The Other Tudors - The Best of the Rest
When you mention modern Tudor many things spring to mind. Almost all of them are related to dive watches, or the occasional chronograph. We just don't talk about their more traditional (and quirky) sports/office/dress watches. Yet the Tudor catalogue is surprisingly deep.
I can't imagine Tudor is selling much from its Classic line compared to the Black Bay. The only one one of these watches I have ever seen in an AD's case is the 1926. That alone suggests that all of these offerings are relatively rare.
Which of these should be the most interesting to Tudor collectors? Personally I like the MT caliber, display case back and complication of the Double Date. My personal pick would be the white dial with blue indices, though the two tone looks great as well. That is the one I would most like to try on and possibly add to my collection. And with a few tweaks to the case size and dial this is also the one that I can see breaking through at some point.
But what do you think? What hidden gems can we find in the Tudor catalog if we step outside of the Black Bay and Sports Watch lines? Who else should be on this list? The Royal? The Claire De Rose? Lets find the best of the rest!
22 comments
Sort by
Benjamin Judkins
A student of time and space with a watch on his wrist.
Western NY
Member since
Last active: 1 week ago
1926 - Simple, elegant, comes in a range of colors and sizes, affordable (relatively), and thanks to an ETA movement, rather easy to service.
1926 - Simple, elegant, comes in a range of colors and sizes, affordable (relatively), and thanks to an ETA movement, rather easy to service.
We so often neglect servicing in these discussions. Thanks!
We so often neglect servicing in these discussions. Thanks!
Do not get me wrong, one certainly gets more service when they send it to Tudor, but if one only wants the movement serviced, any local maker can do so for a much more reasonable amount.
Thanks for the feedback! I particularly like the slim OP style case on the 1926.
I love the look of the 1926, particularly the silver/white and blue version.
Thanks -- I'm not a Tudor fan, and I like all of these better than any of their divers or chronos.
Thanks -- I'm not a Tudor fan, and I like all of these better than any of their divers or chronos.
There are some interesting ones in there!
I just picked up the Tudor Royal as a retirement gift for one of my colleagues...fantastic looking watch...
When I think of Tudor, I like to remember the 50s / 60s models with the Rose logo. Unpopular answer.
I just picked up the Tudor Royal as a retirement gift for one of my colleagues...fantastic looking watch...
Beautiful! What a wonderful gift!
When I think of Tudor, I like to remember the 50s / 60s models with the Rose logo. Unpopular answer.
I am not so sure, the vintage Tudor scene seems to be picking up!
I am not so sure, the vintage Tudor scene seems to be picking up!
Unpopular on here, vintage isn’t popular and it’s Black Bays, Rangers, or Pelagos only.
I also think of the North Flag, a watch everyone demanded they make and then didn’t buy in favour for the Black Bay.
I have the 1926 41mm. I haven’t had it long, but I like the fact that it has a sporty feel to it, whilst still being a dress watch. I would hesitate to spend so much on the BB58, but this has been a perfect into to the brand:
I have the 1926 41mm. I haven’t had it long, but I like the fact that it has a sporty feel to it, whilst still being a dress watch. I would hesitate to spend so much on the BB58, but this has been a perfect into to the brand:
Thanks for the feedback, it looks great! What do you think of the bracket compared to Tudor's sports watch offerings?
Well the bracelet is the one thing I would change! I haven’t actually tried on the other Tudors (I picked this one up pre-owned, after seeing it, in great condition, in the window of a jewellers). The bracelet looks nice and feels good quality. However, it doesn’t have micro-adjustment. I have removed and replaced links about 5 times since I got it, trying to get the right fit. I have settled on “sometimes a bit too loose”, in place of “occasionally uncomfortably tight!”.
Actually talking to ADs and looking at the Morgan Stanley results these watches outsell Blackbays 3:1 and represent the "real" tudor. In out little bubble we have a pretty distorted view of this brand.
Maybe it's a market location thing, because the ADs I have around here are telling me that aside from the 1926 and sometimes the Royal, they rarely see any of these. Of course there are enough NIB examples showing up on the grey market to suggest they are being shipped somewhere. But I am certainly not seeing cases of them them here 🤔
Unpopular on here, vintage isn’t popular and it’s Black Bays, Rangers, or Pelagos only.
I also think of the North Flag, a watch everyone demanded they make and then didn’t buy in favour for the Black Bay.
Spot on mate. I'm just discovering the vintage Tudor back catalogue. Wow!!
From those you have listed it's only the 1926 that I would consider buying. The others are too chintzy for me and to my mind more like Rolex.
But I'm a dive/ tool watch person. I have the full fat pelagos and the PO 1 so I'm not the target audience for these other Tudor types!
one of the best other options from tudor is the 36mm prince DD - these are current options in the asian markets!