Rolex

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The Three Watchketeers...

...

Following Nicolas suggestion a few days ago regarding showing my three Tudor timewatches together in a same post, I felt I could borrow and adapt the title for my own horological version ot the Three Musketeers classic novel and cumpliment my friend here.

I feel Tudor has been doing very well his homework in the last years trying (with very good results in my opinion) to get rid the old popular vision of watch aficionados that the brand was just the "poor´s Rolex" as well as offering a very interesting and well done series of new products based in popular models of the past.

In my modest opinion, these new models have to be viewed as completely new models with "an inspiration" or a wink to the past. I feel that to try to compare the new models with the vintage reference to which each pays homage is a mistake, specially for lovers of vintage watches. It is completely impossible to reproduce the charm of a vintage piece nor the effects of the pass of time in a modern watch.

Considering this approach, I feel that the new models are a successful move from the present Tudor designers. These new watches: a diviers like the Black Bay, an sport racing cars chrono like the Heritage Chrono and an explorers´ oriented watch like the Ranger offer a cool, elegant, sporty and attractive timepiece for a no less attractive price.

It is not to say that I don´t find small details to critizise in these watches, among them the excesive thickness of their cases. But a lot of nice details which I would like to see in the Rolex line of sports models are present in these Tudors, e.g.: the thick lume markers of the Ranger, or the nice polished bevel of the lugs of the Black Bay and the Heritage chrono.

Some watch aficionados have criticized the use of an ETA based movement in these watches, but I´m sure this is the base of the cost/price reduction these watches offer while at the same time my experience with these watches has been that these movements are very accurate, reliable, and tough.

After this prologue I wish to share some pictures of my watches saying that my favorite of my three horolical musketeers is the Black Bay in its red bezel gilt inscriptions version, which I feel offers a more warm and sporty look than the (no less pretty) blue bezel/silver inscriptions version.

The Heritage chrono offers three different dials colors, and I choose the gray version because it gives me a more "vintage" look and feel to this watch.

My last purchase was the Ranger, which was of course the last offering of Tudor in these series of recreations of past sport models. This watch offers an interesting steel bracelet sans end links, which reminds me of the more primitive versions of the Oyster bracelet, and a dial I would love that Rolex would offer in their modern Explorer.

As you may see I prefer to wear these watches with some kind of straps instead of their original steel bracelets which came with the watches. Be it a vintage looking leather straps, or the fabric Nato style or a set of vintage leather straps, I find them more comfortable and adding a vintage charm touch to these modern versions.

I wish you´ll enjoy the photographs and thank you for your attention to this post.
Best cordial regards, Abel.