Is Tudor Now a Better Buy Than Rolex? 

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I bought a blue Tudor Pelagos a few weeks ago and got put on the list for the no-date sub. Suddenly a couple oyster perpetuals and a datejust became available to purchase too… they were display only 5 minutes before… I can actually wear the Pelagos to a blue collar factory job and it’s not absurdly flashy so it doesn’t look out of place on the factory floor or swimming in the pool/hot tub. The best part is nobody knows what it is, I know it’s special and everyone else that’s not a watch person sees some random chunky dive watch, not a Rolex. I bought it for me to look at and appreciate, like my Grand Seiko.

Rolex is always Rolex, but in 20 years when collectors think of this specific moment in watch history, the Black Bay will be the watch that comes to mind. Owners who kept them will be glad they did.

I sold my Rolex 1016, 1601, 5500 & 16610LV recently and now have the original Black Bay (Red bezel), Black Bay GMT and Blue 58. Totally over the Rolex brand image (in fact I think it is somewhat tarnished and was a much stronger brand back in 1978 when I got my first Rolex), and agree with the point made that current Tudor watches are much better quality products than 4 and 5 digit Rolex watches. I also prefer tool watches and I think Rolex have lost that market since they introduced the hideous maxi case on the Submariner.

Absolutely a better buy, no way is Rolex worth the asking price or the hoops you have to jump through to be allowed to buy one.

I have had my Black Bay 58 for two years now and its my favorite watch. Its very well balanced for my 7inch wrist. I like the old school charm of gilt indices and bezel. The movement is extremely accurate and is patrt of my perfect two watch collection that includes a Grand Seiko SBGA283. Ultimately tastes in watches are subjective. Buy what you like and more importantly, what you will wear.

I prefer my Tudors precisely because of the non-shininess of them. For a time I couldn’t explain to myself why i love my Pelagos39 so much and find it so much more attractive than the Submariner, until i saw someone describe it as brutalist. And then it clicked. It’s a brutalist interpretation of a diver. Then there’s my Bronze Bb58, which just exudes so much more character in its matte patina’d goodness. That said, im still craving a fluted bezel white gold green palm datejust on a blingy jubilee. Lightplay goodness. ✨

I would be afraid to wear a Rolex to my office. It would send the wrong vibe. A Tudor is just right for my office setting. The Rolex would be a weekend or special occasion watch. I still love both.

I have a Tudor BB58 and a Rolex Submariner 126610LV. Love them both. The Tudor is 80% as good as the Sub for one third the price. Of course, the Sub has insane resale value so that does throw a wrench in the value equation. Cheers!

I will have owned my Rolex 16610 Sub Date for 21 years this July and its been all over the world on my wrist. I also have the Black and Blue versions of the BB58 which I love to bits. Aside from the more robust bracelet on the Tudors, the Sub's 3135 movement is still sublime with the crown and winding super smooth. Even on this now almost 'vintage' watch the finishing and polish is still better than the BB58s IMO. Also, I will be interested to see how well the Tudors' perform when they've clocked up a few more wrist-wearing years.

I'm lucky enough to have a Tudor Black Bay - Harrods Edition (Green Bezel), I absolutely love it. It goes under the radar but its special and not many people know much about it. I also recently picked up a Rolex DateJust 41 (fluted bezel, jubilee) which I love but its just too flashy to wear everyday... I'll never sell my Tudor but I would sell my Rolex, which is saying something!

Andrew mentioned something in the video that I've thought many times over. And that is, if Rolex watches were still readily available (as they were not that many years ago), would they still have the same demand? They are great watches, but I don't think so! It's the hysteria that triggered this new level of exclusivity. So now they've became investment pieces for some people. And some of these buyers could care less about the actual watches.

