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The "Snowflake" Revolution (1969)

Jan 25, 2026 Vol. Volume 1: The "Shield and Crown" 42 plays
0:00 3:21

Show Notes

The shift from Mercedes hands (Rolex style) to the blocky "Snowflake" hands in 1969 (Ref. 7016/0 and 7021/0).

- This wasn't just aesthetic; it was functional. Divers complained that the Mercedes hand looked too much like the round hour markers in murky water. The square hand was a solution for legibility.

- Today, the Snowflake hand is arguably more distinctive to Tudor than the Mercedes hand is to Rolex.
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