1978 R.C.N Tudor Submariner (Ref. 9401/0) "Hybrid Snowflake"

This 1978 Royal Canadian Navy issued Tudor Submariner is very rare and a specific variant that is rarely seen. One could argue that these particular "Mil Sub" variants of the Tudor 9401/0 non-date Submariner that were issued to the Royal Canadian Navy are one of the most interesting out of all the "Mil Subs" known to exist. These specific 9401/0's possess a dial that is very similar to matte Tudor 9401/0's with the standard dial meaning the dial maintains the typical triangular lume plot at 12, rectangular plots at the “3-6-9” o'clock positions, and circular lume plots for the other hour markers, The exciting thing is that these specific R.C.N Tudor 9401/0's are fitted with “snowflake” handsets.

According to Tudor Watch expert Ross Povy of Tudor Collector who has written some great articles on Tudor watches including Tudor "Mil Subs" like this one via our friends over at Revolution Watch "I’ve seen a number of “oddball” MilSubs, where Navy watchmakers have equipped watches with whatever they had lying around; this is the fun part about finding Mil Subs in their combat state. The abovementioned combination, however, has been seen in this configuration many, many times and nearly all have a history in the Canadian Navy" Additionally Ross recently found a vintage Tudor Advertisement that shows the early "Hybrid Snowflake" which is pictured above which we have provided with permission above from Tudor Collector. 

Another interesting and known fact for the Tudor (Ref. 9401/0) "Hybrid Snowflake is that the serial range is quite unique and sits in the 88XXXX- 89XXXX so the production window for the watch is very small and quite unique as most of the known examples have consecutive serial numbers in the 8XXXXX range. This is a very interesting Tudor that is seldom seen with a very distinctive and unique look. It has also been said that a reference like this one we are featuring here at Craft + Tailored is the precursor to the very popular and modern Tudor Black Bay as an example from the Tudor archive-inspired the Black Bay Design.