How do the Pelagos 39 and the Submariner Compare ?

I scratches the clasp of my Pelagos 39 seconds after I got home banging it on the marble counter. On the other hand it hasn't picked up any new significant life experience since then.

Generally I would say that untreated grade 2 Ti does scratch fairly easily, but it's not that visible, especially after the oxide layer builds back up.

If you can get a Submariner at retail, i would say go for it. Even if it isn't necessarily a far superior watch it will hold value much better. While the 39 was previously trading above retail i don't think it will stay there (my guess it'll eventually settle slightly below on the second hand market) as they are freely available in stores now.

Would they be considered brothers or sisters? 🥸😊

I have a Rolex Explorer, and a full-fat Pelagos. So not your exact parameters, but close-ish. Here's my take:

If someone unplugged you from the Matrix today, and you slipped down a slimy pipe which dumped you directly into a watch boutique; With an entirely fresh and unbiased mind, you could probably compare the two watches objectively and summise that the Pelagos is better value with similar accuracy and build quality. It's a bit smaller, a bit lighter and a bit less shiny. But ostensibly a better watch to buy.

But realistically, if you've been conscious in this world for more than a day or two, there's no getting away from the Rolex Submariner being the most iconic watch from the most famous luxury watch brand on the planet. The entire global population will recognise the brand and many will recognise the model. They will immediately make some assessments about you and your status in the world. Men will want to be you, women will... probably not care*!

Yes it has just the same functionality as the Pelagos, but it does it slightly better in almost every way, and it comes with a whole heap of beneficial reputation and associations which has taken a century to perfect, and it may well appreciate in value over time. You don't have to explain what it is. Whereas with the Tudor you will likely need to explain it's a sister company of Rolex, and it's similar quality, but with a slightly cheaper movement, but it's still in-house, and has similar depth ratings, and has a strong history.....yawwnn.. The Sub is just THE SUB.

So summarise; I would say that the Tudor Pelagos 39mm is a truly great watch and great value. But The Rolex Submariner is more than just a watch, it will make you feel different, and sometimes people will even treat you differently when wearing it. It's more than worth the retail price, if you can afford it.

(*not necessarily true, but added for poetic reasons)

I think the easiest way to look at it is: how would u use them, yes styling is similar but the Pelagos is a pure yet high class tool watch, the Sub isn’t anymore , yes u could use it in that way but why would you at that price!? I have a Sub and the benifits are it looks the part and can take a beating but besides casual u could wear it with a suit and tie and it would look fine, you probably couldn’t with the Pelagos ?

Just my 2 cents.

When given a choice, always choose Rolex.

I'd take the Pelagos, for the same reasons others praise the Sub.

I don't want people making assumptions about my "status" based on the watch I'm wearing. Rolex is known, but that also means it has baggage...

Then again, I avoid the popular choice in most things. I'd wear something a bit different, rather than be randomdude683371 with a Sub.

There are some definite negatives to the reputation - theft, insurance, unwanted attention..

But given the chance to own one, and wear it every day, knowing it's pretty damned bombproof and still looks and feels so good... it would be very hard to say no if someone threw one at you and told you to keep it..

You're right, if it was free it would be hard to turn down. If I had to pay, I'd choose pretty much anything else... Not because the Sub is bad, just because of the name/baggage.

I own both, had the sub for half a year and the pelagos 39 for a bit more than a week. Unfortunately it’s too soon to talk about scratches on the 39, but I also own the blue 42mm pelagos and it has held up considerably well, I have taken the sub and the og pelagos diving so they haven’t been babied exactly, but neither abused.

Physically the 41mm sub is considerably larger and heavier, I have a 6,5” wrist so they’re both very comfortable. Id say the sub’s dial is better balanced, it just looks nicer to me, though I do love this pelagos dial, the sunburst is interesting and not in your face and the markers are highly legible. The subs lume is better, it’s brighter and easily lasts all night, the pelagos is a bit dimmer on the long run, but makes it very legibly throughout the whole night, thankfully I haven’t noticed dimmer hands vs dial and bezel as many others have, but I guess that could be based on individual watches.

If there’s anything you’d like me to go further in depth or something you’d like to know or compare please let me know :)

You should write for Magazine thanks man

Perfect ^^ There are a few more things actually, how do the Clasps Compare if read that the Pelagos has quite the long clasp but as far as i can tell the Subs ain't to small either ?

I hate to say it, but get the Sub. You’ll end up selling the Pelly a year from now at a loss to get what you really wanted all along.

what a joke "the entire global population will recognise the brand".....it should be the entire watch nerd population.....99,99999% of the global population doesn´t give 2 sh*ts about watches and will NOT recognize the 2 square centimeter on your wrist ´cause they don´t even look at it, they simply don't perceive it.

And explaining? you don´t have to explain the sub..but explain the Tudor?.....to whom on earth do you have to explain what watch you are wearing? Really to whom? The watch police? come on man, what a load of crap.

And sometimes people will treat you differently wearing a sub...haha, omg, what have you been smoking man?

How do the Pelagos 39 and the Submariner Compare ?

They Don't

What can I say, I had fun with writing that post, and yeah there's a little embellishment in there for sure - sorry it upset you so much 😭. But I do stand by the key messages. And I hope it helped the OP a little (something I noticed you didn't bother to do..)

The following three points are reasonably indisputable:

1. Rolex is a very well known luxury brand. Not just in the watch community, but globally. It sits in the top 10 of most recognisable luxury brand ranking lists year on year. (see Forbes clipping below as an example).

