Introducing the Tudor Monarch
While its big sister is celebrating 100 years of the Oyster case, Tudor is also marking a centenary. Not of a watch or a technology, but their very own 100th Birthday. Over the years, Tudor have worn many different hats and earned a whole host of different titles, but in recent years they have really been cutting their own path as a signifcant industry player in their own right. But, what they done to mark this big anniversary I hear you ask. The commemorative piece comes in the form of this, the Tudor Monarch. While, the name itself is not new, indeed we have seen many iterations over the years, this format is both a rebirth and new beginning for the collection. Let’s get straight into it!
The Basics
Case: 39mm diameter, Stainless Steel.
Crystal: Sapphire.
Movement: Automatic, Manufacture Calibre MT5662-2U, COSC and METAS Master Chronometer certified.
Water Resistance: Waterproof to 100 meters or 330 feet.
Strap Options: Two-link faceted stainless steel bracelet featuring the TUDOR T-fit clasp.
Price: CHF 4,800.
Availability: Standard production for the 2026 collection.
The Juice
This is where the new Monarch absolutely shines. At first glance, the enigmatic dial demands your total attention. TUDOR is utilizing a distinct dial style that playfully mixes Roman numerals from ten to two and Arabic numerals from four to eight. It is an incredibly charming and historical layout, executed in a vertical-brushed dark champagne color that the brand likens to the texture and hue of ancient papyrus. The applied hour markers give the face of the watch a beautiful three-dimensional depth, perfectly complementing the sharp handset and the perfectly balanced small seconds sub-dial located at six o'clock. A personal gripe of mine that Tudor have masterfully avoided is the excessive use of neo-vintage
Moving beyond the dial, the faceted 39-millimeter stainless steel case is an ergonomic dream on the wrist. Measuring just 11.9 millimeters thick and 46.2 millimeters lug-to-lug, it is perfectly proportioned for contemporary tastes while retaining a distinctly centenary aesthetic language. The case flows seamlessly into a new matching two-link faceted bracelet equipped with the beloved TUDOR T-fit clasp, allowing for quick micro-adjustments on the fly.
But the real magic happens underneath the sapphire crystal exhibition case back, a genuinely rare and exciting treat for TUDOR fans. Powering the Monarch is the new Manufacture Calibre MT5662-2U. TUDOR went all out on the traditional finishing here, treating us to perlage on the mainplate, Côtes de Genève on the bridges, and a stunning 18-karat gold inlay on the bidirectional rotor. Beyond the striking cosmetics, this movement is an absolute beast. It boasts the rigorous METAS Master Chronometer certification, meaning it runs with an ultra-strict precision of zero to plus five seconds a day, successfully resists magnetic fields up to 15,000 gauss, and features a weekend-proof sixty-five-hour power reserve.
Final Thoughts
Leading up to this release there has been a lot of speculation about how Tudor would mark this special occasion and I know that more than a few fans will feel a little bit disappointed or let down. The brand has not delivered exactly what they want: the Tudor Submariner or the Datejust-esque Prince Date. I would have said that those people are wishful thinkers and that the Tudor Monarch is exactly how the brand should be celebrating its big birthday. Ultimately, this is a watch that has cherry picked the best elements from Tudor’s distant and near pasts, and fused them with their growing expertise and modern technology. The result of this is a watch that feels modern and vintage at the same time: the perfect way to honour their heritage without taking their eye off the future. This is a definite ‘would purchase’ for us here at Wrist Enthusiast.
Find out more about this watch here.
