My friend told me just now that Tudor is somehow related to Rolex thus sell more less expensive watch compare to rolex ...anybody know if this is true?
Extracted from "interwatches website" (note : due to forum regulations, not allowed to post links which has commercial contents):
In 1905 Wilsdorf launched his own company in England and started producing high quality watches. Then in 1908, he registered the "Rolex" brand in La Chaux-de-Fonds Switzerland. The company remained in England fifteen years approximately and in 1920 moved to Geneva.
It was not until 1946 that Hans Wilsdorf first opened Tudor. Wilsdorf chose the name Tudor because he wanted to honor the Tudor period of England.
The Tudor watches used the Tudor Rose signed on the dial which is the heraldic emblem of England and takes its origin from the Tudor dynasty. Ending 1960's Tudor changes its famous Rose sign for the actual Shield sign.
The main difference between Rolex and Tudor could be seen already in the 40's when the first Rolex Tudor Oyster was introduced: Inside the screwed-in Oyster case, instead of a Rolex manufactured movement, there was a movement supplied by Ebauches SA, ETA.
Throughout the years, Rolex Tudor Chrono models stands out since the brand manufactures them from the beginning with valijoux movements that were modified and improved for Rolex Tudor watches (similar to those manufactured for Rolex chronographs) including exotic dials such as the Rolex Tudor Montecarlo series with diverse colors and designs.
Rolex Tudor chonograph movements evolved from manual to automatic, with deeper cases and plastic crystals.
Moreover, Rolex Tudor manufactured ladies' and men's watches with the same size as Rolex: 13mm (ladies'), 17mm (mid size), 19mm (men's date) and 20mm (men';s date just). Sport watches like the Rolex Tudor Submariner were also manufactured in black like the Rolex Submariner and also with blue dial. Throughout the years, some models such as the Rolex Tudor Ranger or the Rolex Tudor Ranger II have stood out for its outstanding arabic numbered dial on 3, 6 and 9 and the special orange hands like the Rolex Explorer II "Steeve MacQueen" and its particular dials signed in red. Other famous watches produced were the Rolex Tudor Alarm and the Rolex Tudor Day Date with its exceptionally size for that time
The majority of these watches has been made in Stainless Steel but we can find them in 14KT and 18KT Yellow Gold or two tone.
Rolex Tudor also joined Rolex in the manufacture of the watches nowadays known as Vintage, with cases, dials and hands similar to Rolex's.
Rolex Tudor always took advantage of their direct connection to Rolex in order to improve their sales. In addition, Rolex Tudor was conceived from the beginning as the "second" brand, which results in more moderate prices than its bigger, more famous brother. Rolex Tudor watches are sold through official and authorized Rolex retailers but the Tudor brand is not currently available in the United States. Still, it continues to be sold in Europe, Asia, Canada and Latin America.
The French Navy used Rolex Tudor watches for its divers, the first Rolex Tudor Submariners were purchased from the Marine Natioinale in the late 60`s. In addition, the same model was used by the US Navy for its UDT and the Navy Seals.
Rolex signed bracelets and crowns were part of the Tudor models up to 1990`s.
In 1997 Rolex signed a contract with the famous golf player Tiger Woods to advertise the Rolex Tudor Prince Chronograph. The first Rolex Tudor Chronograph Tiger Woods model came out with a variety of colored displays. Therefore, Rolex Tudor became a pioneer in exotic colored dials. One example could be the classic Rolex Tudor Tiger Woods model with soleil and red-signed black dial.
Even when it has an aristocratic name of its own, a Tudor still remains a Rolex.
Hope that clears the air.
Cheers,
Chng.