Let me elaborate a little about why I consider Tudor has more values than Rolex from an owner perspective. About 14 years ago around 2009. I was given a chance to buy a Rolex GMT with two tones with price tag around 8k. And this was the pre-ceramic GMT version. Yesterday I just bought a Tudor BB chrono two tones golden panda. It is a beautiful beast. This Tudor has a more complicated and beautiful chrono movement as compared to GMT movement. While its price is not expensive as the pre-ceramic GMT. The chrono is also considered to be more useful than GMT. Therefore to a watch collector, Tudor has come with more values than Rolex.

I own 2 BB58s and also a Rolex Pepsi GMT. I must say of course the Pepsi is a "better" watch. Better quality build, better finishing (although not perfect under a loupe), looks are subjective (so can't comment), has more presence, more recognisable (if you like that kind of thing) and the brand has contributed a lot to the watch world. But hands down the watch that is more "worth" it is ,the Tudor. It's less flashy, its a workhorse, robust and still very beautiful. I believe the modern Tudors are what Rolex used to be. But by far the biggest turn off for Rolex is the hoops you have to jump through to obtain one. I know it is supply and demand, but the idea of saving up to buy a Rolex or buying one for achieving some major milestone in life has gone and that feels shit.

It’s very simple. Just replace the Tudor logo on BB58 or 54 with a Rolex logo (no change to quality or features) and they’ll be sold out even after doubling the price. Proving that Rolex trades on their name, not their superior products

Loved to hear your friendly controversy! I do agree with you Andrew and I just bought the BB54 at last! I am not moved by the Daytona and much prefer my Zenith El Primero 36000 vph...which makes me tend to be a nostalgic old fart...

Ok! I so, in my humble opinion, Rolex is still a better watch. I love Tudor but Rolex is higher quality. Is it double or triple the watch (as reflected in their retail pricing)? Naaaah! Tudor is bang for Buck baby!

Very interesting video, thank you. I own a Submariner from 2002 and was recently at an AD to try out a new GMT Master II Pepsi. I made exactly the experience as described here. The Pepsi is shouting: LOOK HERE I AM A ROLEX!.....I am now looking for an older reference with aluminum bezel in black. The newer Rolex models do really shine even from a distance...I got also a Tudor heritage which I like very much due to its vintage look...

I prefer the style of Tudor, so that’s a big YES for me. Plenty of Rolex replicas from China that are indistinguishable from the Swiss made timepieces & fraction the price. The Chinese version is the only Rolex I’d buy, as I’m not spending $20K.

Rolexes are still nice but foolish money for what they are. I don't enjoy being taken for a mug any more than I enjoy actually being mugged, which would probably also happen if I bought one. Tudor is clearly the brand to go for now for discerning buyers.

You'd be hard pressed to find a better deal on an amazing watch than a 2nd hand BB58 right now. They're probably the most affordable they'll ever be!

I own both Rolex and Tudor. 9 times out of 10 I’ll wear my Tudor around the world (I travel for work). There’s the “you get mugged and /or killed for your Rolex” factor that I cannot ignore. Totally takes the enjoyment out of it for me.

Oh, finally some Rolex talk on this channel.

I have the BB GMT SG Tudor and I like it more than any Rolex GMT. On the other hand, I have a Skydweller SG Black and a steel Seadweller. These are better than any Tudors.

fair question and interesting discussion. I'm a fan of the Tudor bronze watches!

Please touch more on each brand’s sales and service experience, the warranty, and the ease of selling off each watch in future comparisons.

If the 54 swapped out the gilt for white on the dial, I’d be sold.

My 1680 Submariner is significantly more wearable than the 116610. It melds to the wrist. The newer Submariners occupy the wrist.

Loved this show lads!

Well done chaps, love this video. I am as much a fan of Rolex as well as Tudor, and I collect both.

I genuinely enjoyed this conversation between you two. I like all the dry wit and acerbic metaphors, but when the watch world's version of Oscar Wilde and James Whistler have a serious talk about watches, I am all in. Thanks.

