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Tudor Royal Date 38mm Stainless Steel
Ref. 28500
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Stepping up in Tudor's range
The Royal sits in a lineage that runs back through the integrated-bracelet sport watches of the 1970s — the kind of design where the bracelet is not an accessory but an architectural element, continuous with the case from the first link. Tudor's version of that idea is built around a notched fixed bezel with alternating cut grooves, which gives the watch its period character without leaning into pastiche. At 38mm with a lug-to-lug of 44.9mm and a case that stays just under 11mm tall, it sits closer to the wrist than most sport watches at this diameter, and the tonneau-shaped integrated lugs mean it reads well on smaller wrists without looking underscaled on larger ones. The five-link bracelet alternates polished and brushed rows, and the folding clasp carries a mechanical safety catch that holds without fuss. The T601 inside is a modified Sellita SW200, running at 28,800vph with a 38-hour reserve — a movement chosen for how straightforwardly it can be serviced anywhere in the world, which for a watch intended to be worn rather than preserved is the more honest engineering decision.
- Reference
- 28500
- Brand
- Tudor
- Collection
- Royal
- Case size
- 38mm
- Case thickness
- 10.6mm
- Case material
- Stainless steel
- Case shape
- Round
- Dial
- Blue
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Movement
- Automatic
- Calibre
- T601
- Functions
- Date
- Water resistance
- 100m
- Bracelet / strap
- Stainless steel bracelet
- Strap colour
- Silver
- Clasp
- Folding clasp
- Lume
- Luminous
- Condition
- Pre-owned
- Retailer
- Mappin & Webb
Additional specifications
- Lug-to-lug
- 44.9mm
- 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 Royal range (11), Stainless Steel Watches (2,611), Automatic Watches (1,479), Blue Dial Watches (706) and Pre-Owned, Ex-Display & Vintage Watches (257).
What the specifications mean
A mechanical watch for everyday wear.
Strengths
- 100m water resistance covers swimming and watersports
- 38mm suits most wrists
- Sapphire crystal, which resists scratching
- Luminous hands and markers for low light
- Sits in the lower half of Tudor's range as we list it
Worth knowing
- 38-hour reserve means winding it after a day off
Tudor Royal Date alternatives
Watches from other brands at a similar price, style and size, so you can see what else your budget can buy.
| Specification | 28500 | R30036752 | 4701045825 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,650 | £1,850 | £1,645 |
| Case size | 38mm | 38mm | 42mm |
| Water resistance | 100m | 30m | 100m |
| Movement | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic |
| Strap | Stainless steel bracelet | Ceramic bracelet | Stainless steel bracelet |
| Power reserve | 38 hours | 80 hours | — |
| This watch |
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Your new watch
Frequently asked questions, and things you should know about this watch
Can I swim with it?
Yes. At 100m it is rated for swimming and snorkelling, though not for 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.
Will it fit my wrist?
Lug-to-lug is 44.9mm, which suits wrists from roughly 16cm (6¼ 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, though at 38mm it sits in the range that suits anyone.
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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