Tudor has unveiled two new Pelagos FXD Alinghi Red Bull Racing Editions overnight in both a time only and a chronograph with date. With designs and colours that pay tribute to the Alignhi Red Bull Racing AC75 boat, these are sure to be a bit with Tudor fans.
Tudor has a long history with sporting partnerships, from events, to teams to individual sports stars. It makes sense, as sporting endeavours are quite often time bound, be it a football match or a racing event, timekeeping is inextricably interwoven into it. Furthering these sporting partnerships, Tudor has just lunched two new Pelagos FXD models in partnership with the Alinghi Red Bull Racing Team.
The time only and chronograph versions of the new Tudor Pelagos FXD Alinghi Red Bull Racing Edition pieces are designed with the AC75 boat and crew in mind, even down to the materials and aesthetics, all aligned with the Alinghi Red Bull Racing America’s Cup 75 boat.
The America’s Cup is one of the hardest and high stakes sailing races in the world, and this year, the Alinghi Red Bull Racing team are competing for their chance to take home the cup in the 37th running of the America’s Cup. Due to the competitive nature of the sport, the AC75 has to be at the cutting edge of design and technology, and as such, Tudor in the same vein has taken on board this spirit with their watches.
Both the chronograph and time only watches have cases that are comprised of a high-tech carbon composite, a first for TUDOR, with titanium and stainless steel, just like on an AC75 (America’s Cup 75) hydrofoil racing yacht. Each watch has titanium for the bezel, crown and direct-action pushers on the chronograph version, plus utilises 316L stainless steel for the case back and movement container. It’s also the first time TUDOR has integrated a chronograph calibre into a fixed strap-bars case.
Both pieces feature a bi-directional 120-notch rotatable bezel that utilizes Swiss Super-LumiNova® Grade X1, a luminous material showing a performance increase of up to 60% after two hours compared to standard grades. Both Tudor and bigger sister, Rolex, are known for their lume, and it’s good to see that the new Pelagos won’t disappoint in this area. The bezels are also graduated in big bold numerals and minute markers that countdown, essential for regatta timing.
Tudor also go beyond the materials with this partnership. Both pieces are perfectly themed to partner with the Alinghi Red Bull Racing team with aesthetic cues throughout the case, dial and strap. The matte dial is the same blue as the AC75’s hull, the Alinghi Red Bull Racing Team’s colours. Furthering this, the rings on the sub-dial counters and the main seconds hand are red, matching the red stripe on the AC75’s hull and on the 45o rehaut ALINGHI RED BULL RACING is inscribed.
Inside the two watches beats both the Manufacture Calibre MT5602 in the time only, the same movement found in the standard FXD, and in the chronograph, the Manufacture Calibre MT5813, the base movement being the Calibre Breitling 01 Chronograph as part of the long term partnership between the two brands. Both movements are COSC and tested beyond this to be accurate to -2/+4 seconds per day when fully cased. Both also boast a 70 hour power reserve, perfect for those that want to put it down on a Friday and pick it back up on Monday morning.
Both watches are a wearable 42mm for the time only and 43mm for the Chronograph, and being made from carbon-composite, titanium and steel, plus the fabric strap, will wear light on the wrist. For those of you that have tried the standard Pelagos FXD on with know what we are talking about here.
Final Thoughts
The new Tudor Pelagos FXD Alinghi Reb Bull Racing Editions are good looking sports watches and like the original FXD, will wear well and light. However, we’ll reserve final judgement until we’ve had the chance to really test them out in person, but on the surface and on paper, are a good offering.
Both pieces are 200m water resistance, and come Tudor’s standard 5 year warranty, so if you’re in the market for these, you can be sure they’re backed by the brand and like all Tudor tool watches, able to handle whatever you throw at them. Even if you’re not into sailing, these watches will look good on when out and about on the weekend or in the office, however it would be a shame to keep a piece like this on dry land for too long!
Reference: M25707KN (Time Only) / M25807KN (Chronograph)
Specification
- Case: 42mm (Time only) / 43mm (Chronograph)
- Case Material: Black carbon composite case with matte finish and Alinghi Red Bull Racing logo engraved on the case back
- Dial: Blue, matte (Time only), Blue Matte, red accents on the chronograph counters (Chronograph)
- Crystal: Flat sapphire crystal
- Water Resistance: 200m (20BAR)
- Movement: Manufacture Calibre MT5602 (Time only) / Manufacture Calibre MT5813 Self-winding mechanical chronograph movement. Both with bidirectional rotor system and COSC certified, accurate to -2/+4s per day.
- Power Reserve: 70 hours
- Strap: Single piece 22 mm “Team Blue” jacquard-woven ribbon with red accents and a titanium “D” buckle with a self-gripping fastening system