If you want a Rolex, get a Rolex. Tudor is good but it won't scratch that itch

I own both a Sub and a Bb58. I seldom wear my sub anymore because the Tudor is just darn near perfect

Tudor is on the right path, especially with the new black bay red which has made a statement of continuity of the 41 dive watch and the message of refinement. This could be a parallel rebirth of something very similar to Rolex and the sub. However, the other lines need a clean up, not a cancellation but a clean up. The fast rider was almost a hit but there are issues here and there with dial symetry and slight case refinement, it is almost there

If the BB54 would have a snowflake seconds hand, and if the BB Chrono were 1mm smaller width and 2mm thinner, I'd buy both (for less than a Daytona).

“Is Tudor the Columns to Rolex’s Tetris”. Brilliant analogy… I’ll be stealing that for comparing all sorts of things 😂

Ironically, here in Montreal we have 3 Tudor Ad's and not one of them has the new 41mm Black Bay:(

I strongly prefer the less blingy look of the BB line, and bought a BB58 for that reason (not for availability, or nostalgia). Modern Rolex is just too shiny and flashy for me.

Rolex are aesthetically nicer and more intricate in detail 100%..However, the Tudor workmanship easily competes. Gutted I couldn’t get a Rolex…but I’m happy to save £4-5k to own a watch I love….and will use the change to buy something more fun.!

My choice would be the Pelagos 39 all day long.

As a massive Tetris fan, I just want to say I loved playing Columns on my Game Gear.

I got a Pelagos LHD a few months ago and have never looked back. Wearing a watch on my right wrist as it is, the LHD has always appealed. The comparable Rolex is the 126720VTNR but you have more chance of winning the lottery than getting your hands on one of them at MSRP. The difference in ADs is much preferred too. I wandered into the Tudor AD, saw it in the display cabinet, bought it. No purchase history, no schmoozing, no waitlists or any other sort of game you have to play to get a Rolex nowadays. Having said that, whilst I like the chunkiness of the LHD, if it was shade thinner, it would be perfect. but overall, very robust and glad I managed to finally find one in an AD. Just need more manufacturer's to make destro watches now to cater for us lefties!

Just bought a 1926. Love my watch.

I love my Tudor panda chrono. To be perfect I’d prefer a thinner watch and micro adjust on the bracelet

I go between my BB58 and my SMP 300m Diver and love both of them. I do definitely notice the build quality more on the SMP, but I love the dimensions of the BB58. I have a 7 1/2 inch wrist so some may size me out of the BB58 but I love the smaller look. If Omega sizes that SMP down in a smaller size I will have a problem on my hands. Lol😂

My Black Bay 41 (the divers one not the dress watch) is incredible. I wouldn't swap it for a Submariner. I would love a submariner, but I wouldn't swap what I've got.

I have a 5 digit sports model Rolex and just picked up the BB54. I must say the BB54 is a much higher quality watch. I now daily the BB54 and wear my Rolex once or twice every couple weeks. Shockingly I've had more people ask about my Tudor in the last month than my 16570 in 3 years.

Certainly available and the new BB 41 red bezel has the Mesas certification so why not , 4400 vs. 13,000.

"Would you go for the old or new Submariner?" There's a bit of an irony there in that very few people can get their hands on either, never mind making a choice! I have a 16610 I bought in 2003 for £2,800, which I thought was a fair price and was happy to dish out at the time. Now though? 9, 10K and upwards? Nope. I don't think so.

The new metas bb 41 would be a better buy than the sub if the bezel was ceramic.

I literally come to Andrew’s Rolex troll videos just to see the Rolex cultee’s freaking out lol.

I feel the same way about the new daytona, very odd combination of elements. However, certain releases need time for the eyes to settle. Remember the older Daytonas, how everyone in the era wrote them off

I fully believe that tudor if today is rolex of years ago. Rolex used to be no-nonsense, highly reliable/robust, non-flashy tool watches, at an expensive but still reasonable price range, and were attainable and available. Now they are more shiny, luxurious, and more jewelry than used for its intended purposes, at insane prices and unobtainable and unavailable. Tudor is now making the no-nonsense tool watches in the "affordable" luxury price range. Rolex is more status symbol today than actual tool watch, tudor is more tool watch than status symbol. It makes more sense to take the $4k Pro hiking and spelunking than it does the 10K Explorer 2. Same goes for the ranger, or diving with a 4K black bay vice a 10K sub.

