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Who is TUDOR?
TUDOR is an award-winning Swiss watch brand, offering watches with refined aesthetics, proven reliability and unique value for money. Born from the will to go beyond the standards, TUDOR’s watchmaking philosophy draws its inspiration from its heritage, whilst incorporating state-of-the-art technology, exclusive innovations and pioneering creativity. Produced by the founder of Rolex watches, Hans Wilsdorf, TUDOR was created on the idea of making watches that were sold at a more modest price than their Rolex watches, whilst still maintaining the exquisite standards, dependability and quality that Rolex are known for. Although having similar origins, TUDOR was formed as a separate company to Rolex, and has excelled within the watch industry since the first ever watch was introduced. Discover our TUDOR watch collections at Deacons Jewellers.
What do TUDOR do?
TUDOR is renowned for being the watch company that produces watches for professional divers, the military, and for other sports. They have created some of the most iconic divers’ watches in history, and have continued to build upon this in recent years through their Pelagos and Heritage Black Bay Range. TUDOR are also well-known for making watches for the Marine Nationale and the French Navy, who played a huge role in the development of TUDOR watches.
Today, TUDOR watches are sold in many countries around the globe, and are known for their experimental designs, unique integrated cases, colourful dial chronographs, and ‘Monte Carlo’- inspired colour schemes. This makes them stand out as different from the other leading watch brands, such as Rolex, who are famous for their extremely conservative design sense. TUDOR’s most popular, modern watch models and collections include the Black Bay, Pelagos, Ranger, Royal, 1926 and Clair De Rose, and Style amongst many others.
What are the origins of TUDOR?
Tudor’s history begins in 1926, where the house of ‘Veuve de Philippe Hüther’, who was a watch dealer and maker, registered the trademark, ‘The TUDOR’ for Hans Wilsdorf. Acquiring exclusive rights from the dealer, Hans Wilsdorf struck a deal, beginning the birth of TUDOR.
By 1932, the first watches with the TUDOR signature on the dial had made their appearance, and were sent to the Australian market. These watches included top of the line models for both men and women, and were rectangular in shape, with barrel-shaped or bevelled sides. On some of the rare timepieces, the Rolex name also appears, and this was a way to effectively guarantee the technical and aesthetic quality of TUDOR watches until the brand had attained their own standing in the Swiss watch industry.
Throughout 1932, other dials were designed to include the name, ‘Catanach’s’, who are one of Australia’s oldest jewellers, established in Melbourne since 1874, and a retailer of TUDOR watches at that time. These were delivered exclusively to the Willis company, and consisted of a similar rectangular style and bevelled sides, but with chromium-plated metal, and a two-tone, two-sector cream dial with unique, luminescent Arabic numerals. Its calibre was barrel-shaped, and was instantly recognisable by its three red rubies that were visible on the top plate.
The rise of TUDOR watches
On 15th October 1936, the brand ‘The TUDOR’ was transferred to Hans Wilsdorf by the house of ‘Veuve de Philippe Hüther’. During this period, the rose of the TUDOR dynasty began to appear on the watch dials, and was inscribed within a shield. This logo symbolised the invincible union of strength, which was synonymous with the watch’s robustness, grace, and beauty.
Just after the Second World War, in 1946, Hans Wilsdorf decided to expand TUDOR, wanting to give the brand a proper identity of its own. This led to the creation of the ‘Montres TUDOR S.A’ company. A year later, after the official launch of TUDOR, saw the evolution of the watch logo - the shield gradually disappeared, and it began to only consist of the company name and iconic rose. The fine-drawn rose was delicately designed to emphasise TUDOR’s elegance and style, and became widely recognised and loved by many. Of course, from 1969, the shield was used again, which remains on all TUDOR watches, whilst the rose is now used on the winding crowns.
In 1948, the first TUDOR-specific advertisements were published. Both in text and logo, the brand was clearly associated with Rolex, showcasing the luxury aesthetics of their men’s and women’s timepieces, as well as their chronometric precision and waterproofness. TUDOR watches became highly established within the watch industry, and remain this way to this day, known for their strength, reliability and precision.
What is so good about TUDOR watches?
TUDOR watches have remained cost-effective timepieces since their very beginning, whilst still maintaining the utmost standard and quality, and being good enough to serve in harsh climates for sporting professionals. It is evident that TUDOR offers excellent value for money. When you purchase a TUDOR watch, you are given the guarantee of having a well-finished, high-quality timepiece. TUDOR is now offering a five-year guarantee on all its products sold after January 1st 2020. This guarantee does not require the watch to be registered, or any maintenance checks, and is transferable.
