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Tudor Royal Date 34mm Stainless Steel and Yellow Gold
Ref. M28403-0005
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Stepping up in Tudor's range
The Royal arrived in 2021 as Tudor's answer to a particular gap in its own line: a sport-chic dress watch with the integrated-bracelet geometry that defined the 1970s, but sized and finished to move between offices and weekends without calculation. The notched fixed bezel, the five-row bracelet, the Roman numeral quarters flanked by diamond hour markers — the whole design argues for a single coherent aesthetic rather than borrowed elements assembled to a brief. At 34mm and 10mm thick, this sits genuinely close to the wrist rather than sitting on it, which suits the proportions of the case and makes the two-tone combination readable as considered rather than conspicuous. The yellow gold elements run through the bracelet as well as the case, so the contrast is consistent across the whole piece. Fit is managed through half-links and a screwed adjustment system — slower than a push-button micro-adjust, but it holds its position and does not rattle loose.
- Reference
- M28403-0005
- Brand
- Tudor
- Collection
- Royal
- Case size
- 34mm
- Case thickness
- 10mm
- Lug width
- 8mm
- Case material
- Two-tone
- Case shape
- Round
- Dial
- Black
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Movement
- Automatic
- Calibre
- ETA 2824
- Functions
- Date
- Water resistance
- 100m
- Bracelet / strap
- Stainless steel bracelet
- Strap colour
- Two-tone
- Clasp
- Folding clasp
- Lume
- Luminous
- Condition
- Ex-display
- Retailer
- Mappin & Webb
Additional specifications
- 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 6 collections
This watch appears in the Tudor Royal range (11), Back in Stock (4,847), Automatic Watches (1,736), Watches Under 37mm (1,704), Two-Tone Watches (476) and Pre-Owned, Ex-Display & Vintage Watches (344).
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What the specifications mean
A mechanical watch for everyday wear.
Strengths
- 100m water resistance covers swimming and watersports
- 34mm wears small and slips under any cuff
- Sapphire crystal, which resists scratching
- Luminous hands and markers for low light
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 | M28403-0005 | 16.2310.692/81.C706 | W6701005 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £3,450 | £3,007 | £2,950 |
| Case size | 34mm | 33mm | 36mm |
| Water resistance | 100m | 30m | 30m |
| Movement | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic |
| Strap | Stainless steel bracelet | Mesh bracelet | Stainless steel bracelet |
| Power reserve | 38 hours | 50 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.
What size strap does it take?
8mm. 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.
Is it a men's or women's watch?
Listed as unisex, and at this size it suits any wrist that takes the dimensions.
Cheapest place to buy
Both Mappin & Webb and Goldsmiths list it at £3,450, so choose on delivery and warranty rather than price.
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