“The ideal world of abundance.” Bravo, Tom!

Watching this channel, you'd think there were only two watch brands in the World.

I had full intentions of buy another Rolex. I went to an AD to check them out. They're also a Tudor AD. I was drawn to them far more, and I had the money for the Rolex. Waiting on my Black Bay 36 with the anthracite dial, now. I think they blew it outta the water with that one.

So I’ve had many Rolexes and Like many owners, I change relatively frequently, perhaps once every couple of years. This time I ordered a Pepsi and to tide myself over I bought a Tudor BlackBay Pro. I swear it’s the best watch I’ve had. It’s not as polished in its execution as Rolex but you don’t have to beg to buy one, it looks great, keeps perfect time and feels like genuine quality. I might even cut the Rolex cord for good….. maybe ????

Wow! I just had a dream where I watched a RU-vid video about luxury watches and no one said "Tudor" or "Rolex". It must have been a dream as it never seems to happen in reality!!!!!! 🤨

I like both Rolex and Tudor; Tudor with the black bay has managed to build and extend the legacy of the older Tudor Subs, there is alot of lineage that can play to our hear strings. I am yet to buy a Tudor sun, however, I dream of it day and night and will have it side by side with a Rolex. May be a Tudor over a Rolex since it has some 70s cool factor with the snow flake hands which in comparsion to the mercedes hands which look almost too antique.

At the end of the day as good as they both are they are the same company ,2 heads on the same coin ,either way you flip it they win !! As much as I’ve wanted a few models of both over the years and have had a SUB , my experience with Rolex has soured my opinion of them.

When you didnt need google to understand the columns reference! I still be owning my friends at columns!

Yes. It is more perfect to exist than not to exist. The watch that’s nice that you can have is better than the one that you can’t.

Honestly most people buy a Tudor because they can’t afford or get a Rolex. That or they already have a few Rolexes and now they want something different to add.

Short Answer - no A Rolex is still epic. Infact I got my Rolex Explorer 36mm from WOS yesterday and boy oh boy a Rolex is a Rolex! Super happy! I still intend to get a Turod BB54 however!

Okay need some help… deciding between two omega seamaster 300m in green or bb58 black… not sure on the omega bracelet … help!

“Tudor has retained a tool watch functional approach” yep and that’s why I want a Tudor.

I wear my Rolex op41 to the office. No one notices it, totally flies under the radar. Same with my panda Tudor, but when I wear my tag f1? Everyone is like omgwtf

888k subscribers, well deserved ❤

I wore a 14060m sub daily then my AD had a new sub available last year so i traded it in but after 2 months of wearing it i sold it didnt like it at all shininess and chnkyness turned me off....... i bought a pegalos 39 which i wear now daily , looking for another older sub.. big mistake trading that in... ive had the BB58 when it first came out loved it but same time i had the 14060m so it didnt get much wrist time... with that said if you dont have the budget for a older sub the BB58 is fantastic...

Tudor has a better price to quality performance but where Rolex excels is in the extra refinement. Case in point: the Black Bay Pro vs the Explorer II. Very similar designs but Rolex delivers a thinner case. Rolex has Tudor beat on quality, so the question to ask is whether the incremental refinement is worth the significant price difference.

I would get a Tudor for enjoyment, but potentially a rolex as well cos they are so liquid if you don't wanna keep it you can just flip it and not lose a huge amount.

I have the 2012 burgundy bezel tudor blackbay❤ my favorite watch

In terms of quality the Black Bays are 80% as good as the modern Subs. The Sub bracelet from the thinness of the links and glide lock and quality is a bit better due to the steel. The brand prestige will always have Rolex ahead of Tudor. The Black Bays feel more robust and not jewelry like though. Submariners are I think too well refined now that they feel dainty.

