7159/0 Tudor Monte Carlo
There are surprisingly few watches which will get you ‘the nod’ from knowledgable collectors. Often, all a watch says about its wearer is ‘I have money.’ More interesting, to me, is a watch which says about its wearer ‘I have painstakingly studied this subject and/or developed a personal taste within it.’ The 7159/0, one of Tudor’s earliest chronographs, is definitely the latter. This is not to say that one should make purchases for external reasons, quite the contrary. This is only to say that the reference is unlikely to be found on the wrist of that annoying friend you have who works in mid-level finance. For that alone, and innumerable other charms, this icon of Tudor with its bright color palette has solidified its place among the Wilsdorf family greats.
The 7159/0 is a descendant of the first-ever Tudor chronographs, the ‘Home Plate’ series, slightly more bold in accents. The reference garnered its moniker for its similarity to the roulette tables of Monaco, with orange, white, grey, and black track details. I want to say that this is a Daytona for people with with taste, but that’s a bit extreme and I still lust for a 6240. Let’s just say this is a discreet Wilsdorf chronograph, for watch people alone to enjoy.
With a 40mm steel oyster case and column-wheel Valjoux 234, the components are somewhere generic. However, this watch is more than the sum of its parts. Moreover, this 234 calibre was the first to feature a non-cam driven chronograph and a higher beat rate. Moreover, there is one detail which draws colossal enthusiasm from the detail-obsessed Rolex crowd: it has its own unique style of squared-off crown guards. Pair that with an oyster-case and its screw-down pushers to create something of a spectacular chrono-side silhouette.
There is a clear prioritization among Tudor and Rolex collectors for strong cases. That preserved proportion, this one has—with an original 7836 bracelet. The dial is equally a stand out with its clear dial and cream tritium plots evenly yellowed/matched. I love that the bezel only proudly displays light surface scratches with no serious nocks visible. I can only look from a distance with admiration for this example. It comes from a well-regarded small retailer.
Find this 7159/0 here from Voys Timeless for 19500 EUR.