Overview
The "Big Block" was produced in many different variations throughout the 70s, 80s, and 90s and marked the Rolex family's first automatic chronograph and Tudor's first three-register chronograph. The "Big Block" nickname was given to the watch because of the thicker case required to house the automatic chronograph movement. The three-register design shared a striking resemblance to the Rolex Daytona, and standard models sported either a silver panda or black reverse-panda dial.
Specifications
Brand:
Tudor
Model:
'Big Block'
Reference:
79180
Year:
1993
Case Number:
B537810
Case Material:
Stainless steel
Diameter:
40 mm
Lug Width:
20 mm
Thickness:
14.5 mm
Lug-to-Lug:
47.8 mm
Dial:
Black
Lume:
Tritium
Crystal:
Acrylic
Movement:
Automatic
Caliber:
Valjoux 7750
Bracelet/Strap:
Tudor 78360 stainless steel bracelet with 589 end links and R2 clasp code
Max Wrist Size:
7.75in (13 links)
Hand model has a wrist size of 6.2 in
Condition
Case: The case is strong and thick and shows normal wear for a 30-year-old sport watch. There are a few shallow scratches and nicks here and there, but no major imperfections. The bezel has some hairlines to the polished surface, but retains good definition with the black filling still present in the engravings. The case back engravings are sharp and deep and remain protected by a sticker, presumably from the last service.
Dial, Hands, & Crystal: The glossy black dial is clean and the crystal is in excellent condition with just a few very light scratches that can easily be removed with some Polywatch. The hands and indices show signs of patina, which is not uncommon for this reference. The hour hand has a couple of small scratches towards the center. Under UV light both tritium dial and hands exhibit the same behavior and do not glow.
Bracelet/Strap: The Tudor 78360 bracelet is in great condition with little to no stretch and only a few small hairlines present. The clasp code is R2, which dates the bracelet to 1993 (and matches the date of the watch case).
Performance
Functions: All functions including the crown-winding, time-setting, date-setting, and chronograph start/stop/reset are working as expected.
Service History: None.
