Tudor Prince Chronograph 79280

Let me start by saying that in the late 1990’s, when I was in my late teens, I frequently visited the Haarlem store where these Tudor watches were being sold. I visited there to look and learn, and to talk about different types of watches. This makes it all the more cool that almost 25 years later, I was able to purchase this nearly New Old Stock Tudor Prince Chronograph 79280 from that store’s original owner. This now retired gentleman discovered this Tudor Chronograph in one of his small safes as it was “laying around the house.”

During the 1980’s and 1990’s, Tudor made an impressive collection of watches, which at the time were a difficult sell to be honest, but nowadays these watches are gaining popularity and a new following, which is all the more reason to dig into this Tudor Chronograph. To understand the significance of the Tudor Prince Date Chronograph, we must first delve into the history of the Tudor brand. Founded in 1926 by Hans Wilsdorf, the visionary behind Rolex, Tudor was created with the aim of offering high-quality watches at a more accessible price point. From its inception, Tudor emphasized the same rigorous standards for precision, durability, and style as its parent company, Rolex. The Tudor Prince Date Chronograph, reference 79280 presented here belongs to the iconic Tudor Prince collection. This collection was designed to showcase the brand’s expertise in crafting elegant, sporty and functional timepieces. This watch features a stainless steel case with a sleek, polished finish that exudes understated luxury. The stainless steel bezel, engraved with a tachymeter scale, not only adds a sporty touch but also serves a practical purpose for measuring speed. The watch’s sapphire crystal protects the dial, ensuring durability and scratch resistance. The watch’s original leather strap, particularly and specifically made for these ‘Tiger” Chronograph models, is still the original strap and as good as new. The original Tudor branded folding clasp not only ensures a secure fit but also simplifies the process of putting on and taking off the watch. Fun fact: Tiger Woods became a spokesperson for the brand’s series of Oysterdate chronographs somewhere 1997. Tudor even added Tiger’s name in bright red lettering right under the minute counter sub-dial of the chronograph, as can be seen in the photo’s above.

It is obvious that the Tudor Prince Date Chronograph and the Rolex Daytona share a common historical era and similar design elements, primarily because they are sibling brands, with Tudor being a subsidiary of Rolex. However, there are distinct differences that set these two watches apart. In conclusion, both the Tudor Prince Date Chronograph and the Rolex Daytona from the same era are outstanding timepieces that exemplify the craftsmanship and tradition of their respective brands. They do, however, appeal to distinct areas of the luxury watch market, with Tudor being a more affordable alternative and the Rolex Daytona being a prominent and legendary premium sports watch. Each watch has its own distinct features and appeal, allowing aficionados to select the one that best suits their personal style and tastes. Our Tudor Prince Date Chronograph remains in near new and excellent unpolished conditions, it is a near NOS watch which only developed some hairline scratches from showcasing the watch back in the late 1990’s – She will be sold with our 24 month warranty,

reference: 79280
case number: XXXX
year of production: ca 1998
case diameter: 40mm
movement: automatic winding, Valjoux 7750-1
box and papers: accompanied by original box

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