Rago Auctions

Tudor was trademarked in 1926 by one Hans Wilsdorf, yes the same gentleman that founded sister company and older, bigger brother Rolex. Wilsdorf created the brand ‘Montres Tudor SA’ in 1946. The brand was meant to have the same quality as a Rolex but a lower price. Tudor is known for making robust tool watches for the likes of the Marine Nationale, The Navy Seals and the Israeli Defense Forces. They boast quite the pedigree for being the ‘other’ brand in the Hans Wilsdorf Foundation portfolio. There are many similarities between the two brands. Tudor watches go through a near identical quality control process as Rolex and both brands are notoriously secretive. Many Tudor watches are equipped with the very same oyster cases as Rolex watches (early Tudor models even had Rolex branding on the case back and crowns), but the difference is that the Tudors have off-the-shelf movements while the Rolex uses ‘in house’ movements. Today, Tudor has become a force on its own, releasing in-house movements, and becoming a coveted manufacture. Many aficionados will say that Tudor today is what Rolex was 40 years ago building watches that are no-nonsense tools, meant to be worn.