LuxuryWatchesTudor is the perfect luxury watch brand – nothing will persuade me otherwiseWhy Tudor is more appealing than its sibling RolexWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
LuxuryWatchesTudor is the perfect luxury watch brand – nothing will persuade me otherwiseWhy Tudor is more appealing than its sibling RolexWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
Why Tudor is more appealing than its sibling Rolex
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: T3)
(Image credit: T3)
Yes, it looks a lot like the Rolex Daytona 6263 of Paul Newman fame, and isn’t a million miles from a contemporary Daytona. But where those watches are utter Unobtainium – even for those with the cash to buy now, but haven’t yet formed a solid relationship with their local Rolex dealer – Tudors are luxury watches that can actually be bought, at retail price, within a year of launch. And, crucially, they aren’t as yawn-inducingly predictable as a Rolex.
(Image credit: Tudor)
(Image credit: Tudor)
Identical to my own, which had been substituted that day for myChristopher Ward, his 58 was clearly a possession for which he had worked hard; a small piece of luxury that, while carrying a price tag greater than most would ever spend on a watch, is still relatively attainable for those who really want one. On the other hand, to strike up a conversation with a city worker about their Rolex would be akin to complimenting a Starbucks customer on their MacBook.
Sign up to the T3 newsletter for smarter living straight to your inbox
Get all the latest news, reviews, deals and buying guides on gorgeous tech, home and active products from the T3 experts
Their use of waterproof cases and self-winding automatic movements saw Tudor appeal to the navies of several nations through the 60s, 70s and 80s, and most notably appearing on the wrists of the US Navy Seals and French Marine Nationale. At the same time, Tudor developed its own distinctive features, like the snowflake hands that were reintroduced when the company underwent a major brand relaunch in 2009.
(Image credit: Tudor)
(Image credit: Tudor)
Then there’s the utility of the products themselves. Tudor’s Black Bay 58 has been a smash hit since it arrived in 2018, with its subtle vintage detailing, sensible case sizes and range of straps and colourways. It’s not a Swatch-style smorgasbord of colour, but just the right variation to keep things interesting while not deviating too far from the core design brief.
I love how the black and navy 58s can each be bought with three very different straps and suit all of them equally well, and how there’s a bronze model that will age with a unique patina. I recently swapped out the stainless steel strap of my navy 58 for a blue NATO strap with a central white line. Worn on a boat in the Adriatic sea, it felt like a completely new watch.
None of this is groundbreaking, but it creates a product catalogue that is broad enough to appeal to most tastes, while not bombarding buyers with hundreds of permutations. It is a brand that perfectly balances luxury with accessibility.
(Image credit: Tudor)
(Image credit: Tudor)
This is important, as I fear some watch manufacturers are starting to confuse luxury with exclusivity. Luxuries should be things almost everyone can indulge in from time to time, whether it’s spending an extra £2 on a Friday evening bottle of wine, paying to access an airport lounge, or finally buying the Swiss watch you always dreamed of.
Buying luxury items is to gain membership to a club of fellow owners. But where the clubs of Rolex, Patek and others are difficult to enter regardless of your bank balance, Tudor’s door is open. You might have to register your interest with Goldsmiths and wait a few months, as I did. But eventually, it’ll be your turn to pick up the watch, at its regular retail price, and enjoy it.
It is unlikely to appreciate like a rarified Rolex, but that simply means you can wear it daily without fear, just as I’m sure Tudor intended.
This article is part ofThe T3 Edit, a collaboration between T3 and Wallpaper* which explores the very best blends of design, craft, and technology. Wallpaper* magazine is the world’s leading authority on contemporary design and The T3 Edit is your essential guide to what’s new and what’s next.
This article is part ofThe T3 Edit, a collaboration between T3 and Wallpaper* which explores the very best blends of design, craft, and technology. Wallpaper* magazine is the world’s leading authority on contemporary design and The T3 Edit is your essential guide to what’s new and what’s next.
This article is part ofThe T3 Edit, a collaboration between T3 and Wallpaper* which explores the very best blends of design, craft, and technology. Wallpaper* magazine is the world’s leading authority on contemporary design and The T3 Edit is your essential guide to what’s new and what’s next.
This article is part ofThe T3 Edit, a collaboration between T3 and Wallpaper* which explores the very best blends of design, craft, and technology. Wallpaper* magazine is the world’s leading authority on contemporary design and The T3 Edit is your essential guide to what’s new and what’s next.
This article is part ofThe T3 Edit, a collaboration between T3 and Wallpaper* which explores the very best blends of design, craft, and technology. Wallpaper* magazine is the world’s leading authority on contemporary design and The T3 Edit is your essential guide to what’s new and what’s next.
This article is part ofThe T3 Edit, a collaboration between T3 and Wallpaper* which explores the very best blends of design, craft, and technology. Wallpaper* magazine is the world’s leading authority on contemporary design and The T3 Edit is your essential guide to what’s new and what’s next.
Vollebak pushes the limits of outerwear with Double Graphene Puffer and Shielding SuitThe company continues to weave innovation into every thread
The company continues to weave innovation into every thread
Bowers & Wilkins Pi6 review: sensational sound, ordinary ANCBowers & Wilkins' step-down true wireless earbuds sound amazing and are well-priced – so what’s the catch, if anything?
Bowers & Wilkins' step-down true wireless earbuds sound amazing and are well-priced – so what’s the catch, if anything?
