Vintage
DrStrong's detailed review of the Tudor "Homeplate" chronograph, specifically his one-owner reference 7032, offers a deep dive into a highly coveted vintage timepiece. This article not only showcases the watch's unique aesthetic and historical significance but also synthesizes community insights on its collecting appeal and distinguishing features. DrStrong's personal journey of acquiring this rare chronograph provides valuable context for collectors interested in early Tudor chronographs.
I have already presented the early Tudor chronographs in a previous review of my Monte Carlo ref. 7159:
Recently, I have been lucky enough to replace my Monte Carlo by a one-owner Tudor Porsche chronograph ref. 7032 and I am proud to present you this watch in details.
History
The Tudor Porsche - also nicknamed Homeplate - is the first Tudor chronograph; it was lauched in 1970 under references 7031 and 7032, depending on the type of bezel: bakelite or a fixed metal. Reference 7033 covers the prototype turnable bezel design seen in the new re-edition. The dial has the “homeplate shaped” 5 sided lume dots and exists in a black or grey color.
The watch was reissued in 2010 under the name “Tudor Heritage”, again with a black or grey dial:
The vintage Tudor 7033 and the 2010 Heritage re-edition
The watch is powered by a hand wound Valjoux calibre 7734, which is definitely not the most beautiful chronograph movement ever designed !
Valjoux 7734 movement used in the Tudor Homeplate (photo: Savoy Truffle)
The production of the watch was stopped in 1972: this is a very short production run, very seldomly seen in Rolex production line. Because of its unique design an rarity, this watch is considered as a “holy grail” for lots of Rolex/Tudor collectors.
From approx 1973, the next generation of the two registers arrived under references 7149, 7159 and 7169. Again, these watches were only produced over a very short time period.
Tudor Monte Carlo ref. 7159
The watch in Details
The watch is characterized by a large 39mm case with a brushed finish metal tachymeter bezel.
The winding crown and pushers are identical to the Rolex Cosmograph of the same era (ref. 6263/6265), but the watch is larger and thicker. The chronograph pushers are the famous mk1 pushers that you only find on the very early Rolex/Tudor chronographs. The watch is water proof to 5 bars / 50 meters, the pushers may not be operated under water
The thick crown guards add to the character and bulkiness of the case, which has thick massive lugs.
The cyclop on the crystal is usually seen at three o clock on the Rolex Submariner or Datejust in order to magnify the date. It is located at six o clock on this watch and to my eyes it gives a lot of vintage charm to the piece. It also sort of balances the dial, which has the metal shield on top and the two subdials on each side. This feature will remain on the following Monte Carlo chronograph.
The dial is very colourful and has a lot of nice 1970’s details to look at. This is the main difference with the Rolex Cosmograph, which had a much more classical and conventional design. The display of the dial and the colors used for the Homeplate are really sexy and definitely unique - in the Rolex tradition at least - and make this watch very desirable. The unconventional shapes of the indexes and the hands add a lot of sex appeal to the watch. Unfortunately, they have disappeared in the later Tudor chronographs. Ref. 7159 for instance has a more conventional dial and hands design.
I have the original bracelet, a folded Rolex Oyster ref. 7836, with the correct 2.70 date code. It’s like new and I prefer not to wear it, as it can get stretch quite easily.
Fakes
Like most rare Tudor/Rolex watches, the Porsche chronograph has been faked. In most cases, a vintage 7734 movement is fitted in a fake case, with also a fake dial and set of hands. You can observe lots of differences with the original on the case, bezel, dial and hand finishing.
This message has been edited by DrStrong on 2013-04-04 04:38:02 This message has been edited by DrStrong on 2013-04-08 09:58:34
The GMT Master reference 6542 was introduced in 1955 as a specialized tool watch for pilots. It is notable for its dual time zone complication, achieved through a rotating 24-hour bezel and an independently adjustable 24-hour hand. This reference marks the initial iteration of the GMT Master line, establishing the core functionality and aesthetic that would define subsequent models. Its development addressed the need for a watch capable of displaying multiple time zones simultaneously, a requirement that emerged with the advent of intercontinental air travel.
The 6542 features a 38mm stainless steel case, housing the automatic caliber 1036. This movement provides a power reserve of approximately 42 hours. The watch is fitted with an acrylic crystal and offers a water resistance of 50 meters. Early examples of the 6542 are distinguished by a Bakelite bezel insert, which was later replaced by an aluminum insert due to durability concerns. The dial is typically black, often featuring gilt printing on early examples.
This reference holds significance for collectors as the foundational model of the GMT Master series. Its distinct characteristics, particularly the early Bakelite bezels and specific dial configurations, are key points of interest. The 6542 represents the original design intent for a pilot's GMT watch, making it a reference point for understanding the evolution of the model line. Variants exist with different bezel materials and dial details, contributing to its collectibility.
Joke apart, these Tudor Chronos are very sensual, the 7159 or this one. Sensual and powerful. It is funny to see how they became Cult Chronographs. Thanks for the nice post, Jeff. Best, Nicolas
Yes, it works! Best, Nicolas
Fascinating detail Jeff.....congratulations on the watch. I have to say, as you know, I have owned a 7031 Homeplate in the past... but alas let it get about a year ago.
....and a beautiful example in any case. Thanks for the kind words.
I find the look is cleaner, while Purists may well prefer the bakelite bezel... Strange! Best, Nicolas
...somehow kills the black outside minute track of the dial.
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