What Happened To The Tudor North Flag?

At Baselworld 2015, Tudor introduced… a trio of colorful Fastrider Chronographs. But that’s not what we’re here to talk about. That same year, Tudor also debuted the North Flag: a decidedly modern, angular, integrated bracelet watch with vibrant yellow accents. It was the first Tudor to feature an in-house movement—the caliber MT5621.

Image Source: Hodinkee

Despite its appeal (more on that in a bit), the North Flag didn’t have the staying power of a Black Bay or Pelagos. It was quietly discontinued in 2021. Why? There are a few likely reasons. The watch’s main inspiration—the ‘70s Tudor Ranger II ref. 9111—is a niche favorite, unlike the iconic Submariner that informs much of the Black Bay and Pelagos design DNA. And instead of reviving the “Ranger II” name, Tudor opted for a more obscure historical tie-in: the 1952–54 British North Greenland Expedition. Significant, yes—but not exactly well-known.

Then there’s the movement. The North Flag made headlines for introducing Tudor’s first in-house caliber… but the Pelagos got the same movement at the same show.

Why We Love The Tudor North Flag

Tudor’s original mission was to offer well-built watches at a more approachable price point than Rolex. For decades, that meant pairing cost-effective ETA movements with Rolex-made cases and bracelets. Since 2012, it’s meant the Black Bay and Pelagos—Tudor’s yin and yang of heritage and modern design, both rooted in the Submariner.

The North Flag is different. Like the Pelagos, it isn’t a direct offshoot of a Rolex model. It takes cues from the funky old Ranger II—integrated case and bracelet, bold handset, Explorer-style numerals—and refines them into something modern and distinctive.

Specs-wise, the North Flag measures 40mm in diameter, 50mm lug to lug, and 13.3mm thick. It has a screw-down crown, 100 meters of water resistance, and a ceramic bezel ring. The caliber MT5621 features a full balance bridge, silicon hairspring, and 70-hour power reserve—visible through the caseback and displayed on the dial at 9 o’clock.

Image Source: Time and Tide

As with most integrated bracelet watches, the North Flag wears larger than the numbers suggest. But the draping bracelet links and downturned lugs help it sit well even on smaller wrists. The one flaw? The caseback hangs lower than the lugs—a small comfort issue Tudor could easily address in a future version.

A New North Flag . . . Or A Ranger II?

If Tudor ever revisits the North Flag, a movement upgrade seems inevitable—likely something like the MT5602-U with METAS certification. A T-fit clasp would also be a logical addition, especially for an integrated bracelet.

Sizing is less predictable. The 2022 Ranger dropped down to 39mm, and a new North Flag could follow suit. Regardless of case diameter, a slimmer profile would make sense.

In his 2019 retrospective video, industrial designer and YouTuber IDGuy called the North Flag “an excellent design language to work with,” and mocked up some tweaks: crown guards, a 9 o’clock numeral, a larger framed date window, and a more balanced power reserve layout. I liked his ideas so much I made my own.

Renderings by IDGuy

I kept IDGuy’s crown guards and 9 o’clock numeral, both of which reference the original Ranger II. I moved the power reserve to the center hand stack in one version, and deleted it entirely in another. I enlarged and framed the date window for better legibility, and replaced the fixed ceramic bezel with a rotating 12-hour steel one—useful for tracking a second time zone and more interactive than the original. Finally, I swapped the yellow accents for orange, as a nod to the Ranger II ref. 9111. 

These are just a few ideas for a potential North Flag revival. As IDGuy said in the aforementioned video, “that is the joy of design: throwing ideas around and seeing if something will stick.” We'd love to hear your ideas, as well.

Has Tudor Buried the Flag?

Image Source: Analog:Shift

Tudor has clearly shelved the North Flag—for now. The brand’s focus has shifted to sports partnerships and continued evolution of the Pelagos line. That’s a good thing. Both Pelagos and North Flag showed what Tudor can do when it stops referencing Rolex and starts building on its own past.

Still, the North Flag has plenty of untapped potential. A future revival—maybe under the Ranger II name—could give it the context and continuity it lacked the first time around.

What would you want to see in a new version? Let us know in the comments—and if you’re looking to customize your Tudor or Rolex, check out our selection of integrated straps fit for particular references.