Manufacturer: Tudor Year: Circa 1978 Reference No: 9401/0 Case No: 846'604 Model Name: Submariner "Snowflake" Material: Stainless steel Calibre: Automatic, cal. 2776, 25 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Stainless steel Tudor bracelet stamped "380 B" and "9315" to the endlinks, max length 195mm Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel Tudor deployant clasp stamped "P4" Dimensions: 39mm Diameter Signed: Case, dial, movement and clasp signed Accessories: Accompanied by Tudor Guarantee stamped by Marseilles retailer "Le Diamant Blanc" and dated January 13, 1978, red document holder, anchor and fitted presentation box
Catalogue Essay
Reference 9401 was introduced in 1975 as successor of reference 7016 - the first Tudor reference with ETA movement. Together with its “date” sibling ref. 9411, it was in production until roughly 1983. It was available in black or, as the present instance, in the iconic blue configuration. The blue version is notable, due to its undeniable good looks, also because it was supplied to the French Navy.
The present example impresses with a supremely well-preserved blue dial, retaining the original tritium to both hands and numerals.
Almost 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.
Ref. 9401/0 A fine and attractive stainless steel diver's wristwatch with center seconds, snowflake hands, blue dial and bezel, bracelet, Guarantee and box
Circa 1978 39mm Diameter Case, dial, movement and clasp signed