When Rolex founder Hans Wilsdorf established the Tudor watch company in Geneva in 1926, he wanted the brand to live on as a more affordable, but equally robust, alternative to its more luxurious and pricier sister company. For a long time, Tudor existed with the help of, and somewhat in the shadow of, Rolex—its name even appeared on some of the first Tudor watches. But some twenty years later, Wilsdorf realized that Tudor had more potential so he re-launched the brand with a new logo—Tudor was still closely associated with Rolex but it slowly started to create an identity on its own.
From the very beginning, durability, strength, and preciseness were an integral part of the Tudor DNA—qualities for which its timepieces are still coveted for. Then came style—sophisticated and timeless design—you could easily wear a 1952 steel Tudor Oyster Prince watch today without it looking dated.
Thanks to groundbreaking models such as the Tudor Advisor alarm watch created in 1957, the Tudor Oysterthin watch—the thinnest waterproof Tudor wristwatch ever, and of course, the legendary Oyster Prince Submariner—the brand’s first-ever divers’ watch, Tudor has established itself as a trustworthy brand that puts the quality of its timepieces above anything else.
Interested? Here, we rounded up some of the best and most elegant Tudor watches to invest in right now.
Tudor Black Bay Fifty-Eight
This is a slimmed-down modern version of the iconic divers watches Tudor launched in the 1950s and it has been described as the best in its class and price point. It has the company’s signature angular “snowflake” hands as well as a large steel screw-down winding crown, with the brand’s rose in relief—another feature of the watch that can trace back its origins to 1969.
Gold accents adorn the hour markers, hands, and minute track of the black and steel bezel adding a luxury touch to this sporty timepiece. The watch runs via a manufacture calibre MT5402 movement that offers an impressive 70 hours of power reserve and that has been certified as a chronometer by the Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute.
To buy: $3,700, tudorwatch.com
Tudor Heritage Chrono
In 1970, Tudor introduced its first chronograph, the Osterdate, which featured a 500-unit graduated tachymetric scale, a black plexiglass bezel, and luminous pentagon-shaped painted hour markers.
Fifty years later, these original features are present in the Tudor Heritage Chrono timepieces together with a few new touches such as the case which is now 42mm instead of 39mm. The watch runs via a self-winding mechanical movement, Calibre 2892 with an additional mechanism for chronograph function and offers 42 hours of power reserve. The stainless steel bracelet has a folding clasp and a safety catch.
To buy: $4,525, tudorwatch.com
Tudor Heritage Advisor
This beautiful watch is inspired by Tudor’s 1957 alarm watch of which only a few thousand pieces were produced.
Naturally, this timepiece also features a mechanical alarm clock module that delivers a clear sound. The 42mm titanium and steel case encloses a vintage-inspired cognac-hued dial that includes an alarm power reserve indicator displayed on a disc at 3 o'clock. The brown alligator leather strap complements the modern look and add s a luxurious touch to this Tudor Heritage Advisor watch.
To buy: $6,000, tudorwatch.com
Tudor 1926
Tudor’s 1926 line pays homage to “the essence of the brand […] where mechanical excellence goes hand-in-hand with enduring sophistication.”
The timeless design of this watch features an embossed dial, appliquéd numerals, arrow-shaped hour markers (the odd-number ones are replaced with diamonds), and sword-shaped hands. The stainless steel bracelet of the Tudor 1926 is made up of seven links of different sizes for a perfect fit.
To buy: $2,325, tudorwatch.com
Black Bay Chrono S+G
If it’s good enough for David Beckham, then it’s good enough for us. The soccer legend (and Tudor ambassador) wore that exact same watch to film an interview with Lady Gaga last year.
The Black Bay Chrono S+G (which stands for steel and gold) fuses Tudor’s aquatic heritage with the chronograph. The result is cool and sporty—this watch is the perfect everyday option.
The black dial, as well as the winding crown, are reminiscent of Tudor’s 1950s divers’ watches. There is a date aperture at 6 o’clock and a tachymetric scale on the fixed gold bezel. The brown aged leather strap is inspired by 1970s racing and sports contrast stitching.
To buy: $5,800, tudorwatch.com
