Rolex

amanico
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The TUDOR Submariner Marine Nationale Ref 94010.

We very often post topics about the Military Submariners or the Comex, as Legendary Rolex Watches.

Of course, they deserve such posts, and admiration, but if History makes these watches so exciting, there is another contender to consider, the Tudor Submariner.

Our Good Old Dr Strong made a review about them, to give them the Justice and the place they deserve, and I highly recommend you to read it, if it is not already done:

rolex.watchprosite.com

Here, I will focuse on one model, the Ref 94010, which was the latest Tudor Submariner used by the French Marine, from 1975 to 1983.

This reference, as you know, came with 2 different blue dials.

The round and triangular indexes:



Or the Snow Flakes:



I was recently seduced by this reference, and I really wonder why it was not an older love.

If you think about it, I don't see why the Military Rolex are much more prestigious than the Military Tudor.

The movement?

Well, the Rolex have an in house movement, indeed, while the Tudor house an ETA automatic movement, the Cal 2776, offering an hacking second, and a power reserve of 38 hours.

The ETA is extremely reliable and accurate, as well as its Rolex contender, and I don't see it as a " poor man's choice ".

The Finish?

The Tudor and the Rolex share a lot of common points, such as the case, the crown, the case back, and to make it short, only the movement, and the layout of the dial and hands make the difference.





As for the dial, the snow flakes seems to have a conventional finish, except its color and the original square shape of the indexes and hour / second hand, while the other dial, I mean, with the round indexes, seems to receive a superior finish, a kind of laquered or enameled finish, instead of the " Snow Flakes " matt blue dial.

So, once again, I don't see the finish as a relevant point to explain the difference in prestige between Military Rolex and Tudor.

No, in fact, I much see a psychologic factor, due to the name...Rolex is and will always be Rolex, while Tudor has to be more known, its history, the quality of the Tudor watches.

But the History of the Tudor Military watches- which were truely used as toolwatches- is not less prestigious than the History of the Comex or the Military Rolex watches, as we'll see later.

So, may a kind of snobism explain the difference?



Among these 2 Ref 94010, I decided to go for the ...



Snow Flakes!

It appeared to me that the round and triangular indexes, although beautiful, very elegant, were also a bit too close to its Sister, the Rolex Submariner .

The Snow Flakes give a total different look, more original, more " macho ", " bad boy ", masculine, which perfectly makes echo to the use of this watch.



It is funny how a watch can change with such small details as a Blue dial and differently shaped indexes...

Here, the TUDOR M.N with the famous 5508...A Myth to come versus a Myth?



You still have, of course the classic and timeless Submariner case, strong and elegant, and the big crown you can find on the modern Subs, but the blue dial and these strange indexes and hands reinforce the strength of this watch.

The domed plexy adds some warmth and sweetness to this brutal watch.

The creamy indexes contrast with the blue matt dial, in a very appealing way.





Of course, as on the the Comex, you have, on the case back, a number,which is not a serial number, but which indicates the year of the dotation.

The " Magic Number ":



As you can see on the background used for these pcitures, the watch came with the " Marine Nationale " Register, with all the references of the Military Tudor ( and not only Tudor ) watches which were serviced.

But there was also another kind of paper, smaller, which was delivered when the watch was decommissioned ( Sorry, don't know who to credit for this picture )



My Tudor was used by the ENSM which stands for " Ecole de Navigation Sous Marine ", created in 1916, whose mission is to insure the formation and the training of the Military Submariners Crews.

Here the Logo used by this School ":



( Informations and picture taken from the French Ministery of Defense, in French, sadly ) :

www.defense.gouv.fr

Other Tudor watches with the same reference ( or different ) were used by the Prestigious Elite Corps Commando Hubert, the Groupe De Plongeurs Démineurs, the Saint Mandrier Base Aeronautiqe Navale, the Mine Hunter LYRE, and some others...

So, yes, these Tudor have a real History!

As every Submariner, it is a very pleasant watch to wear, and if you add the blue dial and bezel, and the History behind, you just have a ...Winner.



Best to All,

Nicolas