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. Meanwhile, the new three-register design shared a striking resemblance to the Rolex Daytona, usually coming in either a silver panda or matte black reverse-panda dial.
Specifications
Brand:
Tudor
Model:
'Big Block'
Reference:
79180
Year:
1993
Case Number:
B538575
Case Material:
Stainless steel
Diameter:
40 mm
Lug Width:
20 mm
Thickness:
14.5 mm
Lug-to-Lug:
47.8 mm
Dial:
Silver
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:
7.25in (12 links)
Hand model has a wrist size of 6.2 in
Condition
Case: The case is strong and thick and shows minimal signs of wear with a few hairlines here and there, most of which are on the polish-finished bezel.
Dial, Hands, & Crystal: The silver dial is clean and the crystal is in excellent condition. The lume dot at the 7 o'clock position is slightly larger and lighter than the rest. The UV response of that dot is also a little stronger, but fades away like normal tritium after a 30-60 seconds. The steel of the hands shows some discoloration from aging that is visible when hit by the light at certain angles.
Bracelet/Strap: The bracelet is in excellent condition with little to no stretch and a few small hairlines throughout. 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: Unknown.
