The Origin Of Swiss Tudor Watches

Tudor Watches is a Swiss watch brand founded in 1926 by Hans Wilsdorf, the same visionary behind Rolex. Wilsdorf created Tudor to offer timepieces with the same quality and reliability as Rolex but at a more accessible price point. Tudor watches were often powered by Swiss ETA movements (until recently) and housed in Rolex-quality cases with Rolex-signed crowns and casebacks in the early years.

Key Milestones and Features of Tudor:

1926: The brand name "The Tudor" was registered by Wilsdorf's company.
1946: Montres Tudor SA was established as a sister company to Rolex.
1950s–1960s: Gained fame with tool watches like the Tudor Oyster Prince and Tudor Submariner, often used by military forces, including the French Navy (Marine Nationale).
1970s: Introduced distinctive and colorful chronographs like the Tudor "Monte Carlo" models.
2009 Onward: Tudor was revitalized with modern reissues and in-house movements. The brand distanced itself aesthetically from Rolex and started gaining a strong independent identity.
2012: Launch of the Heritage Black Bay series, reviving the look of vintage dive watches.
2015: Introduction of Tudor’s first in-house movement (MT5621) in the North Flag model.
2022: Opened its own manufacture in Le Locle, Switzerland.

Popular Modern Models:

Black Bay – Vintage-inspired diver’s watch, signature snowflake hands, with multiple variants (Fifty-Eight, GMT, Pro).
Pelagos – A professional titanium dive watch with 500m water resistance, helium escape valve, and tool-like appeal.
Ranger – A modern field watch with a minimalist design, ideal for rugged wear.
Royal – Sporty dress watch with integrated bracelet and day-date options.
Chrono – Sports chronograph often combining racing and diving aesthetics.