Tudor Submariner Ref. 7021/0 - Blue 'Snowflake' W/ 'Roulette' Date Unpolished

The Submariner, namely those produced by Rolex, has long been considered the cream of the crop when it comes to watch collecting as a whole. Possibly the most iconic watch ever produced, the Submariner has long standing utilitarian roots that span decades, and everyone who’s anyone has been spotted wearing one. However, if you look deeper into the Submariner line, you may find a less known but just as incredible model manufactured by Tudor.

These pieces are not only more unique and uncommon than the traditional Submariner, but offer a more fun, playful design — particularly with the blue-dialed variants with a pop of red in the 'Roulette' date wheel like the example that we have here.

This example, a Ref. 7021/0, dates to circa 1971 and is known as a 'Snowflake' for it's distinctive hands and indices. In recent years, these have developed a cult following with collectors and have become one of the more sought after and collectible vintage Tudor Submariner References. This particular example comes to us with a fantastic unpolished case, with clear and prominent factory chamfers and normal signs of wear from age. It comes fitted to a later Oyster bracelet with a Rolex signed blade clasp, which also remains unpolished and shows matching wear. The standout feature with this piece, however, is that blue dial. For a short time, the early blue 'Snowflakes' around this era developed a wild, 'textured' surface, resulting in an almost 'lunar'-like appearance. This one retains a deep blue color, with its characteristic square Tritium plots showing a fitting patina throughout with some variance in the color. The equally characteristic handset matches beautifully. As if the dial wasn't enough, this pice also has a 'roulette' date wheel, with alternating black and red numbers — further adding to the layers of whimsical fun. Last but not least, the blue bezel insert has developed a 'gradient' fade which suits this piece beautifully.

These days, Tudors most popular line, the Black Bay, drawn largely from pieces like the one that we have here, and for good reason. As the expression goes, you can’t know where you’re going until you know where you’re from.

This is a strong example of a vintage diver that has seen steady grown in popularity, with no signs of stopping....

...And Rolex sure never made a steel Submariner with a blue dial!