Tudor Oyster Air-Tiger

Smaller, midcentury Tudor watches may be one of the last realms of “affordable Rolex.” Hear us out: Vintage Tudor have always had somewhat of a following, but in terms of enthusiasm and price, it paled in comparison to Rolex. However, the times, they are a changin’, and vintage Tudors are now extremely sought-after. Snowflakes and Monte Carlo chronographs have been hot for some time, but one of the most exciting and dynamic parts of the Tudor market are the simpler Oyster Princes and Oyster Precision analogs, which are being “found” after decades hiding in the backs of drawers, garnering the attention that these beauties deserve. This particular watch, a reference 7957 Oyster Air-Tiger, is emblematic of the simple, utilitarian (and beautiful) designs Tudor was debuting in the mid-20th century. (The Air Tiger was part of a series of watches honoring the British pilots who gallantly defended English skies during the Battle of Britain, and was made by both Tudor and Rolex.) Dating to circa 1964, it features a 35mm stainless steel case with 'holey lugs,' an acrylic crystal, a Rolex signed crown, a polished steel bezel, and sunburst silver Tritium dial with applied indices and matching 'alpha' handset. Though many 35mm Tudors — and indeed, Rolexes — featured automatic movements, this particular gem is a manually wound watch, meaning the case is particularly thin and disappears easily under a cuff. If you’re the type of person who enjoys the ritual of winding your watch every day (as we certainly do here at Analog:Shift), then this is the right watch for you. Nab this affordable piece of the Rolex pie before anyone’s the wiser!