THE ESSENTIALS

MAKE: TUDOR
MODEL: 79260
YEAR: 1999
BOX/PAPERS: YES/NO
CASE DIAMETER: 40mm
CASE MATERIAL: STAINLESS STEEL
BRACELET MATERIAL: STAINLESS STEEL
MOVEMENT: AUTOMATIC

When talking about vintage and neo-vintage Tudors, the first thing that comes to mind is probably their divers—deservedly so. However, Tudor also has a rich heritage in chronographs, dating back to the 1970s. Their first design was arguably the most iconic: the "Monte Carlo" 7000 series. This example, the ref. 79260, was introduced over two decades later, at a time when Tudor had fallen somewhat into obscurity before its recent resurgence. It also marked a period when Tudor began distancing itself from direct Rolex branding—this model was named "Prince Date" instead of "Oyster Date."

Nevertheless, few can deny how cool these neo-vintage Tudor chronographs are. This watch features a 40mm case and is powered by the robust Valjoux 7750 movement. The "reverse panda" dial design and the aluminum tachymeter bezel are both simple yet classy. The watch has been kept in fantastic condition, with no marks on the dial and only light wear on the case. The original full-link 62490 bracelet is in equally good condition.

The watch comes with its original box and is running beautifully at +4 s/d, with 275 amplitude and a 0.2 ms beat error—ready for its next adventure.