Now that Tudor is using their own in-house movement, id say yes, yes it is. They have more originality than rolex. Rolex releases the same old models with different dials or upside down movements (left hand sub). They might give you an explorer with dome gold on it or a different size explorer. Thats about it. Not to mention, rolex is too mainstream imo.

Rolex fan boys will always be just that. They can take that very minor 'improvement' that Rolex makes when they introduce the new generation to an existing model and write a book of praises on how that minor detail has changed the watch and made it leaps and bounds better than the previous generation.

I think Tudor Pelagos 39 is the perfect diver.

Fed up with hearing about Rolex. Time to find some different brands which just don’t get enough air time!

Buy the Breitling B01 chronomat, it’s available and affordable instead of the Daytona.

Yes, and no…depends on the model and comparison. I offloaded my SMP300 for a myriad of reasons that had it just less desirable FOR ME, than a Pelagos. I’ve worn the Tudor almost every day since. You can’t tell me a Submariner is THAT much better of a watch than this. BUT, when you compare Tudor’s “entry level” models vs Rolex’s, I would take my 116900 Air King over those any day. It’s not apples to apples…it’s apples to grizzly bears. Great vid guys! Cheers!

I have a Tudor Pelagos in black and i love it

Rolex is far superior. Its not even close. Tudor is a good entry level brand with nice vintage inspired Rolex models of the past. Not hating on Tudor but thats what it is.

If you take price and resale value away, judging purely upon looks, i'd take the BB over the Submariner any day of the week if I'm being honest... (i cant afford either though so its not as though I'll be waiting in line tomorrow to buy either!!)

The black bay is better made than a 14060 absolutely. 1/3 the price on secondary market too.

Like them both and Tudor making some great looking, well put together watches these days but the quality just doesn’t match Rolex. You can get 2 cracking vintage inspired Tudors for the price of 1 Rolex, which is a great proposition, but Rolex still takes the win in terms of being the better item. New Daytona reminds me of a Breitling…

Rolex and Tudor have a perfect business case. They sell very similar watches, of course different level of "bling-ness" and are very successful in doing that. That just says to me that the legacy that Rolex have built is the best of them all. Take this as an example: How many models (or model series) of the Big 3 Audemars Piguet, Vacheron Constantin and Patek Philippe do you like and would buy? I would say AP one, Patek one (both are designed by the legendary G. Genta) Vacheron hmmmmm..... Maybe there are some of you that like more models, but for me that's it, even if the price was much lower (say at Tudor level) and I could get in the store and get out with one. What about Rolex? Submariner, GMT Master, Daytona at least. Datejust as well (Day-date, day complication is something I don't need). Maybe Sky-Dweller too, I like that complication. Rolex has build up a very desirable portfolio. Tudor, on the other hand started as a poor-man Rolex brand, building watches with cheap movements and Rolex cases. Then they tried to build their own models but were not very successful, and to be honest they were pretty crappy. Then the Black Bay came out. I must say I still remember that day, looking at a perfectly proportioned burgundy dive watch and just said WOW. Then it came out with a blue bezel, then black with gold details. That one I wanted to buy for some time. And then I remember Baselworld 2018, the morning of opening, I am checking Rolex webpage first and then BANG: GMT pepsi in steel. OK, let's check Tudor webpage. BIG BANG: Tudor GMT Pepsi. I felt almost fainting! Since then I have got one Tudor Diet Pepsi and one Tudor Diet Root Beer (GMT S&G)! I really got addicted to Tudor soda drinks. Would I have bought Rolex Pepsi and Root Beer if they were available in the stores, or at least if they were available as Tudor watches are today? Probably one of them yes, and that would have been one Pepsi. I think that the Rolex Root Beer is too expensive to wear it whenever I feel for it, which is definitely less often than Pepsi. Did I regret buying two Tudor watches? Not for a second! Almost for the price of one Rolex Air King, I got two fantastic watches, having a lot of fun wearing them! Are each of these two Tudors better than an Air king? Oh yeah, much better watches if you ask me. And with this we come to the value question. Currently Tudor makes "bargain" watches if you compare them with similar brands. I got shocked when I checked latest prices of Breitling, Omega and even Longines. OMG how expensive they have become compared to Tudor. Even list prices of Rolex watches look reasonable compared to these brands! I suspect Tudor will not be able to keep these price levels for too long, so I would recommend to whoever is thinking of buying Tudor to pull the trigger now. Rolex for me is the biggest watch brand ever. They have the best model lineup, quality is at the level of the Big 3 if not better (when it comes to the movement accuracy). Yes, they don't have many complications as the Big 3, but who needs them anyway? On the other hand, they have left the "tool watch" business to go higher up, and have become "bling" products, maybe even to "blingee" my taste. Pepsi bezel has no Pepsi colors anymore, more "candy/slush" colors. They are now designed to scream "I am successful". And I guess 95% of all buyers buy Rolex to show off, the rest are maybe watch "aficionados". Rolex watches may generate envy looks, and may even pose security risks. People get pickpocketed and even attacked over their Rolex watches. Tudor on the other hand don't generate such emotions for the other people. Noone looks at the wrist, even with a Tudor Root Beer on it. Security risks next to none. Only people wearing Tudor watches are enjoying them. And yes I am enjoying my two Tudors very much!!!

