been looking for nice a shield-in-crown for some time now. Oddly enough, those models that I've seen with both the ref # and serial # stamped on the oustide of the caseback have had five-digit serials. Perhaps cases left over from before the War?

Old Expat Beast · 3 June 2016, 04:42 PM

Well, the mainspring has the movement still ticking 48 hours later. It lost about 45 seconds in the first 24 hours, and is now about 12 minutes slow. I suppose that is normal with old movements like this, but I did have a 1930s Calibre 59 that went on for about 40 hours with consistent loss of time (about 30 seconds in total). As it'll only be an occasional watch, I'm quite happy, though.

speedolex · 11 June 2016, 01:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

As it'll only be an occasional watch, I'm quite happy, though.

A beauty, enjoy in good health.

V72 · 3 June 2016, 06:49 PM

Looks like the regulator is set on the slow side ?

adam78 · 3 June 2016, 10:09 PM

Probably just needs a decent service, Adam.

Another clue that this is a curious transitional model is that the "British" series of models was more typically in the Tudor line, in the late '40s. I once had a Tudor "York" with a gold filled case and black dial, also with the rose-in-shield emblem, from 1947.

Old Expat Beast · 3 June 2016, 11:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adam78

Probably just needs a decent service, Adam.

Another clue that this is a curious transitional model is that the "British" series of models was more typically in the Tudor line, in the late '40s. I once had a Tudor "York" with a gold filled case and black dial, also with the rose-in-shield emblem, from 1947.

Here's another Tudor 4453 with a different movement and an Oyster Watch Co. caseback...

http://www.adventuresinamateurwatchf...ter-from-1945/

And I guess you have seen this already...

http://www.horologist.com/canadianrolex.htm

jatco · 11 June 2016, 01:11 AM

......I like it....Alot..

GB-man · 11 June 2016, 01:45 AM

Love the dial, very minimalist. Reminds me of the lange 1815.

Thenicknackman · 11 June 2016, 04:44 AM

That looks a lovely example!

landroverking · 11 June 2016, 04:48 AM

I have one like the black dial. Signed only Oyster Watch Co.
I understand Rolex bought them in the early 30s.

dysondiver · 11 June 2016, 04:50 AM

tough looking little watch ,,,, wonder what storys it would tell if it could only talk as well as tick.

Old Expat Beast · 14 June 2016, 01:59 PM

I found this advert in the Singapore newspaper archive. It's from the Straits Times, April 1937, and looks like the Oyster-only was being marketed as a Tudor Oyster back then. This would explain the Tudor movement and caseback in mine, I guess.

AzHadEnuf · 14 June 2016, 04:56 PM

Beautiful. Really like the small seconds. Adam what do you do, did you do for a profession? Journalists, researcher private investor? You always find the coolest information and archives.

1 June 2016, 06:14 PM	#1
Old Expat Beast TRF Moderator & 2024 SubLV41 Patron Join Date: Jul 2013 Real Name: Adam Location: Far East Watch: Golden Tuna Posts: 28,826	Oyster Chester Just got this in from Canada. I'll write more about it when I've done more homework and seen how it runs. There are a few of these 'Oyster-only' dials in the Dowling & Hess book, all from Canada, but this one has a Tudor 59 movement and Tudor caseback rather than the Oyster Watch Company I've seen on similar watches. I'm guess it's about 1945-6, hopefully all original, but maybe not. Case seems in great condition, with no scratches on the back of the lugs, and sharp edges. Dial looks clean – or cleaned – but I don’t think it’s been redone. Still got the Oyster Patent winding crown. Movement was just serviced with a new mainspring. Looks pretty clean to me but I'm no expert. Top photo is mine, the others are from the sale. All comments welcome! Attached Images

1 June 2016, 07:15 PM	#3
crowncollection "TRF" Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Real Name: David Location: australia Posts: 20,216	Nice piece Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ watches many

1 June 2016, 07:55 PM	#6
yannis "TRF" Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Real Name: Yannis Location: Europe Watch: maniac Posts: 9,070	Nice one Adam! 70 y.o. piece!! Congrats! __________________ Rolex Submariner 116610LV \| Tudor 79220N DSSD MEMBERS - OWNERS CLUB

