Can I join the Tudor Big Block Club ?

[Blackdog]

Funny these things are considered Vintage and my 16710 that's even older is not...

Anyway, it's all Dan Pierce's fault, but I'm not the first one to mention the fact...

First it was my love for a 5-digit GMT on Jubilee, and now this....

Anyway, new to me Tudor 79170.

I have searched for one of these for a little while. I bought online a 79180 in February this year that was very temptingly priced, but I sent it back because it was badly overpolished and the chrono functions were not even working....

Back in the search for a good one as my own birthday present to myself, I resorted to Chrono24. My initial search was for a 79180, and I found a promising one from dealer Pyramide in Austria/Italy.

When I was about to pull the trigger the dealer informed me that it had just sold....

But they still had a 79170 in stock. By the dial I could tell that it was an earlier version but the bevels on the case looked even better in the offer pictures. I thought that the 12-Hr bezel was also an interesting feature as it departs a bit from the Daytona looks and is pure Tudor. So I pulled the trigger on this one instead...

It has JUST arrived !!! Boy, this thing is gorgeous !!!

Saying that the case is crisp is an understatement ! This case is NOS crisp !

If it was restored it was done by someone who REALLY knew what he was doing ! I am tempted to believe that it is factory unpolished and pretty much unworn.

Serial number B4581xx, so 1992 or thereabouts. No B&P. Dealer's 12 months warranty.

Anyway, on to the pictures. Please celebrate with me:





Great buying experience, excellent dealer, the watch came very well packed and in a plastic coffin. Highly recommendable.

[1William]

Congratulations.

[MorningTundra]

Oh lovely! Congratulations and welcome!


Sent from my cracked, broken hand wound phone. IG @morning_tundra

[Rudy40]

Looks Minty to me...Bevels are gorgeous !

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-J320A using Tapatalk

[Dan Pierce]

Well done, BD!! Proud to take some blame with results like this. But you are the one with the due diligence to find the right example and an eye for true classic.

Enjoy and congrats on that beauty, my friend!
dP

[CPRWATCH]

Congratulations on a great pick up . Personally prefer these to daytonas .

[coffeebreak]

Very nice. I envy you

[Jim M]

Congratulations on an excellent pickup. Beautiful looking survivor, enjoy.

[Dr.Smellody]

Super watch! Congratulations

[Blackdog]

Thanks a lot for the kind words. I am glad I went for the 12Hr bezel in the end. I like the Tudor DNA of this combo.

Originally Posted by CPRWATCH

Congratulations on a great pick up . Personally prefer these to daytonas .

Thanks ! Actually, me too. Luckily I could easily get in line at an AD to get a Daytona. Matter of fact, when I told my wife I was wanting a Big Block she asked me if I was sure I didn't want a modern Daytona instead... But for some reason, they do nothing for me.

Now if we were talking 6263 that would be a different story... But I justify my decision thinking that a screw down crown on a manual winder can be a bit of an annoyance... The grapes are green kind of thinking...

Originally Posted by Dan Pierce

Well done, BD!! Proud to take some blame with results like this. But you are the one with the due diligence to find the right example and an eye for true classic.

Enjoy and congrats on that beauty, my friend!
dP

Hi Dan, it's your pictures man.... Clearly we have similar tastes in watches. From Rolex to some Seikos....

May I ask a question since you have a 79170 too ? Is there a tension spring under the bezel á la plexi Sub or GMT ? Mine seems to have a tiny bit of vertical play and could be a tad tighter to rotate. If there is such a spring it's probably a matter of bending it cleverly, if not I may not even bother to touch it. Thanks.

[lhanddds]

very nice, congrats

[James444]

Congrats n enjoy ur watch

[oneilchris555]

Enjoy your watch!

[drefrank]

Looks great!

[Base-Z]

Very nice.

[machob55]

Wow, a true beauty. Congrats!

Sent from my R1 HD using Tapatalk

[jackjack305]

What a beauty!!

[Dan Pierce]

Originally Posted by Blackdog

Hi Dan, it's your pictures man.... Clearly we have similar tastes in watches. From Rolex to some Seikos....

