Page 45 - The Book For Men Fall/Winter 2023

Batten Down the Watches
In celebration of its partnership with Alinghi Red Bull Racing, Tudor unveils the Pelagos FXD Chronograph
OVER THE YEARS, WE’VE SEEN A FAIR FEW SURPRISES FROM TUDOR,
but its new chronograph — created for Alinghi Red Bull Racing — really threw us for a loop. Not only is a chronograph variant of a Pelagos a bit of a curveball to begin with, but having it appear in a fixed-lug FXD case and made from an all-new material is something that took the entire industry by surprise. It marks the first time that Tudor has used a carbon composite case for any of its watches, and the first time the brand’s Manufacture Calibre MT5813 chronograph movement has been used outside of the Black Bay collection.
Alinghi Red Bull Racing is a competitive sailing team, staged to challenge for the 37th America’s Cup with Tudor as its main partner. Timing is a crucial component of any sailing regatta and, as exposure to water is one of the foremost
hazards to wristwatches when sailing, the Pelagos FXD Chronograph is an ideal choice. Its carbon case is featherweight on the wrist, and its 200 metres of water resistance ensure safe operation even if a crew member hits the water. On that same list of weatherproof, waterproof functions, the design of Tudor’s FXD case offers yet one more layer of protection. Rather than using conven- tional spring bars to secure its strap, there is a solid connection between the lugs through which its one-piece fabric strap is looped. Single-piece straps are often used on conventional dive watches to avoid spring bars failing when worn in harsh environments. But, by taking the bars out of the equation en- tirely, this watch can take a beating in even the roughest conditions — and will never be lost at sea.
BATTEN DOWN THE WATCHES: TEXT BY JUSTIN MASTINE-FROST
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