Vintage Tudor 9800 wristwatch manual wind 1969 ETA 2750

SPECIFICATION

Reference: Tudor 2750
Movement: ETA 2750
Age: circa 1969
Case Size: 34mm
Case Thickness: 9.5mm
Lug to Lug: 39mm
Lugs: 18mm
Condition: used Tudor watch
Box & Papers: No
Case Material: Stainless Steel
Warranty: 12-Months Warranty

POINTS TO MENTION

• In great pre-owned condition, with light wear from use.
• Case has some light scratches and marks
• Sunburst dial
  
• Rolex signed crown
• Fully serviced manually wound movement
• Included is its original used strap and signed Tudor buckle
• Paired with an unworn black epsom leather strap

THE WATCH

The Tudor Oyster reference 9800, is a stainless-steel manual-wind wristwatch produced around 1969. It is powered by the reliable ETA caliber 2750, The 2750 is one of the most successful hand-wound Swiss movements of the late twentieth century. Introduced in1969 it was part of ETA's 27xx family of movements and was designed to be robust, accurate, economical to manufacture, and easy to service, fitted with 17 jewels, the movement beats at 21,600 vibrations per hour. its simple construction and efficient design made it a popular choice for a wide range of Swiss watch brands, including Tudor, Tissot, Certina, Hamilton, and many others. Like many Tudors of the period, the watch combined a high-quality Swiss movement with a Tudor case and Rolex signed crown. At approximately 34 mm in diameter with an acrylic crystal, the ref. 9800 represents the classic understated dress-watch style that Tudor offered during the late 1960s.

A BIT OF TRIVIA

Tudor was founded through the vision of Hans Wilsdorf, who registered the Tudor trademark in 1926 and formally launched the brand in 1946. From the beginning, Tudor was positioned as a sister brand to Rolex, sharing the same parent organisation, the Hans Wilsdorf Foundation, but intended to offer high-quality Swiss wristwatches at a more accessible price point, rather than simply acting as a “budget Rolex.”

During the mid-20th century, Tudor’s strategy varied by model line. Many of its professional and sports watches such as Submariners and Oyster-based models used Rolex-manufactured Oyster cases, crowns, and casebacks, reflecting the close technical relationship between the two brands. However, this was not universal across the catalogue: Tudor’s dress watches, including models like the reference 9800, often used standard Swiss cases and third-party movements instead of Rolex components. Across much of its production history, Tudor relied heavily on high-quality Swiss ébauche movements, most notably from ETA, while focusing its identity on robust construction, reliability, and value.

From the late 20th century onward, Tudor progressively reduced its reliance on Rolex-signed external components, developing a more independent production identity. This transition culminated in the modern era, when Tudor re-established itself as a technically autonomous manufacturer with its own in-house movement development, beginning with the introduction of the MT5621 in 2015. Today, Tudor designs and produces many of its own calibres and operates as a distinct watchmaker with a clearly defined identity, while still sharing ownership and heritage roots with Rolex under the same foundation structure.

PERSONAL NOTE

This watch feels like a quiet, honest example of vintage Tudor design, simple, purposeful, and built in an era when Tudor was closely linked to Rolex in both ownership and philosophy. While it isn’t a Rolex, it comes from the same design world and was made under the same guiding hand of Hans Wilsdorf, sharing the emphasis on reliability and everyday durability. The the ETA 2750 inside provides a dependable, easily serviceable mechanical heart. It reflects that late-1960s period when Tudor offered Rolex-adjacent quality and construction at a more accessible level, giving it real historical character without needing to be flashy or complicated.