Tudor Oyster Prince Tuxedo Dial

New York. Madison Avenue. 1960s.

It’s Friday. People are putting on their coats and hats and getting ready to head out into the night. A partner in an advertising firm approaches a copywriter, trying to wheedle her into doing extra work over the weekend… for $10.

“You’re being very demanding for someone who has no choice,” she says. She leans back in her chair, smirking. “Dazzle me.”

“Fine, how much do you want?” he says.

“How much you got?”

He pulls out his wallet and flips through the bills, exasperation evident on his face.

“$400.”

“Give me all of it.”

“It better be good,” he threatens.

She quirks a brow.

“Do you want me to take your watch?”

This was a scene from the fifth season of AMC’s Mad Men, in which the partner—Roger Sterling—tries to pull a fast one on copywriter Peggy Olson… who’s wise to his games.

And the watch in question was this watch, a Tudor Oyster Prince Reference 7950.

Known by collectors as a “Tuxedo” Oyster Prince, due to the dial’s glossy black dial surrounded by a silver chapter ring, the watch exudes a refined air that made it the perfect choice for a dapper man about town like Roger.

But when the Tudor Oyster Prince was launched in the 1950s, founder Hans Wilsdorf (who also founded Rolex) intended the watch to be worn by the everyman—and not just by a man in a grey flannel suit.

“I have decided,” Wilsdorf wrote upon the brand’s introduction, “that the Tudor Oyster Prince deserves to share with Rolex two advantages I would allow no other watch to use—the famous and unique waterproof Oyster case and the original self-winding perpetual “rotor” mechanism. All Tudor Oyster Princes will have these two exceptional features previously exclusive to Rolex. This indicates, I think, the measure of our faith in the new watch.”

And to test that faith, Tudor subjected six Oyster Princes to a “Trial of Destruction” in which a construction worker wore them—one after the other—while operating a pneumatic drill.

While a mad man like Roger Sterling wouldn’t subject his own Oyster Prince to that kind of heavy duty work, it would have been more than robust enough to withstand the shocks of daily use (and the occasional dunking after one too many vodka Martinis).

This particular Tuxedo deserves the elegance of the name, with a fine patina to the outer chapter ring and spidering on the glossy inner black dial.

Whether you’re a Mad Man or just appreciate the finer things in life, this is the Prince for you.

Our Pledge

Analog:Shift stands behind the authenticity of our products in perpetuity.

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.