{"product_id":"1948-tudor-oyster-4540-shock-resisting-explorer-dial-steel-wristwatch-34mm-all-original-patina-1","title":"1948 Tudor Oyster 4540 Shock-Resisting 'Explorer dial' Steel Wristwatch 34mm All original patina","description":"\u003ch3\u003eThis Watch\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHere 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDating: the caseback serial 465,394 places this watch in the mid-1940s (circa 1946\/48) based on Rolex-era serial ranges.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/uWyLRBsf9jU?si=95qHcHgPm2MxNR0N\" title=\"1950 Tudor Oyster Royal Shock-Resisting 'All Arabic numerals' Steel Wristwatch Model 7804 34mm All original patina\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(43, 0, 255);\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCheck out a short product video HE\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong style=\"color: rgb(43, 0, 255); font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRE! soon\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eExtra Points\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eJust 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.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIn 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.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFully serviced by us in our on-site workshop and comes with our 12 months, non-waterproof service cover.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv id=\"personalnote\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat we think\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAlso check out our other Tudor \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/antiquewatchuk.co.uk\/search?q=tudor\u0026amp;type=product\" title=\"tudor watches at antique watch co clerkenwell\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(43, 0, 255);\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ewatches here!\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv id=\"specification\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eSpec Stuff\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSerial : \u003c\/strong\u003e465394\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReference : \u003c\/strong\u003e4540\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMovement : \u003c\/strong\u003e Cal Tudor 59 (sc) \/ FHF 30.1\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAge :\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e1940\/1949\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecific Age :\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e1948 Circa\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCase Size : \u003c\/strong\u003e34mm\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCase Thickness :\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e 12mm\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLug to Lug :\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e 40mm\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLugs :\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e 18mm\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCondition :\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Pre-Owned\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBox \u0026amp; Papers :\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e No\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCase Material :\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Stainless Steel\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eService History :\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e 12-Months NON-Waterproof service cover\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Tudor","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":58738259067254,"sku":"AWCTUD5394","price":995.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0278\/6187\/6838\/files\/transparent-Photoroom_1.png?v=1770382942","url":"https:\/\/antiquewatchuk.co.uk\/products\/1948-tudor-oyster-4540-shock-resisting-explorer-dial-steel-wristwatch-34mm-all-original-patina-1","provider":"Antique Watch Co","version":"1.0","type":"link"}