One For The Divers: Tudor Introduces the Pelagos FXD in Black Titanium
After waiting with bated breath, Tudor fans around the world may now breathe a collective sigh of relief as the Swiss watch manufacture reveals its latest release: the new Pelagos FXD. In homage to the decades of Tudor watches worn on the wrist of US naval divers, the Swiss horology house is introducing this new model, housed in a 42 mm black titanium case. Crowned the ultimate modern ‘Milsub’, the timepiece is powered by the high-performance manufacture calibre MT5602 and is water-resistant to 200 m.
The history of the Tudor divers’ watch dates back to 1954 with the launch of reference 7922, which boasted water resistance to 100 m. Since then, the manufacture’s diver’s watches have garnered much attention for their robust architecture and reliability, with the tool watches even being in favour amongst many major navies across the globe. More specifically, the US Navy has been wearing Tudor diving watches ever since the late 1950s, and were famously used by SEAL teams from their commissioning in 1962 all the way through to the late ‘80s. From teaching scuba diving to carrying out submarine maintenance, the Tudor watches have proved indispensable to America’s navy time and again.
A black titanium case
Housed in a 42mm satin-brushed titanium case with fixed strap bars, which is machined from a single block of titanium, the watch has a rather slick, dark aesthetic. Equipped with a unidirectional rotatable bezel in titanium with ceramic insert and water-resistance to 200 m, the watch is ideal for professional divers, as well as those looking for a robust and sporty watch. The black bezel, with its 60-minute graduation covered with Super-LumiNova, matches smartly to the dial and corresponds to the ISO standard 6425:2018 for divers’ watches. Last but not least – and as is typical for the brand today – the titanium crown bears the Tudor shield.
The dial
Despite its sultry colour scheme, the matt-black dial’s design makes it a good choice for those descending the depths of the ocean, with its applied hour markers and hallmark ‘Snowflake’ hands filled with grade X1 Swiss Super-LumiNova. The dial offers only hours, minutes, and seconds, allowing the reading of the dive time to stay at the forefront of the design – vital for those using the watch professionally.
The movement
Tudor equip the new Pelagos FXD in black titanium with the manufacture calibre MT5602. This self-winding movement with bidirectional rotor system offers a solid 70-hour power reserve, while beating at frequency of 4 Hz. As well as displaying the hour, minutes, and seconds, the movement integrates a stop-seconds function for precise time setting. In addition, the non-magnetic silicon balance spring and variable inertia balance help the highly precise calibre MT5602 on its way to its COSC certification. Naturally, decoration is also of importance at Tudor, even with its diver’s watches. Therefore, the calibre’s rotor in tungsten monobloc is open-worked and satin-brushed with sand-blasted details, while its bridges and mainplate have alternate sand-blasted, polished surfaces and laser decorations.
Price of the Pelagos FXD
Last but not least, the new Pelagos FXD in black titanium comes with a 22mm fabric strap with self-gripping fastening system. This fabric strap was a conscious reference to the US navy divers, who often choose the material as their preference when wearing a Tudor watch. Adding a splash of colour in forest green and red central thread, the wearer can also switch the strap up in favour of another option, which they will find in the box. This second option comes in the form of an additional black rubber strap with a woven motif and titanium pin buckle. Last but not least, the price of the new Pelagos FXD in black titanium is 4,080 euros.
Fabric strap with self-gripping fastening system, forest green with red central thread, additional black rubber strap with woven motif and titanium pin buckle, included in the box
After presenting the colourful DEFY 21 Chroma Limited Edition at LVMH Watch Week last year, Zenith has now launched two new limited editions with their own colour concept. Technical precision and chromatic design meet once again in the Zenith Defy 21 Chroma II, which is housed in a black or white ceramic case. The case Coming…
As early as the end of the 18th century, Breguet had laid down clear design codes, such as the famous hand-guilloching of dials in gold or silver. Among other things, the watchmaker created the eponymously named Breguet hands with their openworked "pomme" tip. Another ever-recognisable feature has to be the eccentrically arranged dial, taking inspiration…
Zenith is adding an annual calendar to the Chronomaster Original collection. The collection revives the design of the brand's iconic A386 and now features a model with a triple calendar display. Originally, the A386 was to include a full calendar and a moon phase display anyway. However, due to the success of the classic chronograph,…
For decades Panerai equipped the Italian combat swimmers with watches and precision instruments. This connection was now honored during the watch fair SIHH 2019 by Panerai with releasing the Submersible Marina Militare Carbotech in black (Ref. PAM00979) and military green (Ref. PAM00961), a professional diving watch with a diameter of 47 mm. The case of the watch is made of…
Richard Mille is introducing a brand new limited edition – and it's like nothing we have seen before. Taking its inspiration from the rock 'n roll lifestyle of the 1960s, the RM 66 Flying Tourbillon from Richard Mille is surely one of the most extravagant pieces to exist in the current collection. 50 pieces are…
IWC Schaffhausen is extending its Portugieser collection by introducing the IWC Schaffhausen Portugieser Automatic 40. The model bases itself on the well-known design of the Ref. 325 from the 1930s. Therefore, the small seconds are placed at 6 o'clock. Furthermore, the case is only available in 40 mm. Additionally, IWC is introducing two new 42…
Swiss watch manufacture Breitling is launching an extremely limited-edition Chronomat series as well as a new squad. Both dedicate themselves to the unions and federations that make up Six Nations Rugby: England, Ireland, Wales, Scotland, France, and Italy. Breitling holds the title of exclusive luxury watch partner to Six Nations Rugby, and the Chronomat Six…
The Roger Dubuis Excalibur Spider Pirelli Monotourbillon celebrates Pirelli's 150th anniversary. The collaboration's result is a sporty timepiece made of white composite Mineral Composite Fibre. It features a flying tourbillon and a power indicator in the style of a car's fuel gauge. It is also possible to exchange the bezel, crown and strap for three…
Watch manufacture Richard Mille is introducing a new flyback chronograph. The Richard Mille RM 72-01 replaces the previously discontinued RM 11 and is powered by the manufacture's first in-house chronograph calibre. The new model retains the brand's design aesthetics and, as usual, integrates a number of technical innovations. The Case The case of the Richard…
Frederique Constant is celebrating a double anniversary with greetings from outer space: the brand’s 35th anniversary and the launch of its tourbillon calibre 15 years ago. With its meteorite dial, the Classic Tourbillon Meteorite Manufacture is a cosmic timepiece that showcases the brand's craftsmanship through 35 handmade limited-edition pieces. A rare combination of materials: the case and…
The new Audemars Piguet luxury watch model belongs to the technological highlights of the brand founded in 1875 in the Swiss Jura. With a movement of only 2.89 mm and a case 6.3 mm high the new Royal Oak Selfwinding Perpetual Calendar Ultrathin (Ref. 26586IP.OO.1240IP.01) is one of the thinnest models with a perpetual calendar worldwide.…
Audemars Piguet is introducing a particularly special piece to its 2020 Code 11.59 collection – the Grande Sonnerie Carillon Supersonnerie – thus featuring one of the most prestigious complications in the watchmaking world. Furthermore, the watch combines the art of watchmaking with art itself, having collaborated with Swiss enameller artisan Anita Porchet to create the…
Already in 2018, Carl F. Bucherer launched the first model of the Manero Tourbillon Double Peripheral (Ref. 00.10920.03.13.01) with a classical rose gold case with a silvered-coloured dial. The watch brand is now presenting a new trilogy of elegant variations in rose, yellow or white gold that are available as a set or individually. Manero Tourbillon…