2 June 2016, 01:29 AM	#7
mineral "TRF" Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 3,670	Small but attractive. Love the dial. __________________ Watching date changes every midnight

2 June 2016, 10:37 AM	#10
joe100 2024 SubLV41 Pledge Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Real Name: Joe Location: New Mexico Watch: Explorer Posts: 12,840	Looks like a fine example of a Commonwealth Oyster __________________ It's Espresso, not Expresso. Coffee is not a train in Italy. -TRF Member 6982-

1 June 2016, 06:47 PM	#2
R.W.T. "TRF" Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Central Texas Posts: 2,004	That's a nice clean watch Adam! I like it! 34 MM is big for that as well. I could sure use that mvt. ring it's the same for 6282. mine is in 3 pieces.

1 June 2016, 07:51 PM	#4
Old Expat Beast TRF Moderator & 2024 SubLV41 Patron Join Date: Jul 2013 Real Name: Adam Location: Far East Watch: Golden Tuna Posts: 28,826	Thanks guys. It's 31mm.

2 June 2016, 09:16 AM	#8
Old Expat Beast TRF Moderator & 2024 SubLV41 Patron Join Date: Jul 2013 Real Name: Adam Location: Far East Watch: Golden Tuna Posts: 28,826	Looks like it's going to the wife anyway. Love at first sight. I thought the hands would be hard to distinguish, as they look so similar in photos, but the hour hand is noticeably thicker in reality, making it a very legible watch. Still ticking over night and keeping time.

2 June 2016, 10:44 AM	#11
Rebel "TRF" Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Real Name: Dr Mark R Nail Location: New Albany Watch: Tudor Sub 75090 Posts: 8,254	I'm not familiar with this. Looking forward to more info as you decide to inform us. __________________ ------------------------------- Member of the Nylon Nation

2 June 2016, 10:52 AM	#12
Dr.Smellody "TRF" Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Salem, OR Posts: 5,417	That's really nice. Beautiful. Can't wait to hear more about it.

2 June 2016, 11:06 AM	#13
Old Expat Beast TRF Moderator & 2024 SubLV41 Patron Join Date: Jul 2013 Real Name: Adam Location: Far East Watch: Golden Tuna Posts: 28,826	Well, as far as I can gather, the "Oyster" was a cheaper series made by Rolex during WWII, and aimed at the Canadian military. Not unlike Tudor in the sense that it had a regular oyster case with screwdown crown, non in-house movement, and the fact that this one has a Tudor-signed movement and caseback (rather than Oyster Watch Company seen on others I have looked at) suggests that it might be some kind of transitional piece, and released just before or around the time that Tudor became a separate company. But this was wartime and I have no idea how Rolex got cases and movements from Switzerland to Canda and elsewhere in the Commonwealth. Its all very opaque. Here are some pics of others from the Dowling and Hess book. Attached Images

2 June 2016, 12:41 PM	#14
michael067 Banned Join Date: Feb 2016 Real Name: Mike Location: Las Vegas Watch: TT DJ 16233 Posts: 1,002	Very clean, looks like a nice piece.

2 June 2016, 01:10 PM	#15
superstarmar Banned Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: In Motion Watch: my wrist presence Posts: 7,436	That watch is sexy sassy dressy Adam!!! Very nice ... Looking forward to more pics .... Congrats ...

2 June 2016, 01:57 PM	#16
droptopman "TRF" Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Real Name: Mark Location: Washington State Watch: SUBS and GMT's! Posts: 9,664	Very nice watch. Never seen one before. Looks to be in excellent condition. Great find. __________________ Judge Smails: Ty, what did you shoot today? Ty: Oh, Judge, I don't keep score. Judge Smails: Then how do you measure yourself with other golfers? Ty: By height.

