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The new Pelagos FXD pays tribute to the TUDOR watches worn for decades by US Navy divers.

The US Navy relied on TUDOR diving watches for decades starting in the late 1950s. Navy SEALs, in particular, wore these watches from their creation in 1962 through the 1980s. The Underwater Demolition Teams, the Seabees, and instructors at the Navy’s Diving School all used these robust instruments, which played a crucial role in teaching the fundamentals of scuba diving at the Underwater Swimmers School and in maintaining submarine bases in the United States and worldwide. In doing so, TUDOR watches also contributed to the research and development of pioneering and innovative underwater technologies.

Originally developed with active-duty combat swimmers, the Pelagos FXD case is based on a set of precise and demanding specifications. This is why it includes features unique to the TUDOR collection, such as fixed bars directly machined into the 42 mm titanium case for enhanced robustness and reliability. These bars extend from the lugs and are a key element of the model’s characteristic silhouette. The Pelagos FXD also features an ergonomic 60-click rotating bezel. Unidirectional, with a ceramic insert graduated for 60 minutes and filled with luminous material, the bezel meets the ISO 6425:2018 standard for diving watches.

From an aesthetic standpoint, this Pelagos FXD draws inspiration from the TUDOR diving watches historically used by the US Navy from the late 1960s to the early 1980s. In black, it features square hour markers and the distinctive angular “Snowflake” hands, introduced in 1969 to improve legibility in low-light conditions. It is also equipped with a unidirectional rotating bezel with a sandblasted ceramic insert filled with luminous material. Its 42 mm titanium case is water-resistant to 200 meters and fully satin-finished to create a matte effect that limits reflections.

The history of TUDOR’s diving watches dates back to 1954 with the launch of reference 7922. Water-resistant to 100 meters, it was the first in a long line of “tool watches.” Accessible, robust, reliable, and precise, it embodies the brand’s tool-watch philosophy. The seven decades following its introduction have seen the continuous improvement of TUDOR diving watches and their widespread adoption by professionals, including some of the world’s most prestigious navies. With the introduction of the first generation Pelagos FXD in 2021, TUDOR continues to write its underwater legacy alongside some of the world’s most elite naval forces.