Tudor Has Revived a '70s Classic for This Year's Only Watch Auction Event

At one of the year’s most anticipated and exclusive watch events, Tudor has something special for collectors and aficionados. The watch brand is joining the Only Watch 2023 charity auction by celebrating a classic chronograph from the ‘70s with a modern twist. Tudor is using a brand-new prototype Manufacture Chronograph Calibre, which was fully developed from the ground up by the manufacture. It is housed in a unique 18-carat solid yellow gold case called the “Big Block” Chronograph. 

Tudor is known for making reasonably priced and reliable timepieces using stainless steel or titanium. On this rare occasion, it challenges tradition by using solid 18-carat gold with the return of its “Big Block” Chronograph. Released in 1976, it was the brand’s first model to use an automatic chronograph movement. For the auction timepiece dubbed as “Prince Chronograph One,” Tudor will be the first to use a brand-new Manufacture Chronograph Calibre it entirely developed on its own. The prototype of this calibre labelled as movement “Number 0” in the development process will be found inside the Tudor Prince Chronograph One.

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The new Calibre MT59XX features a column-wheel construction and meets all the Tudor Manufacture Calibre performance standards including a Swiss chronometer certification by COSC, the Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute. The 42mm 18-carat yellow gold case has chamfering and square crown guards and solid gold case back with matching solid gold bracelet. Inside, it features a unique black lacquered dial with sunken gold counters with “Prince Chronograph” printed above the six o’clock counter. Another first for Tudor’s recent history is the return of the “Prince” name aside from the rebirth of a popular classic Tudor Chronograph.

Photo by Tudor.

Also unique is the mainplate engraved with “MT59XX” and marked on the gear train bridge is the signature of Kenissi. This Kenissi markings are not found on standard production Tudor watches and is only specifically reserved for development phase movements. Kenissi Manufacture is Tudor’s movement production facility, which was founded in 2016. It is connected to Tudor’s new state of the art facility in Le Locle, Switzerland.

The watch is listed as Lot 58 and Ony Watch estimates the hammer price to be between CHF25,000 to CHF35,000 ($28,650 to $40,105, or P1.6 million to P2.2 million). Interested bidders can check out the Only Watch auction website.

Photo by Tudor.

Only Watch is a biennial charity auction of unique timepieces created and donated by only the most sought-after brands and watchmakers to raise funds for research on Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and neuromuscular diseases. Seats to the auction are mostly reserved for bidders, participating brands and some media outlets. To see these rare one-off timepieces, the Only Watch 2023 collection will have an exhibition tour in key cities worldwide from September to November. The auction takes place at Palexpo, Geneva on November 5, 2023.