Spotlight On: Tudor Watches

Spotlight on Tudor Watches

We love the Tudor period, it was the Golden Age of the Jesters in Tudor England (1485-1603). The era was marked by the reign of iconic monarchs (Henry VII, Henry VIII, Edward VI, Mary I, and Elizabeth I), emergence of William Shakespeare, new discoveries, and a time of significant change and innovation. How befitting than the Tudor brand and watch, might be a true reflection of all things Tudor, but oh, it is not British but Swiss!

If you are not a watch enthusiast, you might not know that the founder of Rolex, Hans Wilsdorf, created Tudor in 1926. The brand was created as a more affordable alternative to Rolex watches, with a focus on high quality and precision engineering. The first Tudor watches were designed using many of the same Rolex features and materials but with simpler movements and less elaborate designs.

Although Tudor uses materials and might look like Rolex watches in certain aspects, the brand is not a cheap version of Rolex. The brand has developed its own path, designs, collections, and image that has over time created a loyal following.

Some of the popular models include Tudor Oyster Prince and Tudor Oyster Prince Submariner, Tudor Prince Date Chronograph, and Tudor Prince Oysterdate, to name a few. These names are very similar to that of big brother Rolex.

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However, in the 1990s, Tudor like many brands struggled financially as the brand did not respond appropriately to changing trends and the Tudor was for many years not for sale in the United States and the United Kingdom.

Interestingly for more than a decade, nothing really happened with the Tudor brand. However, in 2009 Tudor was revived and the launch of the Tudor Black Bay in 2012, using a classic design with modern technology, helped the brand to gain favor with collectors and watch enthusiasts.

Rolex is increasingly becoming a very luxury item, and for many of us mortals unobtainable. The idea behind the Tudor watches, being an affordable alternative to Rolex, might be interesting to many of us that are looking for a quality brand but at a well-balanced price.

Perhaps the age of the Tudor brand has come and like the Tudor period will through innovation and change attract and captivate a whole new group of fans.