848
Tudor
Ref. 7031/0
Monte Carlo, “Home Plate”
A fine and very rare stainless steel chronograph wristwatch with date and bracelet
- Estimate
- HK$310,000 - 620,000€35,700 - 71,400$40,000 - 80,000
HK$475,000
Lot Details
- Manufacturer
- Tudor
- Year
- Circa 1971
- Reference No
- 7031/0
- Case No
- 756’799
- Model Name
- Monte Carlo, “Home Plate”
- Material
- Stainless steel
- Calibre
- Manual, cal. 7734, 17 jewels
- Bracelet/Strap
- Stainless steel Tudor Oyster bracelet, max length 205 mm
- Clasp/Buckle
- Stainless steel Tudor folding deployant clasp
- Dimensions
- 40 mm diameter
- Signed
- Case, dial, movement and bracelet signed
Specialist
Full-Cataloguing
Catalogue Essay
The present watch represents the first of the Tudor chronograph introduced in the 1970s. It is recognized by its bakelite or acrylic inserts and its grey dial with black accents. In addition, Tudor also upgraded their coding system in 1967 using 5 digits instead of 4, in which the last digit identifies the case metal. For the present watch, “0” indicates steel.
The present watch is a wondrous execution of the Tudor Oysterdate Chronograph with 40-mm case, screw down pushers, and the very iconic “Monte Carlo” dial, a nickname given as the dial is reminiscent of the casino chips from the city. The dial configuration of the present watch is also dubbed as a “home-plate’ dial due to the dial design resembling a home plate in baseball games.
The present example is preserved in excellent condition. With sharp bevels, the lugs are thick and well-defined. The luminous materials on the hour markers have turned a warm yellow hue, perfectly matching the hands. The bracelet is conceivably original, as it matches with the ones pictured in vintage advertisements. The rarity of this timepiece cannot be overstated. Of course, it is one of the rarest Monte-Carlos ever created and a crown jewel for the discerning vintage sports watch collector.
The present watch is a wondrous execution of the Tudor Oysterdate Chronograph with 40-mm case, screw down pushers, and the very iconic “Monte Carlo” dial, a nickname given as the dial is reminiscent of the casino chips from the city. The dial configuration of the present watch is also dubbed as a “home-plate’ dial due to the dial design resembling a home plate in baseball games.
The present example is preserved in excellent condition. With sharp bevels, the lugs are thick and well-defined. The luminous materials on the hour markers have turned a warm yellow hue, perfectly matching the hands. The bracelet is conceivably original, as it matches with the ones pictured in vintage advertisements. The rarity of this timepiece cannot be overstated. Of course, it is one of the rarest Monte-Carlos ever created and a crown jewel for the discerning vintage sports watch collector.
Literature
Tudor
Swiss | 1926Almost 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.
Browse MakerSome 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.