An Auspicious Year - Presenting The Tudor 1926

The origins of the Tudor brand began in 1926 as a brainchild of the founder of the Rolex Watch Company, Hans Wilsdorf. He intended to offer a similar level of quality of a Rolex timepiece at a more affordable price and had this to say regarding the birth of the Tudor brand.

‘For some years now, I have been considering the idea of making a watch that our agents could sell at a more modest price than our Rolex watches, and yet one that would attain the standard of dependability for which Rolex is famous. I decided to form a separate company, with the object of making and marketing this new watch. It is called the Tudor Watch Company.’

Hans Wilsdorf

Though sadly Herr Wilsdorf is no longer with us, his legacy lives on and today Tudor are still making the highest quality watch at the most accessible price with a product that is highly regarded for its attention to detail. Baselworld 2018 saw the introduction of a brand-new collection dedicated to the founding principles of Tudor and Hans Wilsdorf’s vision, the Tudor 1926.

Introduced as a collection for both gentlemen and ladies, the Tudor 1926 features a range of different sizes (28mm, 36mm, 39mm, 41mm) and can be configured in a stainless steel case and bracelet combination or stainless steel with a pink gold bezel and detailing to the bracelet. Every watch in the range is fitted with a vintage-inspired textured dial that is usually referred to as either ‘Honeycomb’ or ‘Waffle’. The detail on the dial is spectacular and adds a three-dimensional effect that is equally visually appealing on each of the three colour options – black, silver or opaline. Alternating diamond hour markers can also be chosen to add a touch of additional luxury for a rather reasonable premium of £370.

Each watch in the range is powered by a top-grade, Swiss-made ETA movement and is waterproof to 100 metres, allowing the watch to be worn in water without any issue (provided that the crown is screwed in). The Tudor 1926 is fitted with a graceful, fine link bracelet in either stainless steel or stainless steel and pink gold, completing the overall sophisticated look of the watch.

One of our personal favourites is the reference 91550 – a 39mm stainless steel model with the stunning opaline and blue dial. The opaline and blue combination is a colourway that is quite new to the brand and has since been introduced on the new Tudor Glamour Double-Date that was launched recently. The colours complement each other fantastically and often catch the light in unusual ways, leading to a dial that can sometimes appear white or silver depending on the viewing angle. One of the best features of the Tudor 1926 range is how elegantly the case fits on the wrist due to its slim profile. Combining the 39mm diameter with a slim case makes for a watch that could feasibly be worn as a dress watch but without being restricted to a formal setting.

The Tudor 1926 is an extremely well-priced collection that offers excellent value for money with prices starting at £1,220 for a self-winding, Swiss-made timepiece that is waterproof to 100 metres, with a wonderfully crafted bracelet and a dial that features stunning colours and texture. The Tudor 1926 certainly embodies the spirit of Hans Wilsdorf and we are excited to see how the collection evolves as time passes by.

For more information, we recommend that you contact your nearest Prestons showroom in Wilmslow, Leeds or Guildford and they will be delighted to discuss the collection with you in further detail.