2. People (not watch enthusiasts) think Rolex are very expensive. Especially for a watch which can be bought very cheaply. As such, Rolex has become a status symbol. I guess the thinking is if you can afford to spend $10k on a watch, you must have a lot of money. Whether we like it or not, and whether this is true or not - this is the perception.

3. Unconscious bias affects us all, it's part of our DNA. We're constantly assessing each other. What clothes you're wearing, what car you're driving, what BS you're typing into a watch forum.. So if a person learns that your watch is a Rolex, see points 1 & 2. This information is added into their general perception of you, and their unconscious bias may play a role in how they interact with you after recognising you're wearing something horribly expensive.

This DEFINITELY happens a lot in watch shops as they're looking at your wrists when you walk in - and I'm treated much more like a serious customer with my Rolex on, than if I walk into Watches of Switzerland with my scruffy old gshock. That's the Sales Advisors mistake, but it does happen.

Outside of the watch world, it also happens. Less so but it does happen.

My sister complemented me on a nice watch, then saw it was a Rolex and proceeded to mock me.

A young son of a friend jokingly asked if my watch was a rolex and eyes boggled when I said yes and let him try it on.

Work colleagues have asked about it after spotting on video call.

A real estate broker spotted it.

So non-watch nerds do spot rolex, and as soon as it's identified as a Rolex there's going to be some conscious and subconscious judgement and treatment at play. I'm not saying doors open and red carpets roll out. But you don't really get this with other watch brands. Other watch brands are generally assigned to the 'Not sure if it's garbage or gold' category and dismissed.

It honestly didn't upset me, I liked the way you wrote and the Thank you was genuine. What do you mean by helped the OP a little ?

This is also one of the biggest Issues when it comes to any watch that compares to a Rolex the subconscious knowledge of buying the most popular brand or not buying into the "hype" i kinda feel like i don't want to get the obvious one but i also do like the heritage.

I (thought) I was responding to elcaballero, who was upset about the fact Rolex has a special place in the world. I may have pushed the wrong button!

For you, I hoped my post helped a bit to make a decision. Owning a Tudor, I can say it's a fricking awesome brand. Great great watches. I've owned the GMT and the Pelagos now. I find them nicer to use than Omega - crown operation, case heft, antireflective coating. And definitely less attention attracting than the Rolex.

BUT, I am definitely a Rolex convert. When I first started seriously collecting, I wanted everything but a Rolex. However, when I finally found myself in a position to own one, it really is a lovely thing - hence my slightly heavy handed enthusiasm! IF you've got the option, bag the rolex, you won't regret it - even if you decide it's not for you and you sell it.

I have no way to measure them, but to my eye they are the same length and width. I don’t think neither is better than the other, the sub has a longer total length of adjustment but the steps are much larger than the pelagos, for daily I think the pelagos is a better fit for me because I can really dial in the adjustment throughout the day.

Oh and I forgot to add, the Tudor has a wetsuit extension which the sub lacks. Another thing is precision, all of my tudors are within -1s/day, this sub is +1.5s/day which I know is within tolerance but kind of annoying. Here’s both of them frontside to get a size comparison.

And here they are in my 16cm wrist

More like very distant cousins now. Obviously Wilsdorf started both companies but Tudor almost completely disappeared in the late 1980s into the early 2000s, then the company got some new blood and realized their true calling and history around 2015. I appreciate the history and the brand’s stand alone character now. Where Rolex owns every part of what they build and manufacture, from the steel they use to every single component of the watch. Tudor uses Swiss manufactured movements and brings them in to be assembled at their Swiss factory. So the phrase, “little brother”? No, not since the 1950s when Rolex parts were being used by Tudor on some of their watches. Still they are, in my opinion, a very well made and genuine Swiss watch brand. And yes, anyone can see the relationship between the two brands. However Tudor is in no way affiliated with Rolex today.

A very accurate summary! I too have a full fat pelagos which I love. I don't own a sub, just a datejust 41. I'm a fan of both Tudor and Rolex.

The Pelagos is the better watch. But the submariner is a SUB!

Size wise - they look super close in terms of physical lug length.

Visually, the Sub looks smaller due to the slightly reduced diameter bezel insert (grips take up more space compared to the Pelagos where the bezel goes all the way out to the max diameter pretty much). Also the glossyness of the rolex bezel let's it play with the light a bit. It's optical, but it makes the sub look like it's taking up less real-estate.

I must also admit, whilst the pelagos bracelet has a bunch of nice features, it's not nearly as comfy as the perfection of a Rolex bracelet.

I think in those photos it looks a little larger than the sub, but on further away photos the sub definitely looks larger, idk if it’s the male end links or steel being brighter than titanium. They’re both really close though, I think it’s just 0,5mm larger in all directions. There’s this weird thing too, the Tudor wears taller because the mid-case is thicker even though the watch is thinner.

I own the Pelagos 39 and I love it. It looks outstanding on my wrist and every time I glance at it, the interplay between the dial and the bezel generates a small dopamine response. And it is incredibly accurate - a 1 second/day. I don't regret buying it for a second. BUT I would take the sub any day over the Pelagos. That's just not realistic for me though. I have 3 kids with 3 school tuitions, and I can't justify buying the sub when the Pelagos is such a phenomenal watch for so much less. But there is simply nothing in horology today that feels as comfortable on the wrist at the 904 steel oyster bracelet.

If you can afford to spend the money, buy the submariner. If that's just not a responsible choice for you, then buy the Pelagos and you won't regret it.