SINGAPORE (Nov 12): The Pelagos is not Tudor’s first diving watch. That distinction belongs to the Oyster Prince Submariner reference 7922, created in 1954. The criteria were simple enough: It was meant to be durable, reliable, accurate and waterproof.

Over the next few years, the Tudor Submariner became the choice of many professional divers, who were forthcoming in stating their preferences and what they would like to see in a diver’s watch. Being users, they knew best what was required, thus, the Tudor Submariner went through a number of changes. One of the most significant was the maximum functional immersion depth, set at 100m initially, but reaching 200m with the introduction of reference 7924 in 1958. The
1960s saw more technical modifications that constituted the Tudor Submariner  And the improvements continued well into the 1990s.

In its heyday, the Tudor Submariner was the choice of the French and US navies and other important military organisations throughout the world. The Tudor divers’ watches delivered to these organisations were neither custom designed nor specially developed; they were just references listed in the catalogue, from which these organisations selected their choices. These watches’ only distinction was an engraving on the screw-down case back.

When the Tudor Pelagos model was developed in 2012, it tapped its rich past that is the Tudor Submariner and numerous tests carried out in real conditions all over the world  particularly on Lake Geneva, which has the same characteristics specific to extreme diving. As such the Tudor Pelagos is described as a cutting-edge and robust diving watch widely used by amateur and professional divers, including the world’s largest navies. The name Pelagos is Greek for “relating to, or living in the open sea”.

The Pelagos has everything a diver needs:

  • Being waterproof to 500m (factory-tested to 625m);
  • A titanium case and bracelet;
  • A patented auto-adjusting clasp, which is needed to adjust during the dive when it is compressed because of water depth;
  • Watch functions on the Tudor in-house movement calibre MT5612, which is resistant to shocks and vibrations;
  • A 70-hour power reserve: Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres (COSC) certification;
  • A helium escape valve to protect the watch from saturation dives. As the helium atom is the smallest gas particle in existence, over time it is able to penetrate the interior of the watch despite its waterproofness. The helium escape valve allows the gas to escape freely from the watch without damaging it during the long decompression stage in the chamber. The helium escape valve accounts for this overpressure, preventing any watch damage; and
  • Full luminescent display for clear readability.
In 2015, the Pelagos was awarded the “Sports Watch” prize at the prestigious Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève, coming first in a category that included watches with much higher price points. The jury, composed of highly regarded international industry experts, commented that the Pelagos was “perfectly answering sports and diving requirements”.

In the same year, this emblematic model was updated with a movement manufactured by Tudor and an additional colour combination for the dial, bezel and rubber strap.

Today, in addition to its original matt black version, this model is available in matt blue, the emblematic colour of the brand’s divers’ watches since the 1960s and the one chosen by the French navy for the Tudor Submariners that have been used in great numbers by its divers.

The Pelagos up-close

Tudor Pelagos Ref 25600TN

Case: 42mm titanium and steel case with satin finish

Bezel: Unidirectional rotatable bezel in titanium, graduated over 60 minutes with ceramic matt black disc and graduations with white luminescent material

Movement: MT5612. Manufacture Tudor (COSC). Self-winding mechanical movement with bidirectional rotor system.

Power reserve: About 70 hours

Winding crown: Titanium winding crown with Tudor logo in relief. Helium escape valve at nine o’clock.

Dial: Black. Date at three o’clock

Waterproofness: Waterproof to 500m (1,640ft) 

Bracelet: Titanium bracelet with folding clasp and safety catch in steel, with bracelet extension system developed and patented by Tudor. Additional rubber strap with buckle and extra extension piece supplied with watch.

Tudor Pelagos Ref 25600TB 

Case:42mm titanium and steel case with satin finish

Bezel: Unidirectional rotatable bezel in titanium, graduated over 60 minutes with ceramic matt blue disc and graduations with white luminescent material 

Movement: MT5612. Manufacture Tudor (COSC). Self-winding mechanical movement with bidirectional rotor system.

Power reserve: About 70 hours

Winding crown: Titanium winding crown with Tudor logo in relief. Helium escape valve at nine o’clock.

Dial: Blue. Date at three o’clock.

Waterproofness: Waterproof to 500m (1,640 ft)

Bracelet: Titanium bracelet with folding clasp and safety catch in steel, with bracelet extension system developed and patented by Tudor. Additional rubber strap with buckle and extra extension piece supplied with watch.

This article appeared in Issue 856 (Nov 12) of The Edge Singapore.

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