If you are a collector actively hunting for a , you will almost certainly encounter the Tudor Prince Oysterdate 7319 .
While "26 mm" is small for a modern men's submarine/dive watch, the term "Special 26" or similar often appears in watch discussions:
The rarity has spawned a thriving market for "faux-ina" (artificially aged dials), after-market 8 mm crowns, and outright counterfeits. Authentication requires: special 26 mm sub
Searching for the online yields more questions than answers. A now-deleted listing from a Japanese auction site in 2018 shows a tiny, gold-capped Rolex with a black rotating bezel. The listing title: "Extremely Rare Special 26 mm Sub - Ref. 3847." The watch sold for $48,000. No photos remain in the internet archive.
: The title refers to the 26 recruits the gang hires for their final, massive heist, leading the real CBI on a high-stakes cat-and-mouse chase. Cultural Impact If you are a collector actively hunting for
It uses a flexible "flying hinge" to reduce skin irritation and indentations.
While modern Rolex Submariners (e.g., Ref. 124060) use a 7 mm crown with integrated crown guards, the "Special 26 mm sub" remains a touchstone. Its oversized, vulnerable, yet purposeful design reminds collectors of an era when dive watches were pure instruments—not luxury accessories. Brands like Tudor (Black Bay 58), CWC, and even microbrands have released homage models with exaggerated crowns, chasing the ghost of the 26 mm sub. A now-deleted listing from a Japanese auction site
Hence, the nickname: .