In 2026, It’s The Tudor Royal Collection’s Time To Shine

Think of Tudor, and you think of sports and performance watches, and with good reason – the wide range of Black Bay, Ranger and Pelagos models are some of the greatest values in the world in terms of technical features and general toughness, with the Black Bay and Pelagos watches also benefitting from Master Chronometer certification.

This year, however, Tudor launched a complete overhaul of its Royal collection. The Royal name was used on a variety of Tudor watches starting in the 1950s, where it was stamped on dials of watches positioned as premium offerings, and the name was relaunched in 2020. The 2020 Royal watches had integrated bracelets and a distinctive notched bezel, and used third party movements supplied by ETA or Sellita. In the six years since then, the Royal collection was a bit of a background player compared to the attention lavished on the technical and sports models, but this year, Tudor introduced new versions which, despite their superficial similarities to the 2020 launches, are almost an entirely new collection – and one that really needs to be seen in person.

The collection had four different case sizes in 2020 – 28mm, 34mm, 38mm, and 41mm – but the new collection’s tightened up to three models, with 30mm, 36mm, and 40mm options. The case geometry is sharper in the new models, and the 40mm models still come with the day-date complication introduced in 2020. The bracelet has been updated to include the Tudor T-fit rapid adjustment clasp.

One of the biggest additions, however, is noted on the dial. The 2020 launch models used non-chronometer certified supplied movements. The 2026 models, however, are now all in-house calibers – Mt5201, MT5412, and MT5633 – and they are now chronometer certified by the COSC.

Like a lot of Tudor fans, most of my attention up to now was on the sports models and while I saw the new Royals briefly during a group presentation at Watches & Wonders 2026, I think I was so impressed with the Monarch that I didn’t pay all that much attention to the Royals. This time around, with less jet lag and fewer distractions, I found the Royals extremely convincing, so much so that I actually said “wow” out loud when I tried on the 36mm two tone model (gold bezel and gold bracelet interlinks) for the first time.

It felt instantly like a premium product, with no corners cut to fit and finish anywhere. The integrated bracelet qualitatively stands up to anything in the business from any manufacturer; it’s supple but bank-vault solid in feel, and the sharper case geometry makes for a more assertive presentation, even in the 36mm models.

The bracelets are very substantial and give the watch great heft and balance; the mass is evenly distributed and there is no play anywhere. If a solid piece of steel could somehow be made to be flexible as well, it might feel like the Royal bracelets.

The day-date complication in the 40mm models of course, invites comparison with the Day-Date but aside from the fact that the basic complication is the same, there is very little in the specific details which is identical from one watch to the other. The basic geometry of the day window is the same in that, in both watches, it’s an arc which occupies a sector between the 56 minute and four minute markers (a detail I’d never noticed as such before, in either watch) but the absence of a cyclops goes a long way towards giving the Royal day-date its own identity. The complication is less prominent as a complication, but also more integrated into the overall design.

Of course, the day and date can be quickset and the sensation through the screw down crown of switching the two is going to make any owner look forward to non-31 day months, or to setting the day and date if the watch hasn’t been worn for a while. As you would expect, the crown threads smoothly and precisely when screwing it in or out, and hand-setting is, as is the case with all Tudor MC calibers, very precise as well, with no backlash, and no jumping of the minute hand when the crown is pushed back into place. In the day date 40mm model, the day and date both switch over instantaneously at exactly midnight.

Quite honestly, I was totally unprepared to be as impressed as I was with these watches in the metal. I think it’s going to be a little bit of a challenge for the new Royals to gain traction since most folks probably come to Tudor looking for one of the technical models, but I would suggest getting one of these in the hand and on the wrist before passing judgement. Two tone is not for everyone, but even if you’re not usually a two-tone fan, I’d say have a look at least if you’re comparison shopping – the combination of gold interlinks and the notched gold bezel (and in one model, the champagne dial) gives the overall design great visual cohesion and continuity.

Master Chronometer certification might be in the cards with future updates but I don’t think anyone interested needs to wait. These are fantastically attractive watches, at very approachable prices, by the way, and with more than enough in good, solid technical watchmaking to back them up.

The Tudor Royal Collection: cases, 30mm, 36mm or 40mm, in steel or gold and steel; water resistance, 100 meters for all models. Sapphire crystal with solid screw down caseback, yellow gold in gold models. Movements, MT5633, +4/-2 seconds per day, 70 hour power reserve; MT5412, +4/-2 seconds per day, 70 hour power reserve; MT5201, +5/-3 seconds per day, 50 hour power reserve. Prices, $3250 to $6325, depending on model and materials.

Check out our visit to the Tudor manufacture from 2025, and for more information on Master Chronometer certification, see our Journal story, METAS Certification: What It Takes To Be A Master Chronometer.

The 1916 Company is proud to be an authorized retailer for Tudor watches; the new Royal Collection from Tudor is available now.