In 1954, the Tudor Submariner was released, looking suspiciously like the Rolex Submariner that was launched a year earlier. While it adopted many of the design cues of the famed Rolex including the iconic waterproofed Oyster case, the Tudor Submariner aptly fulfilled the wish of founder Hans Wilsdorf, who also founded Rolex, for a watch that was in every way like a Rolex, only cheaper.
For decades, the main difference separating parent company Rolex and Tudor are the movements - the former is equipped with those made in-house while the latter acquired them from a third-party supplier, namely ETA, hence the more accessible prices.
The period after the 1980s, however, saw Tudor overshadowed by the dazzling fame of Rolex – that is until its revival in 2009 led by then CEO Philippe Peverelli who focused on reintroducing and reinforcing Wilsdorf’s original vision for the brand, that of a great watch with great value. Part of the strategy was breathing new life into historical models that would form the brand’s backbone, the Heritage family of watches.
Must-read: Paul Newman’s Rolex is the most expensive wristwatch ever sold
