The New Tudor North Flag (2026): What's Changed and What We Think

On September 1st, 2026, Tudor reintroduced the North Flag: an integrated bracelet sports watch originally debuted in 2015 and discontinued in 2021.

Following the brand's recent teaser centered around a vintage Tudor Ranger II, many people were wondering if we'd see another North Flag — a model that takes after the quirky Ranger II — or maybe a new model entirely. Personally, I was pulling for a Ranger II comeback, but that's neither here nor there.

The New Tudor North Flag (2026)

The updated North Flag comes with some notable changes from the original. First and foremost, this is now a GMT watch, with a central 24hr hand and an independent local hour hand to quickly switch time zones. A sloped 24hr rehaut (around the dial's perimeter) accompanies the 24hr hand, allowing you to read your secondary timezone at a glance. This complication replaces the original North Flag's 3 o'clock power reserve indicator, which certainly added to the watch's charm but isn't nearly as useful as a GMT.

* The 2026 North Flag pictured above is a graphic render, not a photograph. The steel is not noticeably darker on the new model. 

The new North Flag's case and integrated bracelet look very similar to the original. However, the 2026 version is slimmer at 12.7mm case thickness, down from 13.4mm. It maintains its original 40mm diameter and shrinks lug-to-lug from 50mm to 48.8mm. The integrated bracelet has a microadjustable T-Fit clasp.

The watch also has METAS Master Chronometer certification, having undergone rigorous testing to prove its magnetic resistance, water resistance, precision and accuracy, positional variance, power reserve, and more. The original North Flag, having introduced Tudor’s in-house MT calibers, was the first Tudor with a clear exhibition caseback, and we see it utilized again here. Through the sapphire caseback, you can admire the caliber MT5652-U — the same GMT movement found in Tudor's Pelagos FXD GMT.

My Thoughts on the Tudor North Flag, Old and New

The discontinued Tudor North Flag (2015-2021). Image Source: Watchfinder & Co.

The North Flag has always been something of a niche collector favorite, partially because of its quirky feature set, bold use of yellow, and uncharacteristic (of Tudor) design language. I'm happy to see the concept brought back and explored further. Plus, you can't really argue with slimmer dimensions, Master Chronometer certification, and a T-Fit clasp.

Seeing the old North Flag in person, what stood out to me were the colors, textures, and three-dimensionality. On the outgoing model, the matte black dial is so matte black that it almost looks like ceramic. Speaking of which, there's a matte black ceramic ring around the bezel, which gives it this robust feel. The blocky white applied numerals and hour markers feel one with the bold white handset. Then the splashes of yellow — specifically on the power reserve indicator — set the whole design off. I've also always loved the crown on this watch. It's the only cone-shaped Tudor crown that I'm aware of, and it sits flush with the case with a very pronounced knurling. It's satisfying to use and I think it's a perfect fit with the design language.

Left image source: Hodinkee Shop

A lot of that has changed with the new North Flag. The matte black dial was swapped for a faint sunburst. The ceramic bezel ring is gone outright with a polished bezel flank in its place. The splash of yellow on the dial via the power reserve indicator is gone; the dial now reads 'NORTH FLAG' in yellow. While the applied numerals and hour markers look similar, they no longer have that framed, rectangular, blocky structure. Instead, they now mimic the lume plots on the Ranger II, which used painted-on tritium that has a sort of three-dimensional puffiness to it. Of course, the new ones are much more uniform. The 24hr rehaut was an easy swap for the minutes track and I'm glad they kept the yellow hash marks.

Final Thoughts

Overall, the new North Flag is decidedly more refined than its predecessor. While it omits a few of my favorite quirks of the original, it feels like a logical next step in the model's evolution — and one aimed at wider appeal, especially with the added GMT functionality. The watch is available only on its integrated bracelet — no integrated leather strap option like the old model. U.S. MSRP sits at $5,525.

I'm excited to get my hands on this watch and see how it differs from the original in person. What are your thoughts on the new North Flag? Let us know in the comments.