Originally launched in at Baselworld 2010, the Tudor Pelagos receives an update for 2015. Most notably, it is now equipped with Tudor’s first in-house movement, the caliber MT 5621, which also powers the new North Flag.
The new self-winding manufacture movement beats at 4Hz, has 26 jewels, and boasts a 70-hour power reserve. It uses a silicon balance spring and has a variable inertia balance wheel, with a traversing balance bridge which makes the regulator assortment more robust. And as mentioned above it’s the brand’s first foray into COSC-certified movements.
The movement features industrial-type matt finishes, which Tudor highlights precision, reliability, and technology, over appearance. Further, the large surfaces have been sand-blasted or decorated with a sunray brushed finish, and the rotor is open-worked.
The Pelagos has a screw-down triple-sealed water-resistant system, scratch-resistant anti-reflective sapphire crystal. And the same folding clasp and safety catch in 316L stainless steel with an extension system developed and patented by Tudor. According to the manufacture, “the comfort adjustment system allows a maximum extension of 4 mm in increments of 2 mm, the diving adjustment system allows an additional extension of 14 mm and an unfolding diving mechanism providing an additional extension of 25 mm.”
This technical update of the Tudor Pelagos includes a new option for a blue-colored dial, bezel, and rubber strap. The color was chosen because it is the emblematic color of the brand’s divers’ watches since the 1960s, which at the time was chosen by the French Navy for many of the Tudor Submariners produced.
At 42 mm in diameter, with a satin finish, and a 316L stainless steel caseback titanium unidirectional rotatable bezel graduated over 60 minutes with a ceramic matt disc, the exterior remains the same as the original.
Verdict
In addition to the upgraded movement, the writing on the dial has been changed from 2-lines to 5-lines and reads “PELAGOS, CHRONOMETER, OFFICIALLY CERTIFIED, ROTOR SELF-WINDING, 500m-1640ft.” There is a debate about whether so much text was needed, and it is hard to say one way or another. If for some reason people do not buy the new version of the Pelagos when it arrives in stores in August 2014, at the same price as the outgoing model (25500TN), even with the new in-house movement, then Tudor can surely change the text on the dial later on. Although it is doubtful consumers will be that sensitive to such a minor detail. The two new references are (Ref. 25600TN – blue, 25600TB – black). Each timepiece includes an additional rubber strap with a titanium buckle and retails for $4,400.
