7928, Gloss Dial Submariner, Steel

This ref. 7928 Submariner has all the details that make vintage special, in spades. First, it's a bit special. This is a full gloss dial with gilt track. Yes, Tudor made a glossy dial for (approximately) just one year in production, stacked between two matte dials, in 1966. The accepted serial range is 506-598XXX, and this example tracks at 507. This means you get a rose dial, smiley text, and old-style gloss dial construction with gilt. It's a niche collector's Sub, but when it catches reflections just right it's also magic to look at.

But vintage is surely all about history, patina, depth. Well, buckle up. The owner of this 7928 kept its full set together throughout its life, which ties in to its insanely cool case patina. The papers note delivery to what looks like a US military PX address, in 1968. But it's the case that tells the full story, which is hand-engraved 'JR McCONNELL', as was standard practice for watches of US military servicemen at the time. The engraving is rough stylistically, but so light that we had to drastically sharpen the image in post to get it show up. It wouldn't have lasted on a polishing wheel, which means we can also say with some certainty that these lugs are not touched: thick, beveled, and hard-worn.

We all love Submariners for their practicality, beauty, and history. There's no way we'll ever known just what this one went through, but it wears its life on its skin with grace and pride, almost like a hard-earned unit patch. Every millimeter of its exterior is hard worn and original, with small marks all over the crystal, bezel, and original stretch rivet bracelet (seriously, there's nothing as comfortable). How it managed to keep its tritium bezel pearl we'll also never know. But its one of the most complete and interesting Subs we've had in. If one wanted to show a new watch enthusiast the charm of vintage, there would be few more persuasive watches. It's taken on 57 years of sheer adventure and is ready for wherever you take it next.

This example presents in excellent overall condition, particularly considering hard use and age. The gloss dial is lovely, with no spidering or damage. There is the tiniest bit of patina in the lacquer, just tiny marks of age, which we've tried to capture in macro photography. A perfectly preserved gilt minute track. Its hands and dial present original tritium, which falls off evenly under UV. The hands are just ever so slightly more grey, which is normal to see a slightly different aging. Its bezel has ghosted fully, and rotates perfectly. There's a small dent in the crystal at one and small dent in the case under the signature, which we're about to cover. The case is in our opinion unpolished, with very defined but hard worn bevels. The case side opposite its crown is hand-engraved 'JR McCONNELL', which was tradition at the time for US military. The case sports moderate to heavy surface wear, but totally original shape. It comes on its original Rolex 'U.S.A. Made' C+I Oyster 'Stretch Rivet' bracelet which is the tightest we've ever seen, with full links stamped 1-64. Most impressively, the Submariner includes its original box and papers, with papers noting delivery to what looks like a US military PX address.

This watch is modeled on a relatively large 7.7 inch wrist.