Grantour (20310)

It is not uncommon for watches that stray far from their manufacturers’ usual, and often mundane, design languages to gain a cult following – think the Rolex Daytona “Leopard”, so this dazzling-diamond-in-sturdy-steel Tudor may be set for success.

Being the more daring and budget-friendly brother of the king of luxury watches, Rolex has its perks. Here, that is the permission to set precious stones into non-precious metal - diamonds in stainless steel. However, solely attributing the case material to the budget would be doing the watch and brand a huge disservice. Rationally, a sports watch should not be made from precious metal because they are heavy and soft and would turn the timepiece into a clunky scratch magnet - the opposite of what one should wear around sports. But what if one desires a bit of bling without compromising wearability and resilience? This timepiece was Tudor's answer.

With today's trend towards oversized, this treasure would look handsome on a man and beautiful on a lady. The peachy pink present in the minute track and custom calfskin strap are just a few shades away from most skin tones, keeping the timepiece from looking garish, which is an elementary mistake to make when so many diamonds are involved. Thankfully, Tudor had access to his big brother's gem vault and his designers, the same designers that give Rolex timepieces their perfect proportions.

It is not often that Tudor or Rolex set so many stones into a watch case. This, coupled with the original boxes and papers accompanying the timepiece, makes it a highly collectable example.

The dial and hands are flawless. The case and buckle exhibit no sign of refinishing and remain in excellent condition, with only hairline scratches not visible at arm's length. The custom calfskin strap exhibits no sign of wear and remains supple and comfortable.

What do the different grading scores mean?

• BN 9.9: Brand new and unworn, with no signs of use.
• UN 9.5: Like new and unworn, but may lack original packaging or materials such as the box, links, tags, or bezel protector.
• LN 9.0: Like new and unworn, but only includes the watch without papers, box, or accessories.
• MT 8.5: Mint condition, lightly used with minor surface scratches or wear. Unpolished.
• VG 8.0: Moderately used, with scratches and one or two nicks on the case or crystal. Shows signs of polishing. The bracelet remains snug with minimal wear.
• GD 7.5: Shows signs of daily wear but is not abused, with noticeable polishing on the case. The bracelet shows clear signs of daily wear.

Watches with a rating below GD 7.5 are not listed for bidding to ensure that only high-quality timepieces are available to our members.