The manufacturing quality of TUDOR watches is also extremely high. There will never be any sense of low-quality with any of these timepieces, and they always feel solid, robust and stylish. As a brand, TUDOR has a great reputation and credibility amongst watch collectors and enthusiasts, so you can be sure that each and every one of TUDOR’s watches are made at a significantly elevated standard!
Which collections are TUDOR’s most well-known?
Black Bay
The Black Bay Line is the result of the subtle blend of traditional aesthetics and contemporary watchmaking. It brings together over 60 years of TUDOR divers’ watches at the same time as being resolutely anchored in the present. Neo-vintage in conception, its manufacturing techniques, reliability, robustness and the quality of its finish are consistent with today’s more rigorous requirements for Swiss watchmaking.
1926
Tudor pays tribute to its origins and watchmaking traditions with its 1926 Line, a range of mechanical watches that are timeless, classic and elegant. Available in four sizes with a wide choice of dials, the 1926 line is named after the year when ‘The TUDOR’ was registered as a brand on behalf of the Rolex founder Hans Wilsdorf.
Clair De Rose
The Clair de Rose Range, reimagined in a classic, refined and timeless spirit, uses the brand’s historic aesthetic codes. The Clair De Rose collection is available exclusively in steel and in six configurations and three sizes, 26mm, 30mm, and 34mm in diameter. It presents opaline dials with delicate decorations in relief, punctuated with blue lacquered Roman numerals or diamonds.
Royal
Royal is a name first used by TUDOR in the 1950s to emphasise the superior quality of its watches. The TUDOR Royal Range is part of this heritage in that it offers automatic sport-chic watches with integrated bracelets that are as affordable as they are uncompromising. Cutting-edge technical performance and refined aesthetic are characteristic of this range, which sit at the crossroads between classic and sports watches and comes in stainless steel or stainless steel and gold and is offered in 4 sizes with 9 possible dials.
Ranger
The Ranger model was launched to mark the 70th anniversary of the British North Greenland Expedition. It is a tool watch celebrating the spirit of this daring adventure, complete with Manufacture Calibre MT5402, a 39mm case, and a clasp with a rapid adjustment system. The Ranger model respects the aesthetic standards established in the course of its history, especially its dial with Arabic numerals, whilst incorporating new state-of-the-art technical elements. It continues, within the TUDOR collection, the tradition of the expedition watch.
Style
With its elegantly sophisticated lines, the TUDOR Style borrows its aesthetic codes from classic watches of the 1950s to the 1970s. A union of performance and sensuality, this retro-chic watch for both men and women is a perfect fit for all occasions. It features a round case available in 4 sizes - 28mm, 34mm, 38mm and 41mm. The case features alternating polished and satin-finished surfaces and is enhanced with a double bezel or fluted bezel. This fluted finish is an integral part of TUDOR’s aesthetic heritage, and its inclusion in the Style line emphasises the brand’s long tradition of classic dress watches.
The Pelagos 39
The latest release from TUDOR, the Pelagos 39, combines sophistication, radiance and elegance with their traditional, professional divers' watch heritage. It is a timepiece that displays a sleek and wearable look, whilst still maintaining a strong technical know-how that enables a safe dive.
The Pelagos 39 model has taken the watch industry by storm due to its versatile, contemporary design, and has fit in perfectly with the rest of the TUDOR family of technical divers’ watches. The TUDOR Pelagos line offers a variety of technical, mechanical divers’ watches that are at the forefront of their sector; Pelagos, Pelagos LHD, Pelagos FXD and Pelagos 39. Now made up of four models, this product family has been adopted since 2012 by pioneers of underwater exploration all over the world. Discover more about The TUDOR Pelagos Collection and The Pelagos 39, and browse the collection online.
TUDOR x David Beckham: The spirit of being Born to Dare
Beyond philanthropy and football, David Beckham has worked his way up to the status of much more than a legendary player. Facing the fear of what comes after a sports career and building on his ambition, he established himself as a global style icon. His influence on popular culture transcends the pitch. A model, an actor and now owner of Inter Miami CF, he counts hundreds of millions of fans around the world.
David Beckham is devoted to the classic style of TUDOR watches. He wears the Black Bay Chrono in steel, the sports chronograph with contrasting sub-counters, as well as the Black Bay Bronze, a 43 mm divers' watch inspired by the brand's history. He also wears the TUDOR Royal, the epitome of versatile sport-chic with its integrated bracelet, notched bezel and automatic movement. Discover more about David Beckham and his involvement with TUDOR Watches here.
TUDOR watches at Deacons Jewellers
Here at Deacons Jewellers, we are proud stockists of TUDOR watches, and have a wide range of luxury timepieces for you to try. Browse online today, or feel free to visit us at our Swindon Showroom. For more information about TUDOR at Deacons Jewellers, please feel free to get in touch with a member of our team today!
