76200-Tudor-Prince-Day-Date-Royal-Blue

Royal Blue 76200 Tudor Prince Day-Date

If you’ve always dreamt of a steel Day-Date, and many of us have, they do exist. Just perhaps not where you might expect. Arguably, Tudor’s Day-Date is just as attractive if a little less historic, something of a vice-president. The 76200 Prince Day-Date debuted in the early 1990s only to be shortly discontinued in many markets . . .then continued only the US after the big brand relaunch in around 2013. The result is a relatively uncommon 36mm steel Day-Date with a non-fluted bezel smooth as a Gigi Hadid’s forehead. However, this example is made substantially less ubiquitous by its royal blue dial, a rarely seen variant.

76200-Tudor-Prince-Day-Date-Royal-Blue

The Oyster Prince Date+Day, colloquially known as the Tudor Day-Date, began as usual Tudor value take on the popular president in 1969 with the ref. 7017/0. The line has always had an appeal all its own, continued in this neo/modern reference. First, there’s the case: smaller, thinner, and in steel, the Prince case wears supremely well. Value optimization for the shield has led to folded end links, a non-locking clasp, and no AR crystal. In addition, as if more charm were needed, the lugs are drilled. These could be seen as detractors by some, but do lend a bit of vintage feel to those of us used to that sort of thing.

76200-Tudor-Prince-Day-Date-Royal-Blue

The 76200 is underpinned by an ETA 2834, which, in addition to steel construction, meant that its original ask was about 1/10th of the equivalent Day-Date proper. These blue dials pop up in the market about once a month and have been slowly climbing in value, a rather quiet corner of watch appreciation that is steadily growing. There’s a lot to be said for Tudor, even in the lesser appreciated ‘pre-US’ neo-vintage era that many disparage. This 76200 is a solid offering in value, beauty, and light exclusivity. Oh, and this one’s got an Italian day wheel. All for less than a Tudor Royal . . .which never stood a chance.

76200-Tudor-Prince-Day-Date-Royal-Blue

This example has a strong case as far as I can tell from the images. Full lugs, light surface wear evenly distributed across its exterior. The dial is clear of damage, all luminova pips still there. It comes as a naked watch from a small retailer out of Italy on Chrono.

Find this royal blue 76200 here on Chrono24 for 3150 EUR.