Here we have a beautifully honest Tudor Oyster “Shock-Resisting” Ref. 4540 in stainless steel, a classic mid-century daily wearer with that unmistakable early Oyster charm. The 34mm case wears spot-on today—slim, comfortable and quietly confident—with a lovely set of unusually sculpted lugs: they flare from the case with a soft, carved profile that gives the watch a more architectural look than the typical straight-lug dress pieces of the era.
The dial is where this one really tells its story. It’s aged exactly how collectors love: a warm, creamy base with heavy, even “freckling” patina across the surface that makes every angle feel different. Applied Arabic numerals at 12 / 3 / 6 / 9 are paired with faceted batons and a crisp outer minute track, while the gilt hands keep everything period-correct and elegant. The dial signature—“Shock-Resisting”—is a great little nod to the era when shock protection was a genuine selling point, not a given.
On the right side sits the original Oyster patent screw-down crown. It shows a bit of expected wear, but it winds smoothly and screws down securely, exactly as it should. We’ve kept the watch true to itself—no over-restoration, no unnecessary parts swapping—so you get all the character and originality that makes vintage Tudor so rewarding.
Dating: the caseback serial 465,394 places this watch in the mid-1940s (circa 1946/48) based on Rolex-era serial ranges.
Just after the Second World War, Hans Wilsdorf founder of Rolex, knew that the time had come to expand and give the Tudor brand a proper identity of its own. Therefore, on 6 March 1946, he created the “Montres TUDOR S.A.” company, specialising in models for both men and women. Rolex guaranteed the technical, aesthetic and functional characteristics, along with the distribution and after-sales service.
The Tudor rose within a shield was meant to represent an invincible union of strength. Its robustness, elegant lines and beauty of design. In 1947 Tudor introduced the Oyster, their first waterproof watch, building on the success of the Rolex Oyster of the same period.In 1952, 26 Tudor Oyster Prince watches were included in the British scientific expedition to Greenland organized by the Royal Navy and sponsored by The Queen. This showed the world how robust Tudor Oyster watches were.
Fully serviced by us in our on-site workshop and comes with our 12 months, non-waterproof service cover.
What we think
If you love the idea of vintage Rolex-adjacent quality without the vintage Rolex premium, this is exactly the sort of Tudor that makes sense. Early Tudors were built to deliver the same “go anywhere” ethos—robust cases, practical design, real-world wearability—just at a more approachable level. And this one has the magic combination: a great size, a charismatic dial, and the kind of case shaping you simply don’t see every day.
The condition is also a big part of the appeal here. This isn’t a watch pretending to be new—it’s a watch that’s survived honestly. The dial patina is bold but attractive (and importantly, consistent), the case still reads sharp in profile, and the original crown doing its job properly is exactly what you want when originality is the priority.
In short: a proper mid-40s Oyster-era Tudor with real personality—perfect for someone who wants a vintage watch that feels special every time you look down, but still makes total sense as a daily wearer.
Movement : Cal Tudor 59 (sc) / FHF 30.1 Age :1940/1949 Specific Age :1948 Circa Case Size : 34mm Case Thickness : 12mm Lug to Lug : 40mm Lugs : 18mm Condition : Pre-Owned Box & Papers : No Case Material : Stainless Steel Service History : 12-Months NON-Waterproof service cover
1948 Tudor Oyster 4540 Shock-Resisting 'Explorer dial' Steel Wristwatch 34mm All original patina
