The Tudor Oysterdate Chronograph reference 79180 is part of the legendary “Big Block” family, a series that traces its roots to Tudor’s first automatic chronograph introduced in 1976. The watches earned the Big Block nickname because their cases were significantly thicker than the earlier manually wound Tudor chronographs, with the additional thickness necessary to house the automatic Valjoux 7750 movement. In 1989, Tudor introduced the 79100-series Big Blocks, making subtle refinements while retaining the distinctive case architecture and automatic chronograph movement. The 79180 was the stainless-steel tachymeter-bezel version of the family, positioned alongside the 79160 and 79170, which used different bezel designs.

This 1993 example is particularly interesting for its silver dial with white sub-dials, a relatively uncommon configuration that collectors often call the “Albino” dial. Rather than the more familiar silver-and-black panda or black-and-white reverse-panda combinations, the silver-and-white arrangement creates an almost monochromatic appearance. The dial features the characteristic applied hour markers, three-register chronograph layout, date at 3 o’clock, and Tudor’s “Oysterdate” and “Automatic-Chrono Time” signatures. The combination of the silver dial, white registers, engraved stainless-steel tachymeter bezel, and substantial Oyster case gives the watch a distinctive appearance that is unmistakably late-era Big Block while retaining some of the visual influence shared with Rolex chronographs of the period.

By 1993, the 79180 represented the mature form of Tudor’s Big Block chronograph before the family eventually gave way to the slimmer 79200-series watches. Its 40mm stainless-steel case, screw-down chronograph pushers, Oyster-style bracelet, date function, and Tudor-signed Valjoux 7750-based automatic movement made it a robust and highly capable sports chronograph for its era. Today, the 79180 is an important piece of Tudor chronograph history, bridging the brand’s colorful 1970s and ’80s chronographs with the more modern Tudor chronographs that followed. The uncommon silver-and-white “Albino” dial makes a well-preserved 1993 example particularly distinctive to collectors, especially when its original dial, hands, bezel, case and bracelet remain intact.