The Breitling Watch Source Forums

So, one of the best things about this forum is that it's opened my up to a while new world of watches. I now know that TAG's aren't the best watches in the world Among the other brands that I've spent way too much time admiring is Tudor, I know that they were introduced as a less expensive brand by Rolex, kinda like Chevy to Cadillac to me, but I've had difficulty finding anything else out about them.

Their website is very nice and I actually quite like a lot of their models, more so than Rolex, but what do people who own one think of them. As far as being a "cheaper" alternative to Rolex, how much cheaper are we talking? I was also wondering what kind of movements they use, I have to assume that they aren't using Rolex made movements but I could very well be wrong. I just don't see very many and I know that they stopped selling in the States a couple of years ago, but they do have some very nice looking watches.

Any info or opinions would be appreciated, I've just started getting into watches and I now have a short list of 4 or 5 that I love, I'm wondering if that list is going to get longer. Thanks guys, have a great day.

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"Leave the gun, take the cannoli."

They use modified ETA movements.

Excellent watches at fair prices. The new Heritage is a seriousely sweet watch and on my to get list! let me see if I can find that article about their history...

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Certified watch nut.

In 1905 Wilsdorf launched his own company in England and started producing high quality watches. Then in 1908, he registered the "Rolex" brand in La Chaux-de-Fonds Switzerland. The company remained in England fifteen years approximately and in 1920 moved to Geneva.

It was not until 1946 that Hans Wilsdorf first opened Tudor. Wilsdorf chose the name Tudor because he wanted to honor the Tudor period of England.


http://www.interwatches.com/rolex-tudor-history

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Certified watch nut.

I think it is very interesting at the time that the large case size for men was 20MM, and the mid size was 17mm. Imagine walking around those days with a 44MM watch

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Certified watch nut.

I think Altair has more than adequately covered the nuts and bolts of Tudor there.

In "ye olde days" Tudor used to use Rolex movements as well, but as Altair rightly said, they now use modified ETA's. My personal fav out of the current range is the Hydro 1200 with the ceramic and steel bracelet, but two things put me off - the hands (which I think look a little weird) and the movement (but that's only because I'm only really looking at in-house pieces these days).

But in short, they make very nice watches and are sufficiently different from Rolex these days to be avoid the slightly unfair "poor man's rolex" tag.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

Thanks guys, this brand has really caught my interest, I'm not really too worried about going with just in-house movements. I think it's a great idea, but if I did that I'd have like one watch, couldn't afford more. I do like the direction that you're going in though Driver. If you can pull it off than more power to you. You going to get a B01 to keep with that?

I do agree that some of the hands and designs are a bit weird, but I really like the Aeronaut GMT, that's a very cool watch imo Thanks for the input Driver and Altair, definitely two of the most valued opinions when it comes to watches.

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"Leave the gun, take the cannoli."

I'm with Altair, the new Tudor Heritage Chrono is a very nice looking watch.

I also agree with Driver in having the feeling that Tudor has never quite been able to kick the "poor man's Rolex" tag, underserved or not.

From memory a lot of the earlier Tudor's looked a lot like Rolex which definitely didn't help the prevailing reputation. Fortunately that seems to be changing. Although I've never tried one on in person I think they're definitely worth a look.

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Happines is Good Health and a Bad Memory.
"Ingrid Bergman"

in my opinion, although tudor watch is not as famous as rolex watch, also is not expensive as rolex, the quality of tudor watch is also at the highest and you do not need to worry too much about what kind of movement material it use! I also love tudor watch, it gives man a very success feeling!

Resurrecting an old thread...

So any updates? Anyone actually have one? I'm a late bloomer but lately I've been infatuated with the Heritage chrono. A classic retro design with the hints of orange... absolutely beautiful..

Just also wondering why Tudor wouldn't establish a market in the states? From my knowledge they aren't available in the US.

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"I don't got the bright watch I got the right watch" -Jay Z

Still not here, to my knowledge.

The Heritage chrono is nice, though I have not seen one in the metal, again likely a function of trying to find a newer model where they aren't sold. I have looked more than once at the older pre-owned chronographs, sometimes referred to as "Date-tonas" because they look so much like the Daytona but have a date complication. Under a long-sleeve shirt, people did a double-take, certain I'd picked up a Daytona. I strongly considered a Tudor Tiger chrono, which had the Valjoux 7750 in it. Tudor has their own bracelet but many were sold on and oyster-style bracelet essentially the same as the old Rolex bracelet, which is to say a bit flimsy after wearing Breitlings, A lot of them are around from $2000-$3000.

There's another niche market for the pre-Tiger chrono, a thicker case they call the "big block" which is fairly substantial. Collectors like these because they were fitted with a Rolex crown out of the factory. Nice looking watches, I have seen several of those around in the $4000-4500 range. Again, bezels just like the Daytona and a date with cyclops. My watch guy owns one and it's really a nice piece. He wears it on the black, super-thick DiModell waterproof leather strap because it's a great combo and (he didn't say this part) of the wimpy bracelet.

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Scott

AP Royal Oak 15400, silver
Zenith Chronomaster El Primero Classic Cars
Vintage gold Corum
Rolex DJ 36 TT, oyster dial, oyster/smooth
Baume & Mercier Riviera 200m, silver dial/aquamarine bezel
Breitling Superocean 57, rose/stainless