Tudor introduces a diver's watch developed in collaboration with the French Navy's special forces.

Release Date:2021.11.11
Nov 11, 2021
The Pelagos FXD was developed in collaboration with the French Navy's Special Forces and features unique specifications. This professional model, designed for underwater navigation, will be available for purchase on November 11, 2021.

Pelagos FXD ¥443,300 (tax included)
The Pelagos FXD was developed in collaboration with the French Navy's Special Forces and features unique specifications. This professional model, designed for underwater navigation, will be available for purchase on November 11, 2021.

Tudor was one of the first companies to introduce modern, professional-grade diver's watches in the 1950s and continued to supply watches to the French Navy until the 1980s. Named for its robust case construction with a strap bar fixed to it, the Pelagos FXD honours Tudor's long-standing relationship with the French Navy. Developed in collaboration with the French Navy's prestigious combat diver unit, the "Commando Hubert", this model is a genuine technical watch that meets the unique specifications, including special functions.


KEY POINTS

・42mm titanium case with satin finish, strap bar fixing mechanism machined from a single block, caseback engraving with the "Marine nationale" (French Navy) logo and "M.N. 21" (Marine nationale 2021) inspired by models from the 1970s and 1980s
・Titanium bidirectional rotating bezel with ceramic disc and 60-minute scale filled with Grade X1 Super-LumiNova
・Matte navy blue dial with applied hour markers filled with Grade X1 Super-LumiNova
・COSC-certified Manufacture calibre MT5602 with a non-magnetic silicon balance spring, power reserve of approximately 70 hours
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・The iconic "snowflake" hands of Tudor diver's watches, introduced in 1969, are coated with grade X1 Super-LumiNova.
・A one-piece pull-through fabric strap in navy blue with a grey central line, self-grip fastening system and a rubber strap embossed with a textile motif is also included.


TUDOR AND THE FRENCH NAVY


2021 marks a new turning point in the unparalleled story of Tudor and the "Marine Nationale" (French Navy), which began in 1956. At the time, the Toulon-based French Navy's Underwater Research and Studies Group (G.E.R.S. - Groupement d'Euctude et de Recherches Sous-Marines) ordered two Oyster Prince Submariners for evaluation in real-world conditions: the automatic Reference 7922 and the manual Reference 7923, each water-resistant to 100 metres. The G.E.R.S. commander at the time deemed both watches "perfectly" water-resistant and "perfectly accurate" in function. Convinced of the potential of Tudor diver's watches, he immediately increased his order, and Tudor became an official supplier to the French Navy in 1961.

Over the next few decades, Tudor's diver's watches continued to evolve, with many models being adopted by the French Navy. The most famous of these is the Reference 9401, with its iconic blue dial and bezel. Engraved on the caseback with the initials "M.N." and the year of production, this model was available in two versions: one with "snowflake" hands and square hour markers, and a later version with triangular hour markers. Launched in the mid-1970s, this model continued to be supplied to the French Navy through the 1980s. In the 2000s, it was particularly used by the French Navy's diving school and combat divers. Though officially discontinued nearly 20 years ago, the "Tudor M.N." can still be found on the wrists of reservists and veterans today. It was precisely this iconic model that inspired the Pelagos FXD.


A UNIQUE SET OF SPECIFICATIONS


Developed in collaboration with the French Navy's combat diver unit, the Pelagos FXD precisely embodies their desired set of technical specifications. This is why it incorporates many functional features new to Tudor, such as a strap bar that is fixed to the case body for greater robustness and reliability. The elongated lugs give this model a unique silhouette.

Also new to the Pelagos FXD is the rotatable bezel with 120 notches. The bidirectional rotating bezel features a counterclockwise scale from 0 to 60. Over and above compliance with the ISO 6425:2018 diver's watch standard, the company prioritized specifications that meet the specialized needs of combat divers' essential mission: "underwater navigation."


UNDERWATER NAVIGATION


Underwater navigation requires following a carefully planned route and pinpointing a destination without surfacing. Two divers, connected by a "lifeline," swim in a continuous, straight line, using a magnetic compass. They swim each section at a constant speed, timing each section until they reach their destination. To ensure accurate timing, the countdown must be restarted each time they enter a new section. This is where the counterclockwise luminous scale on this model's bezel comes in handy. The numerals on the bezel correspond to the minute hand's position, depending on the elapsed time of each section. When the minute hand reaches the triangular marker, it changes course and the diver in charge of timing begins the next countdown. Furthermore, the bezel ring is larger than the case itself, improving grip even for gloved hands that may become cold and numb after a long dive. The Pelagos FXD's design is inspired by Tudor diver's watches, historically used by the French Navy. Its navy blue color, square-tipped "snowflake" hands and square hour markers, introduced in 1969 to maximize luminous intensity in the dark, are also a highlight. The watch also features a sandblasted ceramic rotating bezel with luminous paint. The titanium case is fully satin-brushed, its matte finish limiting light reflections. However, the highlight of this model can actually be found on the back of the case. It features the Marine Nationale (French Navy) logo, featuring a hat resting on an anchor, and the engraving "M.N.21" (Marine Nationale 2021), reminiscent of the case backs of classic Tudor watches.


