Tudor Watches

About Tudor Watches

Tudor was established in 1946 by Rolex founder Hans Wilsdorf. When creating Tudor, Wilsdorf’s mission was to manufacture watches with the same integrity and standards of Rolex but at a more affordable price point. With the brand’s first models, he did just that. The Oyster and Oyster Prince combined elements of the Rolex style and quality at a price that was more accessible and thus more attractive to a wider scope of customers.

Through the remainder of the 1940’s and into the 1950’s, Tudor began to take on a life of its own, independent of the reputation of its parent brand. 1952 was a notable year for Tudor. The British ministry sent a group of scientists to the northern most point in Greenland, and each was armed with a Tudor wristwatch.

In 1954, Tudor debuted one of its now iconic models—the Oyster Prince Submariner. The first edition of the model was released just after the Rolex 6204 Submariner. The two variations shared several common features, from its screw-down back to its crown.

Tudor also has a rich history with the military. In the late 1960’s, the brand caught the attention of military forces around the globe. The U.S. Navy was looking for a watch that had supreme accuracy and could also withstand extreme diving conditions. The Tudor Submariner was the perfect fit. The French Marine Nationale began issuing Tudor timepieces to its most elite serviceman—a practice that continued for over a quarter century. Their model of choice was the 7922 Tudor Submariner. The Marine Nationale even assisted in developing and testing Tudor timepieces to optimize them for diving. Other military organizations, from the Jamaican Defense Force to the Canadian Navy, have also chosen the Tudor Submariner for their servicemen because of its outstanding construction and durability.

As Tudor’s popularity continued to rise, the brand started to develop some of its signature style. In 1968, they debuted their now iconic Snowflake hour hand. It was first seen on a Ref. 7016/0. This design element helped differentiate Tudor from its parent brand.

Over the next few decades, the watch industry would be faced with the quartz crisis, but Tudor persisted with the production of mechanical watches. They dialed back the designs and retired the once coveted Snowflake hands. By 2010, the brand resurged with one of its most groundbreaking models: the Heritage Chronograph.