Dressy, with a side of throwback.
"Surely there's more to Tudor than the Black Bay," you muse. And you would be quite right. Undeniably, the dive collection has handed Tudor a bevy of fanboys (and girls), giving the once-staid brand a fresh burst of verve, appealing to a younger crowd. But apart from the youthful vigour of the Black Bay, Tudor is just as adept at offering a classy, elegant take on the contemporary lifestyle (think: pow-wows with sharp-suited executives and post-office happy hours).
Although Tudor describes the Royal as ‘sports-chic’, the collection definitely exudes a dressier spirit that the official description suggests. Even so, the Royal isn’t quite your run-of-the-mill office-dweller. Eschewing the warily unadorned aesthetics typical to regular dress watches, the Royal ventures into the past for a dose of old-school mojo, with features that hint at brazen ostentation to set the collection apart from the pack.
Tudor Royal 28mm
With an average starting price of about S$3,000, the Royal appears to be batting its eyes at young executives who desire a mid-luxury dress watch from a reputable marque. Given so, Tudor has wisely covered all bases by issuing the Royal in a huge number of sizes and references for both men and women. There are four sizes – 41mm, 38mm, 34mm and 28mm in steel and bi-metal to choose from, and the watches are all powered by automatic ETA movements.
Having said that, the features that truly set the Tudor Royal apart are its bezel and integrated bracelet. The notched bezel with alternating cut grooves and polished finish anchor the Royal aesthetic, endowing it with that 1980s boss watch demeanor. Meantime, the five-link bracelet with alternating satin-brushed and polished finish complements the nostalgia-inspired luxe and accentuates the regal vibe.
Tudor Royal 34mm
Of course, there are a variety of styles within the Royal’s gender-specific and size options to accommodate myriad tastes and preferences. Dial colours range from black and blue to champagne and silver – executed with sunray finish – while several ladies’ models in 24mm and 34mm come with mother-of-pearl options. The same references, along with several 38mm models, also feature diamond-set hour markers in place of applied Roman numerals. Last but not least, the 41mm models come with day-date display that adds that bit more panache.
Tudor Royal 38mm
The Royal’s distinctive retro-inspired style will not be everyone’s cup of tea. For those with a taste for horological nostalgia, however, the collection will prove charming and capricious. Also, given that a large number of brands have opted to focus their attention on sports watches when it comes to lavishing throwback designs, the Royal collection’s subtly audacious take on the retro-dress watch offers a refreshing twist.
Tudor Royal 41mm
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Case |
41mm, 38mm, 34mm or 28 mm steel with polished and satin finish |
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Dial |
Black, silver, champagne-colour or blue, sunray-finish, with or without diamonds. Gem-set white mother-of-pearl (34 and 28 mm only) |
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Movement |
Automatic calibre 2834 (41 mm) or 2824 (38 and 34 mm) or 2671 (28 mm) |
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Bracelet |
Integrated bracelet in steel or steel and 18K yellow gold |
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Functions |
Hours, minutes, date. Hours, minutes, date (41mm only) |
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Water resistance |
100m |
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Starting price |
28mm (From RM8,290) 34mm (From RM8,490) 38mm (From RM8,690) 41mm (From RM8,900) |
