THE ESSENTIALS
MAKE: TUDOR
MODEL: 76100
YEAR: 1984
BOX/PAPERS: NO/NO
CASE DIAMETER: 40mm
CASE MATERIAL: STAINLESS STEEL
BRACELET MATERIAL: STAINLESS STEEL
MOVEMENT: AUTOMATIC
For those in the know, collecting vintage Tudor Submariners can bring just as much joy—if not more—than collecting their Rolex counterparts. Unlike its bigger brother, known for a slow and steady design approach, Tudor was far more experimental and daring, leaving us with a catalog of Subs featuring diverse dial and design variations, each with its unique character.
In 1983-84, Tudor entered a transitional period, marking the end of the Snowflake era and a reset of their serial numbers. Many later Tudor Subs, such as the 79090, feature Mercedes-style hour hands and circular hour markers, similar to pre-Snowflake models like the 7928. However, not everyone realises that Tudor produced a transitional model for just one year: the 76100, also known as the "Lollipop."
The 76100 superseded the 94110, featuring an upgraded ETA 2824-2 movement and a completely redesigned dial. The circular and triangular hour markers replaced the square markers of the Snowflake era and continued in later models like the 79090. However, sharp-eyed collectors will notice a unique detail: the hour hand lacks the traditional Mercedes design and instead sports a plain circle, resembling a "lollipop." This subtle but significant detail gives the 76100 a distinctly playful and unconventional look, unlike any other Tudor or Rolex Submariner.
The present example has had an easy life; the case remains unpolished, with robust lugs, crown guard, and original chamfers. The dial is pristine, and the tritium lume has developed a beautiful cream patina. It comes on a brand-new Tudor 78500/380 bracelet and performs exceptionally well at +3 s/d, 280 amplitude, with a 0.2 ms beat error following a recent service.
Despite its rarity, the 76100 remains an excellent value compared to both earlier and later models (we don’t know why). It’s one of our favourite models here at Fathom, and we doubt you’ll find a better example than this.