The TUDOR Chronicles; Chapter 8 - The TUDOR Pelagos 39

The TUDOR Pelagos 39 has really taken the nation by storm and for good reason. It measures differently on the wrist, features a reworked design and boasts a bracelet and clasp that shows off some of the brand’s most innovative technology.

The history of the TUDOR Pelagos watch

The Pelagos watch was designed by a manufacturer named TUDOR. If you aren’t familiar with the work of TUDOR, take a read of our other articles in our TUDOR Chronicles series. The brand was founded back in 1926 by Hans Wilsdorf who aimed to develop the brand into a name that was associated with prestige and luxury but offered its models at a more affordable price than its sister brand Rolex. Today, the models it produces are distinctive and each one has a unique character. The first Pelagos watch was released in 2012, paying homage to the company’s proud heritage of producing superb diver’s watches for the recreational and professional sectors alike. The name Pelagos is taken from the Greek word for “deep sea” – a fitting name for a watch born for the underwater world. Since the Pelagos dive watch is primed so well for extreme conditions, its design was even adopted by the French Marines.

The best features of the TUDOR Pelagos

The TUDOR Pelagos design is inspired by the Swiss manufacturer’s vintage dive watches of yesteryear. It features a titanium case and bracelet, a legible dial, a rotating bezel and a helium escape valve. It also has a scratch-resistant ceramic bezel and is available in a standard 42mm version, the Pelagos LHD (left-handed) version and the FXD version. You can discover a little more about these models in Chapter 7 of the TUDOR Chronicles, here.

Above all else, the Pelagos design was made to deliver comfort and functionality. Its durable design has been the choice of watch for many military groups around the world and it’s not hard to see why. It offers a water-resistant rating of 500 meters, making it one of the most capable dive tools on the market. The bracelet of the watch is what many people talk about when asked about the features of the Pelagos. Its specially designed clasp features a resistant spring that offers the next level up from Rolex’s famous Glidelock system. Instead of removing the watch from the wrist, the spring system can naturally adjust to your wrist as it expands and contracts with changes in heat and pressure.

elium escape valve. It allows helium to escape from the case during deep sea dives. It was initially developed by Rolex back in the 1960s and was later adopted by TUDOR for use within the Pelagos dive watch range. In 2015, Tudor released the Pelagos Blue version, followed by a matte black dial version in 2017, along with a new movement. This latter iteration was named the Pelagos LHD, as mentioned above. It was designed for left-handed wearers and featured the crown at 9 o’clock on the case, as opposed to 3 o’clock. In 2022, the watchmaker began focussing on introducing more traditional features to the dive tool and invented the Pelagos 39. It followed in from the Pelagos FXD models of 2021, featuring a case and lug design crafted from one piece of stainless steel.

The TUDOR Pelagos 39

The TUDOR Pelagos 39 was the design that many enthusiasts had longingly prayed for. Its case was crafted from titanium for a lightweight finish on the wrist but measured a more manageable 39mm diameter. The compact case design was met with resounding success and was combined with several features. These include a ceramic bezel that was both scratch-resistant and durable, a legible dial and a refined clasp. The bezel also featured an eye-catching sunburst finish that made it more fitting for casual scenarios. Although lowered to a 200-meter water resistance from 500 meters, the Pelagos 39 is more than equipped for lots of underwater activity.

The Pelagos 39 watch by TUDOR is powered by the MT5612 movement, equipped with a useful 70-hour power reserve. It is also COSC-certified and has undergone several extensive tests to determine its robustness underwater. One of the most notable designs of the 39mm model is its glossy black dial. When paired with that sunburst ceramic dial, it gives the timepiece a whole different look. The square and rectangular-shaped hour markers around the edge of the dial have been treated with generous amounts of Super-LumiNova, as have the hands, designed in the iconic Snowflake profile.

Now having been ergonomically designed to fit better and more comfortably on the wrist, the Pelagos 39 watch boasts a three-link bracelet design crafted from titanium that is both stylish and functional. It is sleek and elegant with a folding mechanism that operates via a single push button. The feature makes it easy to slide the watch on and off the wrist. Meanwhile, the clasp, paired with an adjustment system, can fine-tune the length of the bracelet naturally without you needing to take the bracelet off. The links of the bracelet have also been redesigned to curve better to the shape of the wrist.

Closing thoughts

With so many versions of the Pelagos watch, why would TUDOR not create a design that was more wearable for the everyday dive watch fan? The Pelagos 39 is comfortable, functional and precise. It offers many of the same attributes as the standard model (albeit a lesser water resistance) but in a more compact case size that will appeal to anyone with a slender wrist, as well as those wanting to return to the smaller-sized dive watches of a bygone era.

If you’d like to learn more about the Pelagos 39 watch by TUDOR, you can call and speak to a member of our Jura Watches sales team today on 01335 453453.