May I ask a question since you have a 79170 too ? Is there a tension spring under the bezel á la plexi Sub or GMT ? Mine seems to have a tiny bit of vertical play and could be a tad tighter to rotate. If there is such a spring it's probably a matter of bending it cleverly, if not I may not even bother to touch it. Thanks.

I sold my Big Block some time ago, receiving an offer I couldn't refuse.

I still have my 79270P, with the same dial as yours.:thumbs:

To your question, there was a flat ring [not a click spring] that lays under the bezel. Hard to see but it's still on the watch in the pic. There should be some vertical play.


Most importantly is the added value the 12 hour bezel brings to an already feature rich chronograph. Having a 2nd time zone and simple timer really add to the whole package. I use a rotating bezel everyday to time something or as a reminder of an upcoming appointment.
dP

[rootbeer7]

Congratulations my friend. Great looking watch

[SAAS]

Congrats looks great

[Craft&Tailored]

Stunning Piece!!

[zapokee]

<monacle drop> I say! Very well done, sir!

[Blackdog]

Originally Posted by Dan Pierce

I sold my Big Block some time ago, receiving an offer I couldn't refuse.

I still have my 79270P, with the same dial as yours.:thumbs:

To your question, there was a flat ring [not a click spring] that lays under the bezel. Hard to see but it's still on the watch in the pic. There should be some vertical play.


Most importantly is the added value the 12 hour bezel brings to an already feature rich chronograph. Having a 2nd time zone and simple timer really add to the whole package. I use a rotating bezel everyday to time something or as a reminder of an upcoming appointment.
dP

Thanks for the picture and explanation Dan. So it is a similar design to the friction bezels of the older Subs then.

I understand that the bezel on the 79270 clicks, right ? Similar to a 5-digit GMT I presume.

[Micha]

Beauty!!!

[ejvette]

Great looking piece!

[Blackdog]

Thanks for the kind comments.

I am wearing this baby and am more and more impressed by the condition.

I took the bracelet off to check the model and serial (which are OK, of course) and there are basically none of the typical bracelet wear marks inside the lugs, nor under the small endlink ears on the back of the lugs...

I was not expecting it to be in such pristine condition. I'm extremely happy !!

The more I look at it the more it seems to be unworn. Strange thing is that it was sold without B&P... No complains, it was priced accordingly anyway.

I put it yesterday on the Timegrapher and it is running +5 spd dial-up, with 0.4ms beat error and 320 degs amplitude. In normal wearing pattern, after the first 24hs is running more like +1 spd.

Tonight I may have a peek at the movement to see what it looks like....

By the way, I would probably like to seek a period correct box for this, anybody knows what would be correct for a 1992 Tudor ?

[Dan Pierce]

Originally Posted by Blackdog

Thanks for the picture and explanation Dan. So it is a similar design to the friction bezels of the older Subs then.

I understand that the bezel on the 79270 clicks, right ? Similar to a 5-digit GMT I presume.

All Tudor chronographs of this era w/ rotating bezels have the same assembly, no click. In fact, AFAIK, they are all interchangeable. Only the modern THC has a click 12 hour rotating bezel.

Wearing mine today in your honor.
dP

[Blackdog]

Originally Posted by Dan Pierce

All Tudor chronographs of this era w/ rotating bezels have the same assembly, no click. In fact, AFAIK, they are all interchangeable. Only the modern THC has a click 12 hour rotating bezel.

Wearing mine today in your honor.
dP

Your 79270P is a beauty !! Actually, the red sweep seconds hand is a lot easier to see than the black...
I seem to recall that this one had a VERY different dial as stock...

Interesting about the clicks (or lack thereof).

I was looking at this picture from user Swissgmt1675 over at network54, and in the 79270 package there seems to be a couple of springs of some kind...



I'm not sure the bezels are interchangeable between the 791xx and 792xx chronos though. On the 791xx there is a crystal retaining ring (the 180 and 160 bezels are the crystal retaining rings). This must be different from the sapphire models that mount the crystal on a gasket, isn't it ?

[nick c]

Beautiful piece congratulations

[James444]

Originally Posted by Dan Pierce

All Tudor chronographs of this era w/ rotating bezels have the same assembly, no click. In fact, AFAIK, they are all interchangeable. Only the modern THC has a click 12 hour rotating bezel.

Wearing mine today in your honor.
dP

Very unique piece