The Tudor Prince Oysterdate Ref. 7966/0 is a charming vintage timepiece from the 1960s that captures the essence of Tudor’s early identity—blending Rolex heritage with unique character. Housed in a 36mm Oyster case with a matte black dial featuring the coveted “small rose” logo and smiley self-winding text, it offers automatic convenience over its Rolex counterpart like the 6694. Powered by an automatic movement and fitted with an aftermarket bracelet, the watch retains tritium lume plots, a screw-down Rolex crown, and vintage aesthetics that resonate with collectors. With its shared DNA and design details from Rolex but a distinct Tudor twist, this watch stands as an underrated gem in the vintage watch world.
Tudor was founded back in 1926 to help Rolex expand in the UK. It was meant to be a more accessible alternative, but still carried a lot of R0lex DNA—like using the same cases and crowns. The name “Tudor” was inspired by the famous Tudor dynasty, which definitely helped it click with the British crowd. What really makes vintage Tudor stand out are the cool design details—especially the rose logo. Models like the “Big Rose” and “Small Rose” are collector favorites because, while they share parts with Rolex, they still have that distinct Tud0r vibe. Eventually, Tud0r moved to a shield logo, signaling its shift into becoming a brand with its own identity. Before Tudor became the powerhouse it is today, it quietly sat in Rolex’s shadow — quietly building some of the coolest tool watches of the 20th century. This vintage piece? Proof that underdogs age well. With below the price of 6694 (which still manual winding), the 7966 osterdate Tudor provide more functionality with automatic movement (self-winding “smiley” signature). The matte black “small rose” dial is in exceptional condition, remaining very clean with the only signs of age being around the most outer edge of the dial and not visible to the naked eye. The tritium lume plots all remain intact.
