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The Tudor Prince-Quartz Oysterdate is one of the most fascinating and often overlooked chapters in the shared history of Tudor and Rolex. Born out of the quartz crisis of the late 1970s and early 1980s, when Japanese manufacturers flooded the world market with inexpensive battery-powered watches and nearly toppled the Swiss industry altogether, the Prince-Quartz was Tudor’s direct answer to a rapidly changing landscape. While Rolex developed its own in-house quartz calibers for the angular Oysterquartz Datejust and Day-Date, Tudor took a slightly different approach, housing a Swiss-made ESA (later ETA) quartz movement inside a more traditional Oyster case. The result was a watch that delivered the pinpoint accuracy of quartz with the unmistakable build quality, heritage, and design language that only the Rolex and Tudor family could offer. It was, in many ways, the accessible entry point into the quartz revolution for those who still demanded a proper Oyster case, a signed screw-down crown, and the reassurance of Geneva-level craftsmanship.
The Reference 9150 represents the stainless steel iteration of the Prince-Quartz Oysterdate, though this particular example elevates the formula considerably with its two-tone steel and gold configuration and that spectacular blue sunburst dial. Powering the watch is the ESA/ETA caliber 940.111, a 7-jewel Swiss quartz movement operating at 32,768 Hz. Tudor signed the movement with its own branding and the “V8” designation, indicating final Swiss assembly. At just 3.7mm thick, the caliber allowed Tudor to keep the case slim and elegant, a far cry from the chunky, angular proportions of the Rolex Oysterquartz. The movement features a quickset date function and a sweep seconds hand, offering quiet reliability and accuracy that has served owners well for over four decades now. It is worth noting that while the quartz crisis was a near-existential threat to Swiss watchmaking, the movements produced during this era by top-tier Swiss ébauche houses were anything but disposable. The 940.111 is a jeweled, thoughtfully engineered caliber, and that quality shows in its continued dependability.
This particular example is, to us, one of the most visually arresting configurations in which the Reference 9150 was offered. The blue sunburst dial is simply gorgeous, catching the light in shifting tones from deep navy to a brighter azure depending on the angle. The applied stick indices are finished in warm gold, matching the handset, the Tudor text, and the shield logo at twelve o’clock. “TUDOR” and “PRINCE-QUARTZ” sit neatly below the logo, with “OYSTERDATE” printed at six and the modest “SWISS” designation at the very bottom of the dial. It is a clean, balanced layout that lets the color and finishing do the talking, and the contrast between that saturated blue field and the gold accents is genuinely striking. The date window at three o’clock is framed by the original cyclops magnifier on the plexiglass crystal, a nice period detail that keeps this firmly rooted in its early 1980s origins.
The case presents with honest wear consistent with a watch that has been enjoyed over the decades. The stainless steel surfaces show gentle scratching from regular use, while the gold fluted bezel retains its sharp, well-defined edges and warm luster. The Rolex-signed screw-down crown in gold adds a lovely finishing touch on the case flank, and the profile shot reveals a slim, refined silhouette that sits beautifully on the wrist. The caseback is engraved “Original Oyster Case by Rolex Geneva, Stainless Steel,” with the case reference 78370 stamped between the lugs, and the inner caseback confirms the reference number 9150 alongside “Montres Tudor S.A. Geneve Switzerland.” The original Rolex-signed two-tone Oyster bracelet with “STEELINOX 78370” on the clasp remains fitted to the watch, complete with the Tudor shield stamped on the upper endlink. The bracelet shows honest patina on the gold center links and light desk-diving marks on the steel, all of which speaks to a watch that has lived a genuine life on someone’s wrist.
For the collector who appreciates the offbeat corners of the Tudor and Rolex universe, the Prince-Quartz Oysterdate in this two-tone blue dial configuration is a genuinely compelling proposition. It offers the full Oyster case experience, the Rolex-signed crown and bracelet, and a dial that rivals anything the Datejust line produced during this era, all wrapped in a package that remains refreshingly under the radar. As the market continues to discover and appreciate the quartz watches that emerged from the Swiss industry’s most turbulent period, pieces like this one, well-preserved with original components intact, are becoming increasingly difficult to find. It is a slice of horological history, a beautiful daily wearer, and an undeniable conversation starter, all in one.
