Rolex

I have started a collection of vintage military watch and so far only 2. A Longines Majetek and Tudor Marine Nationale.





Now the Tudor MN have become some what of a cult item in the vintage military market. Hence  a lot of fakes and franken are out there. Given my past experience I have to be extra prudent so here are my clue.


Clue #1: Engrave case back. This one say 74. OK so The French Navy issue this in 1975. Not a problem.




Clue #2: The model number between the lug 7016/0. That's fine. Uncommon model for the French Navy but still OK.




Clue #3: The serial between the lug corresponding to the year of 1968! Oooophs ... got a problem here! The caseback said 1975. Have I been taken for a ride?

 

Clue #4: Decommission documents matching the serials, the model and the case back. Wheeew!



Now the only mystery is why the serials date back to 1968 while the watch is issued on 1975? That ... ... is another post

Why? Because I haven't have the answer ... ... yet.

Any help is welcome


Thanks for reading.

Best
Tyler

 


 

Normally, it should come with snowflake indexes...

AFAIK, of course.

Do you have something about the change of the dial?

Best,

Nicolas.

The only logical explanation is a dial replacement during one of its routine service. Which is very possible since it was decommission in 1999. Could explain the non existent of patina?

Best
Tyler

I  just hope it is not a luminova dial... Did you check that?

But, in my opinion, and AFAIK, it is not its dial.

Best, Tyler.

Nicolas

The case back spot IV 72 which really confuse me. Could it be the dial rot was really bad and it was replace a new set?

Best
Tyler

M.N 74???

Hmmm.

There may be  a difference in years between the serial number and the year engraved on the outside part of the case back, 2 years, let's say, but here, there is something not really coherent...

Best,

Nicolas.

Your watch comes from Lorient.  The dial is a late Tudor dial. Also, many Tudor of the 60s were used by the French Navy. They were not engraved but we know that they were from the MN as the serial number is found in the registers of the watchmakers of the MN. Sometimes, the watchmaker had 10 Tudor to revise in same time, and it is surely at this time that  mix-ups were made. Also, for me your watch is good thanks to decommission paper. Guillaume

Are you saying that the M.N. have their own watchmaker in house? So the watch is not send to Rolex for service.

This is new to me. Do their also do assembling work ie fit movement case etc?

Best
Tyler

That's what I say.

That's why it is common to see mix-watches from Tudor from Half 60s to half 70s. Guillaume

No message body

authenticated further.. Since u have put so much efforts in finding out. Good luck. Hope to hear further on this Tudor MN which i never knew existed. Such is the thrill and fun of buying Vintage, i guess, one may end up diving into a detective story.