Rumored since earlier this year, today, Tudor announced a new Pelagos made in collaboration with the French Navy.
The Pelagos FXD “Marine Nationale” is offered in a thinner 42 mm x 12.75 mm (52 mm lug-to-lug) satin-brushed titanium case, with a navy blue dial, a bidirectional rotating bezel in titanium with a blue ceramic disc, fixed bracelet bars, and a steel caseback.
Tudor gave this model a 120-notch bidirectional rotating bezel with 60-minute retrograde graduation for navigation by successive stages, which most notably does not correspond to the ISO 6425:2018 standard for “divers’ watches” but instead matches the specific needs for “underwater navigation” for combat swimmers. According to Tudor, underwater navigation consists of reaching a precise location by sea, without surfacing, by following a well-planned route. Divers work in pairs to complete a series of timed swims at constant speed by following a course guided by a magnetic compass. A timed countdown starts each time the direction is changed. The bidirectional (not a traditional unidirectional bezel dive bezel), that’s fully illuminated, allows for each segment to be covered on the bezel by aligning the minute hand with the bezel. When the minute hand reaches the triangle on the bezel, the divers change course and another countdown begins.
Like the applied hour markers and Snowflake-shaped hands — which are set against a matte navy blue dial — the titanium bezel with matte navy blue ceramic insert is highly legible and filled with luminescent material that makes using the true professional divers’ watch underwater easy, even the darkest conditions.
The titanium crown is emblazoned with Tudor’s shield emblem in relief. The Tudor Pelagos FXD has a depth rating of 200 meters (down from 500 meters for the standard Pelagos, and the helium escape valve is also gone). Being that this is a French Navy collaboration, the caseback is engraved with the Marine Nationale (French Navy) logo and the inscription “M.N.21” (Marine Nationale 2021), inspired by the original engravings of the 1970s and ’80s.
Tudor’s existing in-house automatic caliber MT5602, which beats at 4Hz, and has a 70-hour power reserve powers the Tudor Pelagos FXD. The movement is COSC-certified but did not receive the higher level Metas chronometer certification found on some of the latest Tudor models (also powering numerous Omega watches).
The 25-jewel movement measures 31.8 mm x 6.5 mm has a stop-seconds function for precisely setting the time, which is of course important for combat swimmers. The movement rate can be adjusted using an advanced free-sprung balance wheel with micro-adjustment weights. A non-magnetic silicon balance spring reduces the negative effects of magnetism to keep the watch running accurately, even when exposed to high magnetic fields.
The 2021 Tudor Pelagos FXD Marine Nationale (Ref. 25707B/21) retails for $3,900 and comes with a one-piece navy blue, with a gray center stripe, fabric strap with a self-gripping fastening system (velcro). An additional navy blue rubber strap with a woven motif and titanium buckle is included.
Photos by Tudor.
