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Tudor Pelagos 42mm Titanium and Stainless Steel
Ref. 02450001091
The Pelagos arrived in 2012 as Tudor's answer to a question the Black Bay never asked: what does a serious diving instrument look like when it is built forward rather than backward? Grade 2 titanium throughout was the founding decision — a first for the broader Rolex group — and it set the tone for a watch that prioritises function over nostalgia. The MT5612 arrived in 2015, bringing COSC certification and a 70-hour power reserve that makes weekend neglect a non-issue, and the case otherwise stayed almost exactly as Tudor had drawn it. At 42mm the Pelagos sits large on paper, but titanium changes the arithmetic: at roughly 100 grams on the wrist it moves and settles the way a steel watch of this depth rating simply cannot. The unidirectional bezel runs a ceramic disc with luminescent graduation markings, the crown falls at 3 with a helium escape valve opposite it at 9, and the bracelet carries Tudor's own patented extension system — a wetsuit-ready mechanism that does not require tools and does not rattle when the extension is not in use. A rubber strap ships in the box as a second option, which is worth knowing before buying one separately.
- Reference
- 02450001091
- Brand
- Tudor
- Collection
- Pelagos
- Case size
- 42mm
- Case thickness
- 14.45mm
- Lug width
- 22mm
- Case material
- Titanium
- Dial
- Black
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Bezel
- Unidirectional rotating
- Movement
- Automatic
- Calibre
- MT5612
- Functions
- Date
- Water resistance
- 500m
- Bracelet / strap
- Titanium bracelet
- Strap colour
- Black
- Clasp
- Folding clasp
- Lume
- Luminous
- Retailer
- Mappin & Webb
Additional specifications
- Lug-to-lug
- 50mm
- Power reserve
- 38 hours
Learn more about Tudor
Tudor exists because Hans Wilsdorf wanted to sell a Rolex to people who could not afford one. He registered the name in 1926 and relaunched it properly in 1946 as a separate company: Rolex cases, Rolex bracelets, Rolex crowns, but bought-in movements — usually ETA — at a fraction of the price.
For decades this made Tudor the practical choice for organisations buying in bulk. The French Marine Nationale issued Submariners to its divers. The US Navy tested them. Tudor's military history is arguably richer than Rolex's, because navies bought Tudors.
The watches developed their own identity regardless. The snowflake hands fitted to Submariners from 1969, specified by the French navy for legibility, became a signature the brand still uses. The Monte Carlo chronographs of the early 1970s, with their orange and blue dials, look nothing like anything Rolex made.
The brand withdrew from the US market in 1996 and spent a decade in relative obscurity before returning in 2013 with the Heritage Black Bay, which mined the archive rather than chasing modernity. It worked. Tudor now develops its own movements through a partnership with Kenissi, supplies calibres to Breitling, and holds METAS Master Chronometer certification — a technical position it never had when it was simply the affordable Rolex.
- 1926
- Hans Wilsdorf registers the Tudor name.
- 1946
- Montres Tudor SA is established as a separate company.
- 1969
- Snowflake hands appear on Submariners for the French navy.
- 2012
- The Black Bay revives the brand internationally.
- 2015
- The first in-house Tudor calibre is released.
Also in 5 collections
This watch appears in the Tudor Pelagos range (6), Automatic Watches (1,648), Sports Watches (762), Dive Watches (548) and Titanium Watches (159).
What the specifications mean
A mechanical watch built to be worn hard and got wet.
Strengths
- 500m water resistance, rated for actual diving
- Sapphire crystal, which resists scratching
- Luminous hands and markers for low light
Worth knowing
- 14.45mm thick, so it will not disappear under a cuff
- 38-hour reserve means winding it after a day off
Tudor Pelagos alternatives
Watches from other brands at a similar price, style and size, so you can see what else your budget can buy.
| Specification | 02450001091 | SM43-DT-SS-BK-B | 782 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £3,750 | £4,350 | £3,860 |
| Case size | 42mm | 43mm | 42mm |
| Water resistance | 500m | 500m | 300m |
| Movement | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic |
| Strap | Titanium bracelet | Stainless steel bracelet | Stainless steel bracelet |
| Power reserve | 38 hours | 56 hours | 42 hours |
| This watch |
|
|
Your new watch
Frequently asked questions, and things you should know about this watch
Can I swim with it?
Yes. At 500m it is rated for swimming, snorkelling and recreational diving.
Water resistance explainedWill the glass scratch?
Unlikely. Sapphire is second only to diamond in hardness and shrugs off everyday marking.
Sapphire, mineral and acrylic comparedDoes it need a battery?
No. It is automatic — the motion of your wrist winds it, and there is no cell to replace.
Quartz, automatic and solar comparedHow long does it run for when it's not worn?
About 38 hours fully wound — so it will usually stop if you leave it off overnight.
What size strap does it take?
22mm. Any strap of that width will fit, and on most modern watches quick-release bars make the swap a two-minute job with no tools.
Will it fit my wrist?
Lug-to-lug is 50mm, which suits wrists from roughly 16.5cm (6½ inches) upward.
Lug-to-lug decides fit more than case diameter does.
How to size a watch to your wristIs it a men's or women's watch?
Listed as men's.
Cheapest place to buy
Mappin & Webb is the only UK retailer we track stocking this reference, so there is nothing to compare it against today.
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