In my opinion is Tudor historically a better buy than Rolex? - no. Is Tudor a better buy than Rolex right now? - yes. Rolex has name brand cache ('I own a Rolex - I've made it and been successful in life') and some iconic designs (Sub, Daytona, Datejust, Explorer) ... Tudor is now getting there.

I'll keep watching out of habit but old style of videos were much better. I don't know if you will capture a new audience with this style tbh. Also Tom has been a great addition.

Yes I love my Tudor black bay 58 blue on suede strap. I am impartial to my Oyster perpetual 39 blue. The loom sucks and I wear my watches at night and to sleep.

i used to love Rolex but their marketing and the way that some ADs behave is a turn off. my view is Tudor is on th same level for quality and time keeping. the Pelagos for my is the perfect diver and the black bay is the perfect all rounder.

I know watch guys can get caught up in one upping each other, but aren't you tired of Rolex. I think the Tudor Black Bay is a watch Rolex wish it could still make, but now it has to have this old man bifocal on it and it has to be overpolished. The Black Bay is almost a perfect watch. The sizes are spot on and the vintage finish is dialed perfectly. I don't love the treaded links and wish they were smooth riveted like the Rolex, but outside of that I don't understand paying a 4x premium for the Submariner. If your watch is about ego and look at me, then obvious you want the Rolex. If you want a better looking watch and a chuckle at the guy who thinks he needs to pay too much for his watch, then the Tudor is by far the best bang for the buck. I want a Rolex, but I'm embarrassed to be taken when there are better options for less.

I think Tudors are the entry level now aren’t they..I’ve got a bit of dosh the Rolex is still abit pricey but I can get a the entry level brand new with Tudor and most of the time there’s a Tudor equivalent of the Rolex models

Listen to the banter, enjoy the content, realize I will never own either, and be really happy with my old Seiko with fresh strap...and keep dreaming.

I’m edging my bets! I have both.

Why is it that when we speak about a Rolex or Tudor watch the conversation is limited to those two brands, whereas discuss any other watch and you tend to have a wider conversation appreciating the watch for what it is in relation to all other brands.

Owning both... Tudors aluminum bezel has a warmth the ceramic does not.... Tudor for the win on value..

This is a very debatable topic. I am a Rolex user who has three Rolex and a bigger fan of Tudor. I have considered Tudor as a more classic Rolex as well as having more values than Rolex.

I love both but I have one Rolex and two Tudor watches.

SD 16600 would be the way to go

Pelagos 39 for me

I am retired now so if Rolex was at Tudor prices I would be interested. I am more interested in Tudor now. If you want a 1954 submariner get the Tudor BB 54.I plan on getting the Pepsi GMT Tudor in 2024.