Tudor - Prince Oysterdate - 90500 - Men - 1970-1979

Tudor Prince Oysterdate 90500 – 34 mm – automatic – blue dial – date – Rolex Oyster case – vintage

The Tudor Prince Oysterdate 90500 is a classic vintage automatic Tudor with the recognizable Oyster construction from the period when Tudor heavily used Rolex case components. This example pairs a 34 mm stainless steel case with a deep blue dial, applied hour markers, date display with cyclops, and a stainless Oyster-style bracelet.

The blue dial bears the Tudor shield at 12 o’clock and the inscriptions “TUDOR PRINCE OYSTERDATE” and “ROTOR SELF-WINDING.” The screw-down crown is equipped with the Rolex crown logo and on the case back there is the classic text “ORIGINAL OYSTER CASE BY ROLEX GENEVA.”

The watch is in worn vintage condition. The case, bracelet, clasp, dial, and the plexiglass show signs of use and aging appropriate for a watch from this period.

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Basic information

Brand: Tudor
Model: Prince Oysterdate
Reference: 90500
Type: men’s/unisex wristwatch
Movement: automatic mechanical
Caliber: Tudor/ETA 2784
Case material: stainless steel
Diameter: 34 mm, excluding crown
Dial: blue
Crystal: plexiglass
Date: at 3 o’clock
Date magnification: cyclops
Band: stainless steel Oyster-style bracelet
Clasp: fold-over clasp
Crown: screw-down Rolex Oyster crown
Case back: screw-down Oyster case back
Frequency: 28,800 bph

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Important details

• Classic Tudor Prince Oysterdate from the vintage Oyster era
• Reference 90500
• 34 mm stainless steel case
• Deep blue dial
• Applied Tudor shield at 12 o’clock
• Applied baton indices
• Central seconds hand
• Automatic mechanical movement
• Date window at 3 o’clock
• Cyclops magnifier over the date
• Screwed crown with Rolex crown logo
• Case back marked “ORIGINAL OYSTER CASE BY ROLEX GENEVA”
• Stainless Oyster-style bracelet
• Clasp with Rolex crown logo
• Vintage plexiglass

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Estimated year of manufacture

Estimated year: circa late 1970s / around 1980.

The Tudor Prince Oysterdate reference 90500 belongs to a generation mainly known from the 1970s and around 1980. Without a clearly readable serial number or original documentation, an exact production year cannot be assigned.

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Case

The classic Oyster case is made of stainless steel and has a diameter of 34 mm excluding the crown.

The case has the characteristic proportions of vintage Tudor and Rolex Oyster models: a relatively slim round mid-case, flowing lugs, and a smooth polished bezel.

The polished surfaces show signs of use and fine scratches. Also around the lugs and edges there are marks from years of wear. The case nevertheless retains a neat and attractive vintage appearance.

Diameter: 34 mm
Material: stainless steel
Bezel: smooth, polished
Construction: Oyster-style case
Case back: screw-down
Crown: screw-down

Given the age of the watch, no guarantees for original water resistance are provided. A pressure test is recommended before exposing the watch to water.

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Dial

One of the most striking features of this example is the deep blue dial.

The color varies depending on light, from dark marine blue to clearly brighter blue. Around the outer edge is a fine white minute/second track.

At 12 o’clock sits an applied Tudor shield. Below it read:

TUDOR
PRINCE OYSTERDATE

Above 6 o’clock reads:

ROTOR
SELF-WINDING

At the bottom is the Swiss designation.

The hours are indicated by applied baton markers. The markers have a warm gold/cream tone and the luminous material shows noticeable aging.

The hands are also equipped with luminous material. The lume has developed vintage patina over the years.

There are light signs of aging and wear on the dial. These are mainly visible up close and suit the watch’s vintage character.

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Date

The date display is at 3 o’clock.
Above the date window is a characteristic cyclops magnifier in the plexiglass, greatly enlarging the date digit.

This is one of the most recognizable features of the classic Oysterdate version.

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Movement

The watch is equipped with an automatic mechanical movement from the Tudor Prince Oysterdate series.

Caliber: Tudor/ETA 2784
Winding: automatic
Frequency: 28,800 bph
Functions: hours, minutes, central seconds, and date

The ETA 2784 belongs to the automatic movements Tudor used in this generation of Prince Oysterdate models.

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Timegrapher measurement

During the performed measurement the watch showed the following values:

Rate: +45 seconds per day
Amplitude: 261°
Beat error: 0.1 ms
Lift angle: 52.0°
Frequency: 28,800 bph

The amplitude and beat error are reasonably good, but the rate of about +45 seconds per day is clearly high. For a buyer seeking more accurate daily rate, regulation and possibly technical service are recommended.

A timegrapher reading is always a snapshot in a single position and does not guarantee future accuracy or the technical condition of the movement.

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Crystal

The watch features a domed plexiglass with cyclops over the date.
The plexiglass shows signs of use, including fine scratches and minor marks. The domed profile gives the watch the characteristic vintage Oyster look.
Plexiglass can usually be relatively easily re-polished if a smoother appearance is desired.

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Crown

The screw-down crown bears the Rolex crown logo.
This detail fits the period when Tudor used Rolex Oyster case components for various Prince Oysterdate models.
The crown has a grooved outer edge for grip when operating and screwing down.

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Case back

The stainless back is screw-down and around it is the characteristic engraving:

ORIGINAL OYSTER CASE BY ROLEX GENEVA

This marking is an interesting historical detail and emphasizes the close technical relationship between Tudor and Rolex in this generation of watches.
The case back shows clear superficial scratches and signs of wear, appropriate for the age and use of the watch.

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Bracelet and clasp

The watch is set on a stainless steel Oyster-style bracelet with three rows of links.
The clasp is a classic steel folding clasp with the Rolex crown logo. Inside are Rolex markings as well.
The bracelet and clasp show normal to clear signs of wear, including fine scratches and wear to the brushed and polished surfaces.
The current configuration fits a wrist of approximately 19–20 cm.
With vintage bracelets, some play and stretch between links can occur after long-term use.

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Condition

Case: worn vintage condition with scratches and signs of use
Bezel: light to normal signs of wear
Dial: attractive blue with visible aging/use signs
Indices: vintage patina present
Hands: aging signs and discoloration of luminous material
Crystal: signs of use and fine scratches
Crown: Rolex-signed, with signs of wear
Case back: clear superficial scratches
Bracelet: worn with signs of use
Clasp: signs of wear and fine scratches
Movement: functional during the measurement
Rate: around +45 seconds per day

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Overall condition

A characterful vintage Tudor Prince Oysterdate 90500 in 34 mm, with an attractive deep blue dial and the characteristic Oyster-details from this period.

The combination of the Tudor shield, the blue dial, the domed plexiglass with cyclops, the Rolex-signed crown and clasp, and the case back with “ORIGINAL OYSTER CASE BY ROLEX GENEVA” gives this watch the classic look for which older Tudor Prince models are known.

The watch shows clear signs of wear and has not hidden its age: there are scratches, signs of aging and patina. The measured rate of approximately +45 seconds per day is also a point of consideration, and regulation or maintenance may be desired. It is offered as an authentically looking vintage used watch with visible character, rather than as a cosmetically new specimen.