TUDOR Prince Wristwatches

Guide to Preowned and Used TUDOR Prince Watches

The TUDOR Prince line was first introduced in 1952 as the TUDOR Oyster-Prince. Over the past 70 years, the line has evolved to include a variety of models and names. Today, you can easily find versions of the TUDOR Prince watch on the vintage and preowned market. 

TUDOR Prince History and Significance

After establishing the Montres TUDOR SA company in 1946, Hans Wilsdorf immediately created top-quality yet affordable watches. With the backing of its sister brand, Rolex (which he also founded), his collections resonated with clients around the world. 

In 1952, the brand rolled out the reliable, stylish TUDOR Oyster Prince — the first watch in what would become a long line of Prince watches. Wilsdorf endowed the Oyster Prince with two proprietary Rolex assets he had not used in any other TUDOR watch: the famed Rolex Oyster waterproof case and the original Rolex self-winding Perpetual rotor mechanism. This mechanism ensured great precision and high function in an affordable watch. 

With the introduction of the Oyster Prince, Wilsdorf also created a new advertising campaign that was markedly different from most of the ads at the time. The original concept did not show pictures of the watch as the centerpiece (although there is an inset picture of the watch). Instead it included a letter of endorsement from Wilsdorf emphasizing the quality of the watch and its association with Rolex. Later that year, 26 Oyster Prince watches were part of the British expedition to Greenland, a scientific trek organized by the Royal Navy.

That expedition was the impetus for the “robustness” campaign launched in 1953. It was based on tests done on the Oyster Prince for its endurance under extreme conditions (perhaps a lot like today’s chronometer tests). The ads showed drawings of people wearing the Oyster Prince while working in difficult situations. These included a coal miner who excavated for 252 hours and construction workers who spent a month riveting metal girders. This concept led to TUDOR’s focus on watches for people in daring and dangerous jobs.   

TUDOR Prince Variations

Following the Oyster Prince, the brand rolled out many different models in the ensuing years. In 1953 it released the Oyster Prince Tuxedo 7950 watch. The “Tuxedo” portion of the name actually came from collectors, who were referring to the two-color dial. The dial had four sectors painted in black enamel with white lines separating the sections and a white Oyster Prince logo. The black and white colors, along with its refined look, earned it the nickname.

In 1954 TUDOR unveiled the Oyster Prince Submariner dive watch that was water resistant to 100 meters. In 1958 the brand released a version water resistant to 200 meters. And in 1964 it produced a version of the Oyster Prince Submariner for the U.S. Navy. As with its earlier ad campaign using people with daring jobs, TUDOR selected rescue divers, rally drivers and other adventurers to showcase their TUDOR Prince watches. 

Also unveiled in the mid- to late 1960s was the TUDOR Oyster Prince Ranger watch. This watch first appeared in the brand catalog in 1969 and had the longest run — 20 years — of all the models. A 34mm version released in 1967, the TUDOR Auto Prince (Reference 7995), was powered by an ETA self-winding caliber. 

Another successful variation was the TUDOR Oyster Prince Date Day (Reference 7017), which debuted in 1969. Measuring 37.5mm in diameter, it was one of the largest Prince watches. The Prince Date Day continued to evolve and has been part of the TUDOR line since its unveiling, but only in certain parts of the world. As of 2019, it was available for sale in Hong Kong, according to a Rolex forum.  

TUDOR Prince Price, Value and Collectibility  

The TUDOR Prince line may be one of the easiest collections to find online today because it is primarily available only as secondhand and vintage pieces. As such, one may wonder if the TUDOR Prince is a good investment. The answer depends on the model being purchased.

The Date Day watches are the most sought after, but a couple of vintage 1960s watches are also in demand. These include the Tuxedo and the Auto Prince models. As of February 2021, the Prince watches ranged from about $1,000 to $5,000 on vintage sites. The average price is between $2,500 and $3,500. A few Prince watches in excellent condition with original boxes can be found for about $6,000.