The Association Between Tudor and Rolex

Tudor and Rolex are two names in the watch industry synonymous with quality and precision. While the brands are known to be associated with one another, few people know the details of the brands’ relationship or whether Tudor is an imprint of Rolex.

This is important information if you’re a budding collector. If you buy a second hand Tudor watch, are you actually buying a Rolex product? If Tudor and Rolex are associated with each other, do different manufacture dates make pieces more or less valuable?

Same Founder, Different Vision

If you know the history of Rolex, then you know that one of the brand’s founders was Hans Wilsdorf, but you may not know that Wilsdorf also started Tudor. Together with his brother-in-law, Wilsdorf grew the Rolex brand into a global phenomenon. Today, Rolex stands as not only one of the world’s most sought-after watch manufacturers, but also as an example of how a brand can become the archetype for premium quality and craftsmanship.

While the origins of Tudor reach back to the name being trademarked in 1926 by Wilsdorf, the brand itself didn’t officially get off the ground until 1946 as montres TUDOR SA. According to Wilsdorf, the purpose of Tudor was to provide access to high-quality Swiss timepieces without the price tag associated with Rolex. Tudor watches used the same cases as Rolex, but the internal mechanisms were “off-the-shelf” in design.

Tudor Watches Today

Because of the close association with Rolex, Tudor watches today are considered functional, accessible and collectible. A second hand Tudor watch in great condition can bring in a lot of money depending on its rarity, and at the same time, a new Tudor watch is considered a fashion statement among modern watch collectors.

Although Rolex and Tudor are not the same brand, they both share a common origin and a dedication to Swiss precision in design and engineering. While Rolex is still known as the gold standard by which all other watches are measured, Tudor offers access to Rolex-like quality and craftsmanship at a lower price point.

Read a similar article about Rolex serial numbers here at this page.