Tudor Mini Submariner

MINI SUB! Rolex wouldn't deign to venture beneath 40mm, so we appreciate their younger sister Tudor for being more size-inclusive. Who doesn't love a baby diver? It's got all the depth rated, complicated flair of a standard-sized diver (typically 39-40mm) but packaged PETITE, making for a more casual, versatile watch (especially for the ladies – because sometimes the big boy diver can be a little intense). I also love that it's Tudor – the Rolex Submariner is very popular, and this is a more alt, unexpected option. 

THE BASICS

DATE OF BIRTH: 1982 

MATERIAL: Stainless Steel  

SIZE: 33mm

MOVEMENT: Automatic Caliber 2671

CONDITION:  Very Good

BOX/PAPERS: No/Tudor Service Papers

THE NITTY GRITTY:

A stainless steel Tudor Prince Date Submariner. A curious and wonderful creature. As everyone knows, Rolex, Tudor’s parent company, never made a model of their legendary Submariner for ladies, or in a smaller size. In steps, Tudor! Known for their less conventional take on the dive watch design, with regard to the dial and hand sets, Tudor was the more experimental and adventurous younger sibling. Thus creating far more attractive looking and unique dive watches.  

The Tudor Submariner began to change in appearance in 1969 when a new “Shield” logo, would replace the original individual Rose which had featured across the brand for decades. In came the very unique and distinctive handset known as the “Snowflake” design, for rather obvious reasons. Both the sweeping seconds and hour hands would move away from classic Mercedes and lollipop designs. The model came in a new exotic and desirable blue dial variation, along with the classic black. The hour markers would also be a departure from its boring older sibling’s round plots to a block design.

It was in 1975 that the reference 9401/0 was introduced which saw the new ETA 2776 caliber with hacking feature for more accurate time setting, along with the quick change roulette date function. It was hot on the heels of this new reference that Tudor introduced the smaller size case versions, none of which Rolex would ever dare do.

This model, the 94400 was not the first model to be launched.  That model features an aluminium bezel insert, like its bigger sibling, and a non flip lock bracelet. This watch also had a depth rating of only 100m.  A nod, perhaps, to earlier Rolex Submariners, the depth rating was placed meters-first on these watches. This example presented here has an increased depth rating of 200 meters, improved bakelite style bezel insert, and an upgraded flip lock bracelet for better security.

This excellent and quite early example is in very strong condition. The case has been polished but still has strong lines throughout. For those not used to looking at these watches, a number of the components are actually Rolex, and marked as such. So, the locking winding crown has the iconic coronet. The screw back case back is marked “Original Oyster Case by Rolex Geneva”, and the interior of the flip lock Oyster bracelet is also stamped “Rolex."  The handsome black dial is in superb condition throughout and the block Tritium lume plots have aged to a gorgeous deep pumpkin color. The original white painted handset has been relumed and appear to have had the luminous material stabilised (more than likely during the Tudor servicing). These handsets have a tendency to lose their original luminous material, as with the bigger models.

These Tudor Submariner models, popular with the French Marine Nationale (and recently subject to a re-issue), are great in any size. However, if the 39/40mm dive watch size is too big for you, then this model is the perfect answer. It has all the classic dive Tudor DNA, but in a much more wearable size.

All watches are protected against mechanical failure under a 1 year warranty by Foundwell.