A luxury watch brand and a competitive sailing team’s shared vision of innovation yields two timepieces that embody the bold spirit of yacht racing.
This is an excerpt from Lifestyle Asia’s August 2023 Issue.
Competitive yacht racing is a centuries-old sport where players fuse a daring spirit with cutting-edge technology in order to secure victory. Nothing embodies this more than TUDOR’s two newest Pelagos FXD models—one a chronograph, and the other a time-only variation—which celebrate the watchmaker’s partnership with esteemed sailing team, Alinghi Red Bull Racing.
Both entities aim to push traditional boundaries, which is why the collaborative watches feature several firsts for TUDOR. This includes the incorporation of a high-tech carbon composite with titanium and stainless steel, similar to what’s found on the AC75 (America’s Cup 75) hydrofoil racing yacht. The integration of a chronograph Calibre into a fixed strap-bars case is also a first for the watchmaker.
BUILT TO WIN
The Pelagos FXD models mirror the technical mastery found in The Alinghi Red Bull Racing AC75, which represents the very best in cutting-edge maritime engineering. The timepieces’ cases and bezel inserts share the yacht’s distinct blend of high-tech carbon composite, making them both light and robust. Their bezels, crowns, and direct-action pushers are in titanium, while their case backs and movement containers are in 316L stainless steel.
200-meter water-resistant cases ensure that the watches are ready for the most challenging of maritime races. Both models have bidirectional 120-notch rotatable bezels with highly luminous Swiss Super-LumiNova® Grade X1; the bezels also feature a 60-minute graduation, making it easier to track countdowns before a regatta.
TUDOR’s hallmark single-piece fabric straps— which are woven in France by the Julien Faure company—also accompany the Pelagos FXD models. They come in a 22-millimeter “Team Blue” ribbon with red accents and a titanium “D” buckle. To guarantee a more comfortable fit, the buckle has a self-gripping fastening system designed to easily adapt to different wrist sizes.
RACE-READY DIALS
The matte dials of both models put ease of reading at the forefront. Each piece showcases TUDOR’s signature square hour-markers and “Snowflake” hands, which offer optimal legibility amid challenging environmental conditions. All dials sport the same hue as the AC75’s hull, with a Alinghi Red Bull Racing Team Blue finish and a red-tipped second hand. However, the Chronograph model features red counters that pay homage to the yacht’s red stripes. On the 45° angled rehaut, between 10 and 2, a subtle “Alinghi Red Bull Racing” mention overarches the dial’s layout.
Read more by purchasing a copy of the Lifestyle Asia August 2023 magazine via SariSari.shopping or select newsstands in National Bookstore and Fully Booked. Subscribe to the E-Magazine via Readly, Magzter, and Press Reader.
Photos courtesy of TUDOR.
