Tudor Introduces The New Monarch To Celebrate The Brand’s 100th Anniversary
The big surprise introduction to celebrate Tudor’s 100th anniversary is the new Monarch. This new watch celebrates the brand’s century of technical progress. Having said that, the Monarch name is far from new. In the 1990s, Tudor introduced the first series of Monarch models, which proved popular in Asia. Today’s release is not a simple return to the Monarch from the ’90s. If anything, the new watch celebrates Tudor’s 100th anniversary with a higher-end modern watch. Let’s find out more!
A first glance at the new Tudor Monarch reveals a contemporary silhouette with some traditional design cues. The sharp, faceted lines of the new case feel crisp and modern, and the new H-link bracelet emphasizes that. The case and bracelet are contrasted by the classically styled papyrus-toned dial. It is Tudor’s refined take on the California dial with a remarkable set of Snowflake hands hovering over it. The small seconds sub-dial is a nice detail that adds a bit more visual attraction to the overall design.
The details of the new Tudor Monarch
Let’s start with the details. The new Tudor Monarch has a 39mm stainless steel case with an 11.9mm thickness and a 46mm lug-to-lug. It also features a 100m water resistance rating and a screw-down crown. The case has a faceted look, with some nice, sharp angles. The mix of satin-finished and polished surfaces properly emphasizes the distinct design. At first glance, the face of the watch looks fairly traditional. As soon as you zoom in, though, the modern details reveal themselves.
The new case is matched with what Tudor calls a “papyrus-toned” dial. This dark-champagne-colored backdrop features a vertically brushed finish, a black railroad minute track, and a set of applied black hour markers that immediately stand out. The markers on the upper half are Roman numerals, whereas those on the lower half are Arabic numerals, making this a California-style dial. Additionally, it features a slightly recessed sub-seconds register at 6 o’clock with concentric engraving for extra detail. Right above it is the “Master Chronometer” text, which hints at the caliber powering the new watch.
Hovering over the dial is a remarkable handset. The black hands are a new yet classically styled take on the brand’s signature Snowflake hands, and they match the California-style dial very well. Thanks to the faceted look, the hands do not look like a simple step back in time but a proper, new take on the classic hands. Overall, the Monarch presents a surprising take on a 1940s dial design combined with a modern case. It’s quite a bit to take in, and it will be interesting to see how enthusiasts react to it.
Finishing the look is an H-link bracelet with the brand’s signature T-fit clasp for easy sizing. The bracelet’s links feature a mix of satin and polished finishes, keeping them in line with the case. This bracelet further enhances the contrast between the new Monarch’s modern and classic stylistic details.
The new Tudor MT5662-2U
If you turn the watch around, you will get a great view of the new Tudor MT5662-2U caliber through the case back’s sapphire display. The automatic Kenissi-produced movement operates at 28,800 vibrations per hour, has 32 jewels, and offers a 65-hour power reserve. As you will know, we don’t usually see display case backs on Tudor watches. But this time, there’s a reason to have one.
The new movement is nicely decorated with perlage on the mainplate, Côtes de Genève on the bridges, and an 18K gold inlay on the rotor. All this makes it the best-decorated caliber in the current Tudor lineup. Furthermore, the MT5662-2U features a variable-inertia balance wheel and a silicon balance spring to meet modern-day standards. Lastly, it is a METAS-certified Master Chronometer, which translates to an accuracy of 0/+5 seconds per day and resistance to magnetic fields of up to 15,000 gauss.
Final thoughts on the new Tudor Monarch
With the new Monach, Tudor will certainly have people talking. First, that’s because the watch brings back the Monarch name to the collection. Second, this new 100th-anniversary model raises the bar for the brand’s finishing and decoration. But most of all, the new design is something to get used to. The modern styling of the case and bracelet contrasts heavily with the traditional California-style dial. Having said that, the Tudor designers ensured it wasn’t a classic California dial by using black hands and markers. On top of that, the new faceted take on the signature Snowflake hands also ensures that it is not too distinctly retro in its appearance.
Besides the remarkable design, the new caliber powering the Monarch is also big news. It is more elaborately decorated than most Tudor movements and proudly put on display through a transparent case back. All in all, this new watch not only celebrates 100 years of Tudor but also sets a new standard that could define what is to come for the brand in the coming years. The Tudor Monarch is only available on the bracelet and retails for €5,400 / US$5,875 / CHF 4,800. That is in line with the other recent Tudor releases, and considering the step up in finishing and refinement, it seems like a reasonable price for this 100th-anniversary model.
