Tudor 7934 (1964)
Tudor cal. 1156 (Base movement ETA 1080), housed in a Rolex 7934 case.
A classic Tudor small rose from 1964, which underwent a full service and restoration including cleaning the dial re-luming the hands.
About the Project
This Tudor was purchased in a dire state. Its crystal was totally shattered, with dirt and grim entering the dial and movement. Its unknown how long the watch was like this, but given the condition of the movement itself, I believe that it was probably stored dry and away from the elements for many years. The aim was to return the movement to reliable operation while preserving the character and originality of the watch.
Given the condition of the crystal, the watch was surely dropped and experienced a significant shock. However, when the movement was disassembled and inspected, by absolute luck, none of the pivots were broken, and none of the jewels were shattered. So ultimately, this service became a relatively straightforward service of being cleaned, reassembled and lubricated. Of course, the crystal was replaced, and later the hands also re-lumed to match the original lume on the dial. The case was left unpolished.
Restoration
The plan of attack for restoring this piece was to firstly address the movement, ensuring that it can operate at a reliable level, before continuing to address the cosmetic issues. To my surprise, the movement was in an incredibly state, the hairspring was in perfect condition, and no pivots were bent or broken. This is a testament to both the previous owner likely keeping on top of its servicing, but also the quality of the movement itself.
Next thing was finding a suitable replacement crystal, that was compatible with the Rolex case reference 7934. This was sourced and fitted without issue.
The last step was to re-lume the hands, as the original tritium ahd unfortunately cracked and flaked off, leaving the hands to the less desirable green with black staining. The hands were re-lume with a non-radioactive luminous compound, which was blended with a few black coffee droplets, to achieve a colour that closely matched the original lume on the dial. This was a delicate process, but the end result was very satisfying.
The Finished Watch
After servicing, cleaning, lubrication and regulation, finally this Tudor Small Rose is back to its former glory. While some of its battle scars are permanently embedded in the dial (see the 10 - 11 o'clock hour markers), I like to think that they tell a story of the original state it was in when I received it. The completed restoration retains the character of the original watch while giving the movement the attention required for reliable operation.