Tudor’s Very Own Alarm Wristwatch Dating Back to the Fifties
A 1958 Tudor Advisor ref. 7926 and a 2017 Tudor Heritage Advisor ref. 79620T
We’ve talked about both the Jaeger-LeCoultre Memovox and Vulcain Cricket, and even earlier alarm watches like Eterna’s in the early 20th century and Dürrstein & Co.’s late 19th century pocket watch. Today we’d like to take a look at what Hans Wildorf was up to while these other developments were happening around Rolex, with their famous Tudor Advisor.
History of the Tudor Advisor
Only four total references of the vintage Tudor Advisor have ever been made, including the most recent relaunch of the Tudor Advisor ref. 79620T in 2011 at Baselworld. The first three references were produced for two decades – between the late 1950s and late 1970s. The first was the Tudor Advisor ref. 7926, which was released in 1957 and produced until 1968. This was followed by the Tudor Advisor ref. 1537, which was also produced until the late ‘60s, and the Tudor Advisor ref. 10050, which followed the first two models and was in production until 1977.
A 1983 Tudor Advisor ref. 10050 / Credit: Omega Forums user
The first Tudor Advisor, the reference 7926, had a Rolex Oyster case with two unsigned crowns, and was powered by an A. Schild Caliber 1475. This manually wound movement had two mainsprings, one of which was for the alarm and activated a hammer that would strike a pin and create the alarm sound. Tudor Advisor ref. 7926 was produced in relatively low volumes. Meanwhile, the Tudor Advisor ref. 1537 was a slimmer version and came on a leather strap, and often also in yellow gold. It still had a 34 mm Oyster case, but this was replaced by the Tudor Advisor ref. 10050 which came in an entirely new case design.
The main novelty that pertained to case design in the third vintage Tudor Advisor was the new separate caseback secured by a threaded ring, similar to what Vulcain had been doing for some time, and done to increase the volume of the alarm’s sound. The case shape was also different, but the diameter was still 34 mm.
Apart from the case, other aesthetic changes also accompanied the Tudor Advisor ref. 10050; stick hands replaced the old ones and the Tudor rose became the updated Tudor shield logo. These 1970s Tudor Advisor ref. 10050 models generally came on steel bracelets and are much easier to find today. The Tudor Advisor ref. 10050 used a modified AS1475 movement called the Cal. 3745. Girard-Perregaux and others also used a modified AS1475 for their alarm watch, but GP had a unique ‘alarm window’ at 6 o’clock.
A 2021 Tudor Heritage Advisor ref. 79620T / Credit: Watchuseek user
Today, these vintage Tudor Advisors are relatively hard to find depending on the reference. With the more recent Tudor ref. 10050s being the easiest to find in good condition. Tudor relaunched the Advisor in 2011, but it remains far less popular than other models like the Black Bay or the Pelagos. Although collectors are always keen for a solid vintage Tudor Advisor.
By: Andres Ibarguen