Having signed on as a sponsor of America’s Cup contender Alinghi last year, Tudor now reveals a pair of watches created especially for the sailing team. The Pelagos FXD “Alinghi Red Bull Racing Edition” and Pelagos FXD Chrono “Alinghi Red Bull Racing Edition” both feature a carbon composite case – a first for Tudor – along with the functional design derived from the military-issue FXD dive watch.

Initial thoughts

I’m a fan of Tudor – its products are amongst the best value propositions across the entire industry – but its offerings have historically been limited in terms of design. In recent years the brand has gotten bolder in both styling and materials – the new pair demonstrate this. And if anything, they are probably the first of many more adventurous products from Tudor, something that is a natural evolution of the brand given the capacity of its big new manufacture.

Although both stick to the design established by the original Pelagos FXD, they make it more interesting in terms of colour and a lot more interesting in terms of materials with the carbon composite case. The use of the lightweight composite will give both of them a featherweight presence on the wrist, despite the large case diameters of each.

Despite the novelty in terms of materials, the new Pelagos FXD models remain squarely in Tudor’s favourite price segment. The time-only FXD costs a bit under US$3,700 while the chronograph is a little over US$5,000, making both strong value propositions.

The chronograph in particular is a good buy considering the excellent movement and carbon composite case, typically features found in watches that cost at least twice as much.

Lightweight and functional

Ironically established in a country with no actual coastline, Alinghi nonetheless managed to win the America’s Cup twice, in 2003 and 2007. The team, founded by pharmaceuticals billionaire Ernesto Bertarelli, was disbanded in 2010 but revived in 2021 as Alinghi Red Bull Racing to compete in the 37th America’s Cup, with Tudor as one of its lead sponsors.

Given Tudor’s focus on dive watches – the brand’s bestseller is the Black Bay in fact – the tie-up with Alinghi is a logical one that will arguably have wider appeal than the military provenance of the original Pelagos FXD. Unsurprisingly, both Alinghi FXD watches are regular production models.

Both Alinghi watches retain the design of the military version of the FXD, but are executed in different colours and materials. Both feature the team’s name prominently on the face, but positioned on the flange around the dial to make it less obtrusive.

The dials are a dark blue, matched with a red “Pelagos” on the dial as well as a red seconds hand. They are paired with a black ceramic insert on the titanium bezel, while the case middle is carbon-fibre composite. The screw-down case back, on the other hand, is steel.

The chronograph has a 43 mm case that stands 13.6 mm high, giving it proportions similar to other Tudor chronographs with the same movement, the MT5613. Derived from the Breitling 01 movement, the MT5613 has a sophisticated construction that includes a column wheel, vertical clutch, as well as a free-sprung balance.

The time-only Pelagos FXD is identical to the original FXD in terms of case dimensions and movement. The case is 42 mm and contains the in-house MT5602.

Both models are delivered on one-piece fabric straps with Velcro closures.

Key facts and price

Tudor Pelagos FXD “Alinghi Red Bull Racing Edition”
Ref. M25707KN-0001

Diameter: 42 mm
Height: 12.75 mm
Material: Carbon composite case with case back in steel, bezel and crown in titanium
Crystal: Sapphire
Water resistance: 200 m

Movement: MT5602
Functions: Hours, minutes, and seconds
Winding: Automatic
Frequency: 28,800 vibrations per hour (4 Hz)
Power reserve: 70 hours

Strap: Fabric strap with Velcro closure

Limited edition: No
Availability: Now at Tudor boutiques and retailers
Price: US$3,675; or 5,130 Singapore dollars

Tudor Pelagos FXD Chrono “Alinghi Red Bull Racing Edition”
Ref. 25807KN-0001

Diameter: 43 mm
Height: 13.6 mm
Material: Carbon composite case with case back in steel, bezel and crown in titanium
Crystal: Sapphire
Water resistance: 200 m

Movement: MT5613
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date, and chronograph 
Winding: Automatic
Frequency: 28,800 vibrations per hour (4 Hz)
Power reserve: 70 hours

Strap: Fabric strap with Velcro closure

Limited edition: No
Availability: Now at Tudor boutiques and retailers
Price: US$5,075; or 7,080 Singapore dollars

For more, visit Tudorwatch.com.