The performance-oriented Tudor Pelagos FXD GMT Zulu Time has finally been brought into reality! Read on as I try to contain my broke bitterness at what is arguably Tudor’s best release since the Black Bay 58.
Quick disclaimer: The grabline above is a joke. I’m still very much in love with the Black Bay GMT Opaline Dial that I purchased mid-2023, but I can’t help but hear my wallet scream for mercy when I look at this release.
In any case, Tudor has been well-established as a heritage-inspired, cost-effective, amazingly engineered watch brand ever since its establishment in 1926. The Black Bay collection, for example, became a definitive hallmark in Tudor’s design and engineering departments when it first released in 2012. However, with more and more of the watch community calling for Tudor to harness a more original aesthetic, it has prompted the brand to establish their own reputation, beyond the shadow of the venerable Hans Wilsdorf’s sister brand.
Related Reading: Tudor Pelagos FXD Revealed
Releasing alongside the Black Bay, the Pelagos was purpose-built to be just that: A fresh face for the Shield. However, it would find itself playing second fiddle to its more popular sibling for years, until the introduction of the FXD in 2021. A continuation of the ongoing partnership between Tudor and France’s Marine Nationale (National Navy), this sub-collection would debut integrated FiXeD strap bars, only permitting the use of NATO-style fabric straps and increasing the durability of the Pelagos wearing experience.
Overtime, Tudor has made great strides to bring the Pelagos to the forefront of their lineup, with releases such as the US Navy Divers tribute in Matte Black and the Ailinghi Red Bull collaboration bringing lots of buzz to the underrated collection. However, this new release is bound to fully realise the potential of Tudor’s modern wing once and for all.
Related Reading: The Owners Perspective – Tudor Black Bay GMT Opaline
The 42mm case diameter, 52mm lug-to-lug, and 12.7mm thickness of the Tudor Pelagos FXD GMT Zulu Time may sound a bit intimidating for the smaller-wristed of us, but hear me out. The Tudor Pelagos’ defining modern spin on the dive watch has always been its use of grade 2 titanium as the primary case material. While some speciality pieces have deviated from this trademark – think the Tudor FXD Chrono Cycling and the aforementioned Ailinghi Red Bull duo – the strength and lightness of titanium has remained a crucial part of the Pelagos’ reputation.
Another signature element is the use of a ceramic bezel insert, in contrast with the usual aluminium of the Black Bay lineup. Ceramic is the go-to bezel material for many a luxury brand, so its incorporation into the Pelagos signifies once again that Tudor is making these for the modern watch enthusiast in mind. On the bidirectional bezel of the Tudor Pelagos FXD GMT Zulu Time reads a 24-hour scale, complemented by the large indexes and date window. I know, some of you may be exhausted by fauxtina by now, but this isn’t like a brownish fauxtina you find on some watches, rather it’s more a creamy colour and it does make for a nice, warm contrast to the black of the dial and ceramic bezel insert. Also contrasting the dial is a bright orange fourth hand, allowing the user to track an additional timezone in combination with the 24-hour scale.
Related Reading: Watch Education – The GMT: What Is It & How Does It Work?
As you may have guessed, the Tudor Pelagos FXD GMT Zulu Time is, for the first time in Pelagos history, powered by a GMT movement! Thanks to Tudor’s manufacturing partners at Kenissi – reputable for their contributions to Tudor, Breitling, Norqain, and Chanel – the new timepiece contains the debuting MT5652-U movement. An offshoot of the MT5652 family already powering the Black Bay GMT collection, this new rendition still maintains a 4Hz (28,800VpH) beat rate and the flyer-style GMT complication us enthusiasts are all familiar with.
However, the MT5652-U sacrifices about 5 hours of power reserve (65 down from 70) in order to achieve not just COSC Chronometer Certification, but METAS Master Chronometer Certification as well! With METAS Master Chronometer Certification coming to the Black Bay Burgundy, Black Bay Monochrome, and the newly released Black Bay 58 GMT, It felt like it was only a matter of time before it got to the Pelagos lineup. Thus, the Tudor Pelagos FXD GMT Zulu Time is yet another reference in a lengthening string of deadly accurate watches now coming out of the Swiss brand’s doors.
Related Reading: Watch Education – Certifications Explained: The Master Chronometer
My Thoughts
Watch brands that listen to their fans have been tragically rare in the last few years. Oftentimes, it felt like some brands would read what their community was saying just to figure out more schemes with which to punish their most loyal fans. However, with the rise of new enthusiasts and watches getting more popular every day, this trend has been effectively reversed, nowadays, when the community asks, the brands often deliver: Tudor is no exception to the rule.
While both myself (and my dad, for that matter) are rather heated at the release of this watch this far on into both of our watch collection hobbies, this new timepiece is still everything we could’ve possibly wanted, crammed into one wristwatch. The Tudor Pelagos FXD GMT Zulu Time combines both its military-inspired heritage and modern manufacturing techniques to create a timepiece that both us and the watch community have been asking for.
Reference: m2542g247nu-0002
Specifications:
- Dimensions: 42mm case diameter x 52mm lug-to-lug x 12.7mm thickness with fixed lugs
- Case Material: Grade 2 titanium
- Dial: Matte black with orange GMT hand and cream fauxtina accents
- Movement: Automatic MT5652-U with flyer-style GMT and COSC/METAS Master Chronometer Certification
- Power Reserve: 65h
- Water Resistance: 200m (20bar)
- Strap: Green fabric strap with titanium pin buckle and fabric keeper with Marine Nationale roundel
