Tudor Submariner 'Snowflake'

Tudor had its genesis as a subsidiary of Rolex. Its watches were Rolexes in all but name: same Rolex Oyster case, same crowns, and Rolex crystals. The only difference was what beat inside the Oyster cases — Swiss ETA movements rather than movements that Rolex built in-house.

However, as the decades progressed, Tudor took steps to step out of its big brother’s shadow.

As time wears on, more and more watch collectors and enthusiasts begin to appreciate the designs that were exclusive to Tudor's Submariner line. Though to some the Tudor Submariner was a pale imitation of its Rolex counterpart, by the 1960s and 1970s the model underwent a metamorphosis with a new design language that has become just as iconic. It started with the hands and indices—triangular in shape, giving rise to the nickname “Snowflake.”

This particular example, a Reference 9401/0, dates to circa 1977 and features a 39mm stainless steel Oyster case with holey lugs, a signed crown, a bidirectional rotating diver timing bezel with a lightly faded blue insert, and a stainless steel Oyster bracelet with a signed blade clasp. Last but not least, its gorgeous and clean blue Tritium dial with a matching 'Snowflake' handset is visible through a domed acrylic crystal.

Lovely!

This is a dive watch alternative with just as much history, and perhaps even more style than its older brother.

Rolex founder Hans Wilsdorf created Tudor in 1926 for the everyman — for miners, construction workers and all sorts of tradesmen. For your everyday person Rolex was sometimes — and is now more so than ever — out of reach. It was meant for the explorer and the businessman, whereas Tudor was to be a different creature entirely.
In creating Tudor, Wilsdorf wanted to offer “a watch that our agents could sell at a more modest price than our Rolex watches, and yet one that would attain the standards of dependability for which Rolex is famous.”
Tudors were in many ways Rolexes in all but name, with the same waterproof Oyster cases and similar styling. However, in order to keep costs down, the brand used off-the-shelf Swiss movements rather than their own in-house calibres. What resulted were watches that were more affordable than Rolexes to the consumer, but still uniformly tough and reliable.
Today Tudor has certainly defeated any impression of being the redheaded stepchild of the Rolex family, and their current timepiece collection — as well as their vintage counterparts — are getting the recognition and respect they most rightfully deserve. From the colorful “Home Plate” chronograph to the complicated Advisor, these models often picked up where Rolex left off, daring to be more bold and playful in their design. And now that the brand has introduced in-house movements while still managing to keep pricing modest, the company is better poised than ever to win the hearts and minds of millions of new watch enthusiasts.

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Condition

Since our pieces are vintage or pre-owned, please expect wear & patina from usage and age. Please read each item description and examine all product images.

Warranty

We back each Analog:Shift vintage timepiece with a one-year mechanical warranty from the date of purchase.

International Buyers

Please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.

All of our watches include complementary insured shipping within the 50 states.

Most of our products are on hand and will ship directly from our headquarters in New York City. In some cases, watches will be shipped directly from one of our authorized partners.

We generally ship our products via FedEx, fully insured, within 5 business days of purchase. An adult signature is required for receipt of all packages for insurance purposes. Expedited shipping is available at an additional cost. We are also happy to hand deliver your purchase in Manhattan or you may pick it up at our showroom.

Returns must be sent overnight or by priority international delivery, fully insured and paid for by the customer. A restocking fee may apply. Watches must be returned in the same condition as initially shipped.

We welcome international buyers, please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.