Vintage Tudor 7021/0 Submariner "Snowflake"
 
What we love so much about this watch:
Snowlflake hands, fantastic dial and lume patina, meters first dial, T-Swiss-T, and a flat link oyster bracelet make this one of our favorite watches. In addition, the bezel has aged to a light ghost grey blue color.
 
This is the watch that has defined the design language of the latest generations of Tudor watches. It brings all the best parts of a vintage Rolex Submariner, but with much more character and uniqueness. The condition of this watch is wonderful from a collector's perspective.
 
The "meters first" dial boasts a distinctive light patina with strong vintage charm to this timepiece. The Tudor Submariner 7021 with "200m" followed by "660ft" on the dial is known as a "meters first" watch. This designation refers to the order in which the depth rating is presented: meters before feet. The switch from "meters first" to "feet first" can be seen as a Rolex and Tudor changed their market targeting, with the "feet first" designation catering more to the U.S. market, where the imperial system is used.
 
T SWISS T" marking found below the 6 o'clock marker this watch has an important historical significance related to the luminescent material used on the dial. The "T" in "T SWISS T" stands for tritium. Tritium is a weak radioactive isotope of hydrogen that was used to create luminescence on watch dials and hands. When painted onto watch dials and hands, tritium would glow in the dark. Before tritium, radium was the primary radioactive material used for luminescence. Watches with radium lume typically just bore the "SWISS" marking. Due to the hazardous nature of radium (which is much more radioactive than tritium), its use was discontinued in the 1960s.
 
The lume is on this watch has aged to a creamy white with much texture on the markers.
 
The folded bracelet is light, has all links, and is in excellent condition. The folded link Oyster bracelets from Rolex and Tudor are iconic elements from the brand's mid-20th-century watch lineup. These bracelets, while relatively simple, are indicative of the era's manufacturing processes and carry with them certain charms and quirks that set them apart from the solid link bracelets of later years. Folded link bracelets were made from sheets of metal that were folded into shape to create the individual links of the bracelet. This is in contrast to modern solid link bracelets, which are made from solid pieces of metal.
 
Due to their construction, folded link bracelets tend to be lighter than solid link bracelets. While some may argue that they feel less substantial or premium compared to solid links, others find them to be more flexible and comfortable on the wrist. The lighter weight can be especially comfortable for daily wear.
 
Background to the Submariner 7021/0 "Snowflake"
Following the ref. 7928, Tudor launched their new generation of submariners: the ref. 7016/0 and 7021/0. Over seven years of production they transitioned to an ETA movement, they added a date display (ref. 7021), and developed several new dial variations. The 7021/0 featured an ETA cal. 2484 with 25-jewel movements.
 
The 7021 only had two dial types: the “Snowflake,” in blue and black. This is the first time we see a non-black submariner dial by Tudor and Rolex. The “Snowflake” was a nickname given by collectors due to the shape of the hour hand. It signified a new era for Tudor and set them on a path that diverged from the classic Rolex design. With the release of this unique and original design, Tudor would forge a new identity for themselves along with new contracts with a number of military outfits around the world.
 
The “Snowflake” was strongly influenced by the French Navy--known among aficionados as the Marine Nationale (MN) who preferred a watch that was easier to read when underwater. Tudor fashioned the square hour plots and large “Snowflake” hands for increased legibility in low light or murky conditions.
 
Today, the “Snowflake” has become a signature trait of Tudor’s line of modern sports watches. The rarest of the "Snowflake" dial variants and one of the rarest Tudor submariners overall.