Where does the Tudor Royal fit in within the Tudor lineup?

Where does a Selita/ETA-based dressier sport watch with an integrated case fit in with the rest of the Tudor lineup? The Royal line, which comes in 41, 38, 34, and 28 mm versions, has a retro vibe that borrows from Tudor’s and Rolex’s pasts and delivers a solid offering for an individual whose wardrobe tends more towards the dressed up end of the spectrum.

Photo credit: WatchesbySJX.com

During the upcoming season of new announcements, we wondered if the Royal lineup would receive any updates. One of our team members dislikes fluted bezels, citing they look old-fashioned, and is hoping for a smooth bezel version, which would play to the sportier side of the watch.

Photo by: @dicksonwatchandjewellery

Integrated case watches are becoming very popular and Tudor’s only other integrated case watch in its current catalog is the North Flag, an entirely different feel from the Royal line. An example of brands trying to capitalize on the trend, Tissot just announced its PRX Quartz collection, which are sub-$400 integrated case sport watches that look very versatile, with 100 meters of water resistance. At this end of the budget spectrum Timex offers its Q line, which is distinguished by the integrated case look. 

Of course, not everyone can afford (or even get their hands on) a Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, so the Tudor Royal sits nicely around the $3K range. 

However, it’s not an obvious choice for its target audience, given that Tudor Oyster Date and Tudor Prince models are available on the secondhand market for around the $3-$2K mark. These older watches offer more of a Rolex’s cousin look, which may or may not appeal to this segment. The integrated case combined with Roman numeral dials is what separates the Royal from the pack, and the blue dial day date version at 41mm offers a mashup of contemporary and vintage esthetics.

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We would like to see the 38mm Royal models also made available in the day-date configuration as currently only the 41 offer this additional complication. In fact, we’d love for the day-date to be offered across the board and simply make this a hallmark of the Royal line. In order for Tudor to establish longevity within its families of watches in the way the Black Bay lineup seems to be going.

It seems that too often Tudor changes direction in this dressy casual category. With its Style line, Tudor seemed poised to offer a legit Datejust alternative. The Style lineup, although not as interesting as the Royal line visually, seems to make the decision harder for the person who just wants that one nice watch that he or she can wear to work. 

So we’re making a case for Tudor to make a stronger commitment to developing its Royal line. The brand’s motto is “Born to Dare,” so we would like to see them not play it safe and give us more offerings in its odd creation in the Royal.

Check out our line of straps for Tudor watches here.