The scarce Tudor Oysterdate (reference 7031) that sold for £51,100 at Hansons.
Launched in 1970, the reference 7031 is the most desirable of all Tudor chronographs.
It takes its name from a series of colourful dial designs, each with number markers shaped like the home plate on a baseball field.
This example with a black bezel and dial was spotted as a rare variant: less than a dozen black dial 7031s are known. It came for sale on December 18 from a Nottinghamshire private vendor and was in excellent condition.
Six international phone bidders competed against the internet with the watch finally sold to a French collector via thesaleroom.com.
The hammer price was £51,100 (plus 20% buyer’s premium) – many times the estimate of £3000-5000.
