Step by step, the brand Tudor has emerged from the considerable shadow of its "big brother," Rolex, a transition that commenced in 2007 and marked the pursuit of its own unique identity. Tudor's strategy revolves around creating captivating timepieces inspired by the brand's storied history while remaining firmly in the realm of 'affordable quality watches.' Founded by Hans Wilsdorf, the visionary behind Rolex, in 1946, Tudor was established as a secondary brand with the mission of extending Rolex's legendary reliability to a wider audience at a more accessible price point.
Intriguingly, Tudor shares the same industrial platform as Rolex, particularly concerning watch cases, straps, assembly, quality assurance, distribution, and after-sales support. However, the movements themselves are generally sourced from ETA and meticulously 'Tudorised' to adhere to the company's unique aesthetic and technical standards. Embracing the current fascination with vintage and retro designs, Tudor has delved into its own archive of iconic models. Following the resounding success of the Heritage Black Bay dive watch, which drew inspiration from a 1954 model, Tudor turned to the 1973 blue-shaded Chronograph Montecarlo for its next vintage-inspired creation.
In 2014, Tudor expanded its Heritage Collection with the Ranger, a sporty adventurer with an urban, vintage-inspired character, harkening back to 1960s 'toolwatch' designs. Over time, the company established its own in-house designed and built caliber, the MT-5621, initially featured in the understated North Flag and subsequently adapted for the Pelagos models. Two additional caliber versions have been introduced for the new Black Bay models, distinctly departing from the Rolex heritage and the familiar pattern of ETA movements that Tudor had relied on for decades. These calibers, measuring 31.8 and 33.8 millimeters and equipped with a generous 65-hour power reserve, are meticulously engineered to fit within the confines of their respective cases, boasting a thickness of 6.5 millimeters and silicon hairsprings. All these new Tudor timepieces are rigorously certified and finely-tuned to meet exacting chronometric standards, underscoring the brand's commitment to quality and innovation.
