Dates of Tudor snowflakes

[actionkwj]

As I research birth year watches, I am becoming more enamored with snowflakes as more original and unique than their Rolex brethren. I see a wide range of dates on these and was curious when they were made/sold. Looks like they were available from the mid 60s to early 80s. Any feedback is appreciated.

Attached is an early year snowflake; pictured gratuitously taken from the bay just because a thread with no pics is not a thread worth reading!

And please share your early and late snowflakes!




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[harry in montreal]

68-81

[vintagewatch]

The last one I remember seeing back in day at a jewelry store was 1982. This one dates to 1974.

[jmsjabb]

This is also 1974. My birth year


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[Gina Marie]

@linesiders is the expert imho.....however i will try not to butcher what i have learned from him.

snowflakes were introduced in 68.....most of the early flakes will have semi pointed crown guards and swiss only dials. from about 69 onward they lost the spcg and went with the case that we all know and love. it has been my experience that the acne or cratering of the dials occurs from about 69 to 75ish......sadly it seems that the materials or methods used for tudor dials was not quite up to par with that of their more expensive cousins......hence the acne dials that we see. near or after the end of the /0 era, the dials seemed to be much more robust. Production ended around 81ish as was previously written.

blue dials command a premium over black. no dates command a premium over dates. I have three and can thank @linesiders for both stoking my passion and taking time out of his busy day to tudor me about Tudors:)

I hope you can find one. Sadly, like most other collectable watches they have risen in price pretty dramatically in the past few. I now see the market as such:

black date 5-6
blue date 6-7
black no date 7ish
blue no date 8ish

spcg command a premium of about 10 to 15%. original inserts are a must as they are hard to come by. Most were mark 3's. later blues and blacks had the flat 4 that we see but only on the 79 and later models. unpolished cases have a premium of about 10%.

be careful with replaced dials or service dials. They are hard to tell from the originals. However, spend a few years collecting and you will learn. Lean on this forum for assistance as there are some folks her that have forgotten more than i know. Good luck.

[Charles Underwood]

@Gina Marie thanks for the good read!

My birth watch 1971 :

[rolexjc]

Just realized I have the first and the last ones 68 & 81

[chuckblocker]

Friend's 94110. Love the patina :)

[Gina Marie]

Originally Posted by Charles Underwood

@Gina Marie thanks for the good read!

My birth watch 1971 :

love it....one of the nicest flat 4's i have ever seen....epic.

[Gina Marie]

Originally Posted by rolexjc

Just realized I have the first and the last ones 68 & 81

bookends.....very cool. Notice the difference in script on submariner from the early version to the later version and also the mrk 3 vs the flat 4. Very nice.

[Gina Marie]

Originally Posted by jmsjabb

This is also 1974. My birth year


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when exposed to a black light does the dial still glow on that one?

[jmsjabb]

Originally Posted by Gina Marie

when exposed to a black light does the dial still glow on that one?

Black light?
I have never seen it glow, sadly, but I love it to bits.
I also have the correct bracelet too I wear in winter, which was restored by Michael Young


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[Gina Marie]

Originally Posted by jmsjabb

Black light?
I have never seen it glow, sadly, but I love it to bits.
I also have the correct bracelet too I wear in winter, which was restored by Michael Young


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Take a flashlight and blast it for 15 seconds and then go into a very dark room and see if you have any glow at all.

[bazamu]

Originally Posted by chuckblocker

Friend's 94110. Love the patina :)

Hate to point this out here, mate, but this one has some issues. May want to pass that along to your friend.

[chuckblocker]

He'll not be happy, said he spent good coin for it. Bezel felt kinda wobbly but It's the only one I've seen, I thought it was a nice example. :)

[linesiders]

68-83-84ish

SOME early flaker were SWISS only, most T SWISS T

Originally Posted by chuckblocker

Friend's 94110. Love the patina :)

Better have your friend get it checked, hands, insert, are certain fakes, dial 90% certain fake - need a clear photo to be sure, no crimping on the back of crown and frankly don't like the case.

Originally Posted by bazamu

Hate to point this out here, mate, but this one has some issues. May want to pass that along to your friend.

^^^ This

[offrdmania]

Originally Posted by chuckblocker

Friend's 94110. Love the patina :)

Uh oh, looks like a too good to be true eBay special

[harry in montreal]

The old long second hand and fat minute handset.

[chuckblocker]

I am seeing the issues now :) I will point him to this thread, lol.

[Charles Underwood]

love it....one of the nicest flat 4's i have ever seen....epic.

Thank you, in fact in the beginning i was looking for a period correct insert but the one(s) i found were absolutely not as warm/good looking as this later one.

[jacobs]

Tudor Snowflake 1981

https://imgur.com/a/XWNDs9d

[harry in montreal]

I think you just upvoted a second 2 year old question

[mineral]

Agreed that they are getting more popular and quite difficult to come by nowadays.

The early snowflake is really nice especially the blue one. The blue insert will fade and become light blue lavender color. Look really nice in person.




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[J!m]

I have a very nice 78 black dial 9411 and a rotten dial 1976 9411 that needs a few more pieces to be complete.

I like these more than my 1680!