Rolex

 I'm now the proud owner of the Black-Bay ancestor, a 94010 Submariner originally issued with this stunning dial/hands combo for only one year, every known examples throughout the world (a very few watches) being in the 8.8/beginning of the 8.9XXX serial range number.

This very small 94010 batch is now well documented in the "Tudor Anthology Book" edited by Mondani as you can see hereafter. 

I remember that when the first examples emerged, from different world areas,  many of us were skeptical about this dial/hands combo on a 94010 Submariner.

Many thought that this could only be a swap between dials/hands done by watchmakers during the watch services. 

However, too many facts were conclusive:

- The serial range of these specific examples, as said above.

- But above all, the fact that this specific dial with rectangular stick markers at 3, 6 and 9 O'clock was only fitted on the previous Tudor Submariner model, the 7016 Submariner.

If the 94010 Submariner also featured from 1980 to 1983 a round markers dial, it was with triangular 3, 6 and 9 markers only (see picture).

-And the ultimate proof is that these two dials are not interchangeable at all,  as some people suggested, for the simple reason that the  two models feature different ETA movements (2776 ETA for the 94010 Submariner and the 2483 ETA for the 7016 Submariner), which require that the feet of the dial are not positioned at the same place for each model!!! 

Thus it is impossible to fit a 7016 (3, 6 and 9 "stick markers") dial instead of a Snowflake 94010 dial as previously envisaged by some skeptical fellows.

No need to say that the specific 7016 Submariner round markers (that was furthermore discontinued) cannot have been modified by local watchmakers throughout the world for watches that are all in the same serial number range….:dummy:. (And as the regular triangular 3,6 9 stick markers round dial was easily available…).

- Another piece of evidence came from a Canadian Navy member who found  four Tudor issued Tudor Submariners (though not engraved) in an old box in his naval base, one of them being a round markers dial/Snowflake hands 94010 Submariner once again in the same serial number range.:thumbsup: 

My new baby:

The article on this very limited issued Tudor 94040 Sub in the "Tudor Anthology Book":

A picture of  the back of a 7016 Tudor Submariner (left) and of  a 94010 Submariner (right) dials. At first sight you see that it is not possible to  swap them…. 

The Canadian Navy 94010 round markers dial/Snowflake hands:

The specific triangular 3, 6, 9 stick markers of the 94010 round dial:

I checked the serial number of the Canadian Navy 94010 Tudor, it is only 89 watches ahead of mine… Not far away…

A canadian member of the Military Watch Forum, Lambstew, did some research about the Canadian Navy issued Tudor Submariners, I quote him:

Originally Posted by lambstew:

The issued Canadian Tudor submariners were not property marked. I've had 2 of these over the years and still retain one with the partially erased owner's rank & name engraved into the back (PO Cumberland)..(case serial number is found between the lugs)..

I've been in touch with Rolex Canada (Toronto) and spoken with the head person there about these and he confirmed for me that these were unmarked, the case serial number being the thing that was likely recorded, a practice not unlike issued Vietnam era and just post war US UDT/Navy Seal Tudor submariners.

Rolex recalls at least 3-4 orders of these being placed from the late 1970s-1990's..

Cheers,

Konrad

Originally Posted by  lambstew:

..now if we could only motivate Rolex Canada to go through their records and give us exact order numbers/dates and the serial numbers..At the time he was unwilling to go to the trouble but admitted the information was still on hand.

So the info is there, but Tudor may not be prepared to disclose the Canadian Navy issued Tudor Submariners serial numbers publicly...

But why in the world would I believe my Tudor Sub may have a military provenance you may say???:dummy:

Well, among other things, the serial number first, as said above, that is very close to the issued  Canadian Navy 94010 round dial markers/Snowflake hand that was discovered lately (January 2013) in a naval basis. 

But above all, a very strange and funny  characteristic of mine, that caught the attention of the previous owners,who first made this proposal.

-We often refer to  these watches by the "Tool-watch" nickname, meaning they were perfectly suited to intensive use. 

But in the case of my watch, one of the previous owner really and literally used the watch as a tool!!! 

More precisely, he used it as a……. HAMMER !!!

 As you can see in the pictures above, the watch is in terrific shape and beautifully preserved.:thumbsup:

But when you look at the case back, you can clearly see the marks left by the nails and the case back center deformation, due to the impacts….

Who on Earth would use a watch as a hammer to hit nails (or whatever piece of metal)???? These Tudor watches were not as expensive as they are nowadays, but still, they were expensive sport watches at that time compared to other brands…. And I have trouble seeing a civilian doing such a thing…..

I have another mint 94010 caseback, but finally I like these marks, I think they are worth any engraved case back, it is  part of the watch history, and I cherish the idea that  my watch was a "tool watch" for real. 

Now that it has retired, this watch deserves a quiet and peaceful life on my wrist. 

The "hammer head" caseback, picture taken by one of the previous owners, Krabong, from the "Time Keeper Forum". He was one of the first to investigate seriously about this dial/hands configuration, thanks to him:

I listed only seven of those Submariners  on the Internet so far  in the past recent years. The last one being sold for a very good price on VRF just a few days ago, but I guess the seller was not aware of the watch rarity:

 

This does not mean that rarity goes hand in hand with elevated crazy prices but that one was a real deal imho.

One of these seven peculiar Submariner I heard of (for now) is the property of a french friend of mine, that is just  incredible…. Same serial number range of course. 

I hope this post will allow for the emergence of others in the future, if you own one, please post it. 

This unheralded 94010 model is really endearing, combining a gorgeous Rolex  Submariner type  dial (  round an stick rectangular markers, like the previous 7016) with large readable Snowflake hands.

Two sisters  brought together by fate in France:

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