Feature: 5 Cool Tudors that are NOT Black Bays
You’d be forgiven for instantly thinking of a Black Bay when Tudor is mentioned—they’re great watches and the brand’s flagship collection after all. But it’s not all the watchmaker has to offer, so we think it’s about time Tudor’s non-Black-Bay watches get a proper look-in. We’re talking the Pelagos, Ranger and 1926 collections, to name but a few. Which is your favourite?
Tudor Royal
Take a Rolex Day-Date, add a pinch of Datejust and a smidgen of Oysterquartz and you get the Tudor Royal, a steel timepiece with an integrated bracelet. The applied Roman numerals add to the classic looks while the bezel—which alternates between fluted and plain—is a nod to the engine-turned bezels of certain vintage Rolex Oysters. Tudor also offers different size versions in two-tone steel and yellow gold, and with diamond-studded dials.
Tudor Pelagos
The Pelagos is a tool watch made for professional divers. In fact, the line is described by Tudor as being one of the most “complete traditional mechanical divers’ watches available today”. With that said, you don’t have to be a professional diver to wear the Pelagos. Its sleek aesthetics and lightweight steel and titanium case make it a sought-after model with a sporty appeal and with a choice of straps in rubber or fabric, or a titanium bracelet, you can wear the Pelagos however you please.
Tudor 1926
Sitting at the dressier end of Tudor’s offering, the 1926 pays homage to the year the brand was founded almost 100 years ago and offers a line of timeless and elegant mechanical watches in four different sizes suitable for men and women. Pick from a range of dial designs, colours and bracelets and get ready to impress with the vintage-inspired yet elegant appeal of the 1926 collection.
Heritage Chrono Blue
Discontinued in the last few years, the Heritage Chrono Blue—a re-edition of the now sought-after “Monte Carlo” model from the early 1970s—remains widely available. We’re not sure why Tudor pulled the plug on this stylish model, a chronograph in bold retro colours with a “butterfly” dial display and a date window at 6 o’clock. But if you love Tudor yet don’t want to sign up to the oversubscribed Black Bay Club, this is a great option.
Tudor Ranger
Launched in 2022 to mark the 70th anniversary of the British North Greenland Expedition, the Ranger is Tudor’s answer to Rolex’s Explorer, featuring an almost identical dial. It’s based on the Prince Rangers of the late 1960s and features the “shovel” hour hand—as much a Tudor hallmark as the “snowflake” hand that’s now synonymous with the Black Bay series. This modern iteration has a case size of 39mm, enlarged from the 34mm of vintage versions, but still suitable for almost anyone.
