Tudor on the Rise

I agree that they've really done well with these releases, but I would argue that they've been on the rise (with the possible exception of the P01 and North Flag, both of which I think will be desirable given their rarity) ever since we all lost our collective forum minds over the original Black Bay.

I would add a 4th the Fxd makes that list for sure. But then I am a fan boy for the Fxd 

Tudor is making great products.  I owned a Pelagos and regretted selling it. The new Pelagos looks awesome. 

Tudor is making great products.  I owned a Pelagos and regretted selling it. The new Pelagos looks awesome. 

They are on fire right now. I got into the watch hobby early enough to experience the golden age of Seiko - ya know, SKX, Sarb, etc. This very much feels like a golden age for Tudor, and I'm just happy to be here for it!

You and me both brother! The one question that has been on my mind since this new Pealgos release is, what will the fate of the FXD be? I think the standard Pelagos still has a place for its pure professional/tool value. Pelagos 39 will obviously tear up the market like the BB58 did. So in my mind it kind of makes the FXD the black sheep of the line. It's not unfathomable to think the FXD could follow a similar path as the P01 or North Flag. All of this is to say, if the FXD has a shorter production run, on top of its already unique backstory and functionality, its collectability and market value will skyrocket over time. Not that I'll ever be selling mine 😀

I think most of Tudor's new releases are pretty good. The issue is that my AD can't get of anything they have released in the last 18 months to take a look at!

Brother Rumor has it the FXD is only going to be produced through 23 with a total of 500 pieces allowed outside of contract. Bare in mind all of this is rumor some from very reliable sources some not so much. I don't think the FXD was ever meant to be a standard item. And concur I will never sell mine either.

I like the idea of the Pro, but if I was going for a sport/tool watch it would be the Pelagos 39 hands down.

I’m going to disagree - another Black Bay, a smaller version of their field watch that doesn’t look quite right, and another version of their Pelagos. Yes, I wish all other watch brands would be as daring as Tudor, what an interesting prospect that would be. Would sir care to see the new diver, all 58 models are in this case over here…? Yes, they are the same, but also, quite different… this one is 36mm, this one is 37mm, this one is anthracite, this one is pitch, this one (and I think you will like this sir) is called black. No, you cannot swim with these. Perfect, the waiting list is 2 years.

Yes - please insult Oris and the fact that their new(ish) ProPilot X with the in-house calibre offers a 10 year warranty. Clearly they are not worthy of attention or adulation at all. No, f*** Oris, pathetic pin-pallet producing pretenders puncturing the perfect panorama of prestigious perfect timepieces.
Lets all focus on Tudor, a brand happy to release the same watch model 50 times a year. Yes, let’s celebrate that… well done Tudor, sell us the same product again and again, until the market implodes under the crushing weight of ennui. 

I want the option to wear my BB at all diameters, right the way from 36mm - 44mm depending how fragile my masculinity is today.

If you are going to slag off a brand in favour of Tudor, don’t use one who managed to get a pin-pallet movement certified as a chronometer, and who can actually make a decent watch, it doesn’t benefit anybody.

Maybe, but try and name the last innovative Rolex release… the new Air King, Explorer, and EXP 2 were essentially the same watches as their predecessors.

Tudor is the new Rolex. They have been making luxury tool watches that are attainable in terms of price and availability. I think they are trying to move Rolex up market and use Tudor to fill the space of where Rolex used to be. 

Rolex and Tudor are both owned by the Hans Wilsdorf Foundation, and Tudor was set up in the twenties by Hans Wilsdorf (via a third party before he ran it himself in the 30s). Rolex was always the upmarket of the pair, with Tudor being the more affordable. Tudor watches were originally built using off-the-shelf movements whilst using Rolex cases and bracelets, it’s why older models often have Rolex markings on the hardware. One can’t be the new of the other, they are achieving what they were designed to achieve.

As much as I actually like the new Pelagos, I am going to mostly agree with @chronotriggered here.  I really dislike the narrative around Tudor being this incredible underdog that's somehow just coming back from years of terrible neglect and underinvestment in their brand.  Tudor is the flanking brand of the House of Wilsdorf and is playing its role beautifully.

Just because we like the new Pelagos, didn't mean there wasn't a shortage of BB58s and BB Pros and BB GMTs just 18-24 months ago.  The watch press and enthusiasts went gaga over those ones too.  Tudor plays the hype train better than anyone else, in large part because of the Rolex association.

And that's just fine!  It's okay that they're popular!  It's also okay to like them because they are popular.  I'm a former Tudor owner and probably will be a future one at some point.

But let's not pretend that it's particularly novel or that they're going out on a limb design wise here.  This is a cover band playing some greatest hits.

Took delivery of a 2021 BB58 on Wednesday.  Not my first Tudor, I have a 1950s hand wound dress watch and recently sold another 1950s one.  Great timepieces.  I think Tudor may become the core of my collection.

Oris sucks. There I said it

The only release im really excited about so far is the pelagos because I love how the bb58 wears but the pelagos just pops so much more with those stark white accents on the black dial. Really hope I get to see one in the real world sometime soon

I agree with you I will have to see this on wrist before I can really say one way or another.

 Not to rain on anyone's parade who likes them, but these releases do nothing for me. The über tooly, manly man vibe of the original Pelagos never appealed. Now that they dropped it to a size I can actually wear, their ad turns it into a lifestyle watch. Wear it to the beach, wear clubbing! That doesn't make it anymore appealing. The Ranger leaves me cold; nothing about it sparks any interest. The GMT to me looks cold and sterile. And I want a rotating bezel. If it had been a Black Bay 58 GMT, I would have been all over it.

I do like the Black Bay 58. I didn't want to like it at first as just another over hyped watch, but when I tried it on, it fit like a glove, and the design just spoke to me. The black on gold is warm in the right way. I may get some iteration of the BB58 at some point; I'm currently eyeing the bronze.

Heres an interesting question.  Two of those three watches are closely and obviously related to older Rolexs. The Pelagos is a very good watch but unspectacular.

If any other brand other than Tudor had released those exact same watches, identical in every way except the name on the dial, would you be singing their praises or scorning them?

I suspect the later.

I don't deny that Tudor is doing well but I cant help but feel its not being driven by the watches rather its basking in reflected glory that would scorch any other brand.

There are very few Tudor models that I like.  I have tried on the new Ranger, P01 and the Pro and they do nothing for me.  I have two Tudors but I can hardly be considered a fanboy.

The Pelagos 39 is perfect (to me).  I will have to make some tough choices if I’m going to try to buy one but I’m not in a rush to make that decision.