2 June 2016, 11:53 PM	#17
adam78 "TRF" Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Chicago Posts: 1,830	Adam, ref. 4453 is more commonly a Tudor case reference, so it's no wonder that it shares Tudor ancestry. Yours is in quite amazing condition (helps that the dial/hands are non-luminous). I have a "normal" Tudor version, also with a cal. 59. Yours is also likely a few years earlier (though the SN is confusing), which might explain why it wasn't branded Tudor on the dial. Mine's from 1946, which is the first year of the Tudor rose-in-shield, I believe, when Tudor became an established sub-brand (replacing "Oyster"). __________________ Cheers, Adam

3 June 2016, 10:46 AM	#18
Old Expat Beast TRF Moderator & 2024 SubLV41 Patron Join Date: Jul 2013 Real Name: Adam Location: Far East Watch: Golden Tuna Posts: 28,826	Hi Adam, Yours is absolutely gorgeous. I have been looking for nice a shield-in-crown for some time now. Oddly enough, those models that I've seen with both the ref # and serial # stamped on the oustide of the caseback have had five-digit serials. Perhaps cases left over from before the War?

3 June 2016, 04:42 PM	#19
Old Expat Beast TRF Moderator & 2024 SubLV41 Patron Join Date: Jul 2013 Real Name: Adam Location: Far East Watch: Golden Tuna Posts: 28,826	Well, the mainspring has the movement still ticking 48 hours later. It lost about 45 seconds in the first 24 hours, and is now about 12 minutes slow. I suppose that is normal with old movements like this, but I did have a 1930s Calibre 59 that went on for about 40 hours with consistent loss of time (about 30 seconds in total). As it'll only be an occasional watch, I'm quite happy, though.

3 June 2016, 06:49 PM	#21
V72 "TRF" Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Real Name: Tony Location: S.W. England Watch: Both my V 72's Posts: 33	Looks like the regulator is set on the slow side ?

3 June 2016, 10:09 PM	#22
adam78 "TRF" Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Chicago Posts: 1,830	Probably just needs a decent service, Adam. Another clue that this is a curious transitional model is that the "British" series of models was more typically in the Tudor line, in the late '40s. I once had a Tudor "York" with a gold filled case and black dial, also with the rose-in-shield emblem, from 1947. __________________ Cheers, Adam

11 June 2016, 01:11 AM	#24
jatco 2024 SubLV41 Pledge Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Real Name: Thomas Location: YVR Watch: 116233/79190 Posts: 50,562	......I like it....Alot.. __________________ . ..- ' A Crown for every achievement '

11 June 2016, 01:45 AM	#25
GB-man 2024 SubLV41 Pledge Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: USA Watch: addiction issues Posts: 37,355	Love the dial, very minimalist. Reminds me of the lange 1815.

11 June 2016, 04:44 AM	#26
Thenicknackman "TRF" Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Merseyside Posts: 53	That looks a lovely example!

11 June 2016, 04:48 AM	#27
landroverking "TRF" Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Real Name: Jay Location: TEXAS Watch: Daytona Posts: 7,648	I have one like the black dial. Signed only Oyster Watch Co. I understand Rolex bought them in the early 30s.

11 June 2016, 04:50 AM	#28
dysondiver "TRF" Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Real Name: tom Location: northern ireland Watch: my fins Posts: 10,063	tough looking little watch ,,,, wonder what storys it would tell if it could only talk as well as tick.

14 June 2016, 01:59 PM	#29
Old Expat Beast TRF Moderator & 2024 SubLV41 Patron Join Date: Jul 2013 Real Name: Adam Location: Far East Watch: Golden Tuna Posts: 28,826	I found this advert in the Singapore newspaper archive. It's from the Straits Times, April 1937, and looks like the Oyster-only was being marketed as a Tudor Oyster back then. This would explain the Tudor movement and caseback in mine, I guess. Attached Images

14 June 2016, 04:56 PM	#30
AzHadEnuf "TRF" Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Real Name: Ralph Location: Tucson, Arizona Watch: 6263,DJ,SUB,BB,THR Posts: 2,043	Beautiful. Really like the small seconds. Adam what do you do, did you do for a profession? Journalists, researcher private investor? You always find the coolest information and archives. __________________ "The only reason for time is so that everything doesn't happen at once." -A. Einstein

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