The history of Tudor

The Tudor trademark was registered on behalf of Hans Wilsdorf, founder of Rolex, in 1926. With the goal to create more affordable watches as an alternative to the classic Rolex whilst still offering great quality pieces, Tudor used non-Rolex watch movements with Rolex cases and bracelets.

This allowed Tudor to keep prices relatively low whilst still providing the reliability and quality that Rolex was known for.

Tudor has always heavily relied on the military and diving industry, and vice-versa. Tudor watches have time and again proven to be excellent for both purposes.

This has led to many agreements with different navies, who adored the Tudor Submariners.

The Oyster collection

The Oyster collection first appeared in the mid-forties. It utilized a waterproof Oyster case that was previously only used by Rolex, which was great for business. In 1952 Rolex’s self-winding mechanism was introduced to the Prince, expanding Tudor’s abilities. This was reflected in the selection of 26 Tudor Oyster Princes for the 1952 expedition to Greenland, where they were entrusted with aiding researchers in this gruelling journey. The Oyster propelled Tudor into the field of tool watches, for which it has become widely known. The French Navy invested in research for a Tudor diving watch, after which Tudor tool watches were supplied to the French Navy. They were delivered without bracelets, so military straps could be used. This research partially resulted in the iconic Oyster Prince Submariner, which in 1958 could be used to a depth of 200 meters.

The technical prowess of Tudor watches did not go unnoticed. The US Navy soon became interested, and for them, a specific Oyster Prince Submariner was developed. Later, Tudor created the Oysterdate, their first Chronograph model. The Oyster series truly reflects upon the technical abilities of Tudor, and their widespread usage within several high-ranking military institutions reflects how well-respected the brand has become. The resilience of Tudor watches is apparent in vintage Tudor watch models. The vintage and new Tudor watches Timepieces offer are all of the excellent quality, despite their age. Browse our Tudor vintage watch collection now and discover the quality for yourself.

Extreme advertising

Like their big brother Rolex, Tudor too embarked on a series of extreme advertising campaigns to promote their products. In 1953, a campaign was launched to test the Oyster Prince’s robustness. The watches were worn in various difficult conditions to test their endurance. A coal miner wore one during 252 hours of hand excavation, whilst another watch was worn by a stone cutter for three months and was subjected to 30 hours of pneumatic drill vibrations. A third watch was worn for a month while riveting metal girders in metal construction, and a fourth by a motorbike racer who covered over 1000 miles. All of these tests proved successful, further illustrating Tudor’s excellent resilience. Rather than focusing on celebrities, they chose everyday people as their advertisers due to their professions. Divers, miners and rally drivers were all subjects that were photographed wearing Tudor watches. Not only did these campaigns appeal to a larger group, they also showed Tudor’s main focus: Creating strong, resilient watches.

Rebranding

After Tudor’s major brand relaunch in 2009, there was a larger focus on elegance and style. This was in contrast to their earlier focus on strength and durability. This was followed by more style-focused designs and reinterpretations of earlier models. This didn’t stop Tudor from innovating. Stretching the boundaries of diving, their Pelagos could reach a depth of 500 meters. The new mixture of style and strength redefined Tudor. Where they were always loved for their reliability, Tudor models are now widely loved for their style and elegance as well, allowing them to be loved by a large new group of customers. Tudor has become a rising star that provides watches that can be loved by many. Interested in a Tudor model? Browse our Tudor vintage watches now.

Vintage Tudor for sale

Our collection is full of used Tudor watches for sale. All watches have been checked for authenticity and condition. When necessary, our watchmakers perform maintenance and make sure your timepiece keeps the exact time.

Tudor has become a rising star that provides watches that can be loved by many. Interested in a Tudor model? Browse our Tudor watches now.

Second-hand Tudor

Strength, style, and affordability; Tudor offers it all. Enjoyed by both celebrities such as Lady Gaga and David Beckham as well as the US Navy, Tudor offers quality pieces for everyone. Now, Timepieces wants to bring these watches to you.

A wonderfully affordable alternative to a classic Rolex, Tudor does not compromise on quality or elegance. Shop our vintage Tudor watches and discover a perfect second-hand model for you.

Would you like to see your Tudor watch in person? Then you can make an appointment with one of the experts.