The Tudor Pelagos FDX line was created in close collaboration with a special unit of the French National Navy, offering rugged, waterproof watches for operational use.
This line now expands to meet the needs of the French Naval Air Force, with a watch equipped with a GMT function, allowing pilots and specialized personnel to display a second time zone and “Zulu time.”
In this article we will explore all the features of this new creation from the house of Tudor.
The historical link between Tudor and the Marine Nationale
The link between Tudor and the Marine Nationale, was born in 1956, when the Groupe d’Étude et de Recherches Sous-Marines (G.E.R.S.), a scientific body of the French Navy based in Toulon, requested a number of Oyster Prince Submariner watches to evaluate their performance in real-world situations of use. Specifically, references 7922 and 7923 were tested, both water-resistant to 100 meters and equipped with a self-winding and a manual movement, respectively.
Both references fully passed the tests to which they were subjected, with performance considered accurate and water resistance judged perfect. Several orders were placed over the next five years until, in 1971, Tudor became an official supplier to the French Navy.
The most iconic watch born from this collaboration is the Reference 9401, launched in 1975 and produced for about a decade. Featuring a now iconic blue dial with matching bezel, this model was used particularly in diving school and by combat swimmers.
he bond between Tudor and the French Navy will be renewed in 2021 with a new technical watch, developed in collaboration with the Navy’s combat swimmer unit and designed for underwater navigation, in distinctive shades of blue.
Since then, the titanium case and fixed lugs have become essential features of the models in this line, even in the versions not intended for the Marine Nationale, while seeing new experiments by the company, such as the carbon case of the Chrono Cycling Edition version.
The new model in this collection is designed to meet the needs of French Naval Air Force personnel who need to keep reference to Zulu time, made possible by the new GMT caliber.
The technical characteristics of the new Tudor Pelagos FXD GMT
The case of the new Pelagos FXD GMT “Zulu Time” measures 42 mm and is made of grade 2 titanium. The case back is engraved with “M.N. 24,” an abbreviation for Marine Nationale 2024, a tribute not only to the special unit for which it was designed, but also to the brand’s heritage, recalling models from the 1970s and 1980s that bore similar engravings.
The matte black dial, with applied hour markers coated in beige luminescent material, gives the watch a vintage aesthetic.
The METAS-certified MT5652-U caliber is in-house and, in addition to three hands for hours, minutes and seconds, features a date function indicated at three o’clock on the dial and an orange GMT hand. Confirming the watch’s excellent quality and robustness for extreme environments, the movement is also COSC (Swiss Official Chronometer Control) certified and offers a 65-hour power reserve.
The strap, similar to that of models in the Pelagos FXD family, is in this case a dark green reminiscent of aviators’ overalls, with an embroidered French Naval Air Force cockade.
Price and availability
The new Tudor Pelagos GMT will soon be available in all boutiques and retailers at a list price of EUR 4,750.
Conclusion
The history linking Tudor to the Marine Nationale is fascinating in itself and, for military watch enthusiasts, represents a unique opportunity from a collecting perspective.
The watch presented is even more striking, with a military and sporty look that reflects the highest technical level Tudor has achieved in recent years.
All this, combined with a highly competitive price, makes it in my opinion one of the most interesting watches launched this year.
Good evidence at the wrist!
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