It doesn’t seem that long ago since the Pelagos FXD was introduced but believe it or not that was almost two years and now there is a new FXD that Tudor surprised us with last week. We’ve had a good look at the Pelagos in the past and noted it is a rather faithful wrist companion that had loads to offer. Tudor even released a left-handed Pelagos to further strength the range. Since Tudors re-emergence, they experienced quite a lot of success by releasing vintage-inspired timepieces and they dug into their archives once again to conjure up the Pelagos FXD. This latest addition to the line-up is somewhat more of a tweak.
Last week, Tudor introduced two new models to the Pelagos FXD line, to celebrate its partnership with Alinghi Red Bull Racing Edition: a chronograph and a time-only watch inspired by yacht racing. With cases made from carbon composite, titanium, and stainless steel and fitted with manufacture calibres, these watches embody the daring spirit that is needed to be a contender in the most competitive yacht race in history. Today, we shall just be focusing on the time-only Pelagos FXD.
The new Pelagos FXD Alinghi Red Bull Racing Edition features carbon composite case, with a steel case back and titanium bezel, which measures 42mm and incorporates subtle hints of yesteryear such as the chamfered lugs and pointed crown guards. The standout features of this new case are its material and its fixed strap bars. In the days of old, fixed strap bars would’ve been made by removing the spring bars and soldering steel bars between the lugs but for today’s use this would likely compromise the robustness. The fixed strap bars on this new Pelagos are machined into the main body of the 42 mm carbon composite case to mitigate any points of weakness and as such, the lugs appear to be an extension of the case, adding to this model’s characteristic silhouette.
A feature that I’ve always loved about MilSubs, specifically Rolex ones, is the fully demarcated graduated bezel and though the original MNs didn’t feature them, Tudor saw it fit to embody that trait of the MilSub on this new FXD. It features a 120-notch rotating bezel, that is bi-directional with a retrograde graduation from 60 – 0, and while this doesn’t correspond to the ISO 6425:2018 standards of diver’s watches, it meets the specific needs of the method known as “underwater navigation”, a speciality of combat swimmers. And if that wasn’t enough, because of the poorly lit conditions combat divers are known to work in, the carbon composite bezel insert is also luminescent.
It perhaps goes without saying that another key design trait of the Pelagos is the dial. The dial of the Pelagos is built up in layers, which allows one to admire the three-dimensional effect. Just like the Pelagos FXD, the dial makes use of square hour markers with a triangle at 12 o’clock, rectangle markers at 3, 6 and 9 o’clock, however, this is against a navy-blue backdrop. In celebration of the Red Bull Racing partnership, you’ll notice the inscription “Alinghi Red Bull Racing” on the dial flange from 10:00 – 14:00. Another minor detail that has been altered is that of the red inscription of “PELAGOS. The original Pelagos has a depth rating of 500m, hence the reason why it has a Helium Escape Valve. This new FXD Alinghi Red Bull Racing model has a depth rating of 200m and because of this there is no need for a HEV, allowing for a slighter case.
The single-piece fabric strap is one of the hallmarks of Tudor, which in 2010, became one of the first watchmaking brands to offer it with its watches. Woven in France on 19th century Jacquard looms by the Julien Faure company in the St-Etienne region, its manufacturing quality, robustness and comfort on the wrist are unique. For the Pelagos FXD models, a highly technical strap construction was developed by TUDOR and Julien Faure. Made up of a 22 mm “Team Blue” jacquard-woven ribbon with red accents and a titanium “D” buckle with a self- gripping fastening system.
The new Pelagos FXD Alinghi Red Bull Racing Edition houses the same manufacture developed calibre MT5602 used the in the Pelagos FXD. Displaying hours, minutes, and seconds functions, it sports the typical finishing of Tudor with an open worked tungsten rotor that has been satin-brushed, while the bridges have been sand-blasted and decorated. Furthermore, it is certified by the Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute (COSC) and has a power reserve of approx. 70 hours. Keeping in line with a case back engraving on the FXD, the Alinghi RBR Edition case back is adorned with the team logo.
FLEETING THOUGHTS
By and large, the new Tudor Pelagos FXD Alinghi Red Bull Racing Edition is pretty much identical to current Pelagos FXD that is until you get a little closer and start take in all the little details. Such as the text on the dial rehaut or the red writing use on the dial and seconds hand. From a personal standpoint, I think it’s a great addition to the range and I’m sure fans of Alinghi Red Bull Racing and Tudor will be delighted with this latest addition. As mentioned before, Tudor are doing a brilliant job re-creating some historical timepieces and this one takes some great ingredients from past designs, but this new FXD Alinghi Red Bull Racing Edition is a nice little evolutionary step forward for Tudor.
The new Tudor Pelagos FXD Alinghi Red Bull Racing Edition is available now to purchase and is priced as £3,070. For more information on the new Pelagos FXD Alinghi Red Bull Racing Edition, visit tudorwatch.com.
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