A BRACELET WOVEN IN THE FRENCH NAVY'S HERITAGE


Historically, the French Navy ordered Tudor diver's watches without bracelets, primarily using handmade fabric straps. Two types of straps were particularly favored by divers. These straps are handcrafted from black braided nylon and recycled parachute elastic bands, featuring green fabric with yellow or red stripes. The Pelagos FXD pays homage to the latter, a highly functional and historically significant strap closely associated with French Navy divers.

Tudor has been a pioneer in the use of fabric straps since 2010. Crafted on 19th-century looms by Julien Faure, a family-run company in Saint-Étienne, France, for over 150 years, these straps offer a unique combination of quality and comfort. For the Pelagos FXD, Julien Faure and Tudor developed a new strap construction incorporating cutting-edge technology to withstand the rigors of the French Navy's combat divers. The new strap features a navy blue polyethylene woven ribbon (22mm wide) with a gray central stripe and a self-grip fastening system, ensuring a comfortable fit for any wrist.

Coincidentally, Julien Faure, founded in 1864, was for many years the exclusive manufacturer of the decorative ribbons that adorned the bâchi (sailors' caps), emblematic of their red pom-poms. These ribbons, woven with the names of the ships and units to which the sailors and helmsmen served, were an essential part of military service.

The Pelagos FXD also comes with a one-piece rubber strap embossed with a textile motif and a titanium “D” buckle. This strap is exceptionally flexible and comfortable, something Tudor has offered to date.


THE MANUFACTURE CALIBRE MT5602

The Manufacture Caliber MT5602 powering the Pelagos FXD features hour, minute and second hands and, like all TUDOR manufacture calibers, is characterized by its distinctive finishing. The single-piece tungsten rotor is openworked and sandblasted with a satin-brushed finish. The bridges and mainplate are sandblasted and polished, with laser-etched decoration.

This robust, durable, reliable and precise movement features a variable inertia balance supported by a traversing bridge fixed at two points. It also features an amagnetic silicon balance spring and is Swiss Official Chronometer certified. While the standard for this certification is a daily deviation of -4 to +6 seconds for the movement, Tudor has gone even further, achieving an even higher standard of -2 to +4 seconds for the assembled wristwatch.

Another notable feature is the approximately 70-hour power reserve, meaning you can take your watch off on Friday night and put it back on Monday morning without having to rewind it.


THE TUDOR DIVERS' WATCH

The history of Tudor diver's watches began in 1954 with the introduction of the Reference 7922. Boasting water resistance to 100 meters (330 feet) at the time, this watch is considered the origin of Tudor diver's watches. Tudor's philosophy of creating practical watches that combine robustness, reliability, and precision has remained consistent throughout the years. In the nearly 70 years since the introduction of the Reference 7922, Tudor diver's watches have continued to evolve based on this philosophy, winning the support of professionals in a variety of fields and navies around the world. With the launch of the Pelagos FXD in 2021, Tudor continues to weave stories of the high seas with its finest partners, including the French Navy.


THE TUDOR GUARANTEE

Since the brand was founded by Hans Wilsdorf in 1926, Tudor's vision for creating the perfect watch has remained unchanged: the never-ending pursuit of robustness, durability and precision. Building on its accumulated experience and know-how in creating exceptional quality, Tudor is extending its warranty to five years for products purchased after January 2020. Additionally, for products purchased between July 1, 2018 and December 31, 2019, the warranty period will be extended by 18 months, bringing the total to three and a half years. Although this will vary depending on the frequency of use and the circumstances, we recommend an overhaul approximately once every 10 years.


Model Details
PELAGOS FXD (REFERENCE 25707B/21)
Price: 443,300 yen (tax included)

・CASE
42mm titanium case
12.75mm thick, 52mm long
Satin finish
Fixed strap bar
Steel case back
・BEZEL
Titanium bidirectional rotating bezel
Ceramic disc
Counterclockwise 60-minute scale to support continuous underwater navigation
・WINDING CROWN
Tudor shield logo in relief
・DIAL
Navy blue
・CRYSTAL
Sapphire crystal
・WATERPROOFNESS
200 m (660 ft)
・BRACELET
Self-grip fabric strap, navy blue with a grey central line
Navy blue rubber strap embossed with a textile motif and titanium buckle
・MOVEMENT
Manufacture Calibre MT5602
Mechanical self-winding movement with bidirectional rotor
・PRECISION
Swiss Official Chronometer certified by COSC
・POWER RESERVE
Approx. 70 hours
・FUNCTIONS
Hour, minute and second hands
Stop-second function for precise time setting
・OSCILLATOR
Screw-adjusted variable inertia balance spring
Non-magnetic silicon balance spring
Voltage: 28,800/hour (4Hz)
・TOTAL DIAMETER
31.8mm
・THICKNESS
6.5mm
・JEWELS
25 jewels
ABOUT TUDOR
Tudor is a Swiss watch brand offering mechanical watches that combine unique value with sophisticated style and unwavering reliability. The origins of Tudor date back to 1926, when the name "The Tudor" was first registered by a Swiss watchmaker on behalf of Rolex founder Hans Wilsdorf. In 1946, Hans Wilsdorf founded Montres Tudor SA and re-registered it under his own name, with the aim of producing pioneering watches with Rolex quality and reliability. Throughout history, TUDOR watches have been the choice of the most adventurous adventurers and seasoned professionals. The brand's lineup includes iconic models such as the Black Bay, Pelagos, and Heritage, and since 2015 has been introducing a wide range of functional mechanical manufacture movement models.



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