Rolex

Some months ago, there was a listing on Ebay about a Tudor 7923. This very same watch has been auctioned and a watch dealer from California got it. And re sold it. 

This is this very same watch I was very lucky to see in the metal, some days ago, in Paris, as it is now one of my friend's property. 

I only saw, and only on pictures, 4 Tudor 7923. so you can imagine how thrilled I was to feel the rare bird, to be able to handle it, and to take some pictures. 

The Tudor Submariner 7923 has a strange and mysterious story. 

While all the other Submariners ( Tudor / Rolex ) housed an automatic movement, the 7923 has a manual winding movement, referenced 1156-1188, which, according to Tudor, is a modified ETA 1182. not a very astute choice for a diving watch, as you have to wind it everyday and you use the seal between the crown and the case much faster than with an automatic movement...

Here is one picture to be credited to Jacek. 

The choice of a manual winding movement has two consequences, on the case and on the dial. 

The case is thinner from what I am used to see with the Reference 7922 and, of course, the Reference 7924. 

Curiously, when I handled it, it was lighter, too. 

The case back, like the crown, are naturally screwed in. 

The other 7923 I saw came with the Serial Number 217 xxx and 218 xxx. So is this one. 

Picture of the case back. 

Picture of the case profile, with its generous bevels. Small + crown has to be mentioned, too. 

The bezel is very pure, clean, without indices from 0 to 15. 

As for the dial, you will notice that it doesn't have the characteristic " self winding " " rotor " mentions we use to see on other Tudor Submariners. The manual movement inside explains that absence. 

You have two dials, for the 7923. One with gilt writings WITHOUT mention of the depth. Credit picture: Tudor. 

And a very rare one, seen on this specimen, with the mention of depth... In red. 

100 meters, such as the 7922, at the contrary of the 7924, which is 200 meters water resistant. 

The last fine detail is the hands set: Pencil for the hours and minutes, small lollipop for the seconds.

Small lollipop, like the one on the first generation of 7922. The second generation had the big lollipop, later shared with the 7924. 

The 7922 small lollipop second hand, credit picture: Watch My Watch ( Jerôme ) :

This specimen is incredible condition. The dial developed a bewitching patina, the insert, like the case, is in top condition. 

A time capsule, to make it short. 

Now, the two cons are:

The manual winding movement, for the reason explained above, 

The feeling when you handle it. It is very light, much lighter than what you are use to feel with a Rolex Submariner no crown guards or the Tudor siblings. 

The big pros are the beauty of this watch, its condition, its rarity. 

For the Tudor collector, it is a must have. A legend. 

Best,

Nicolas

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