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Tudor Royal 41mm Stainless Steel and Yellow Gold
Ref. M28503-0003
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Stepping up in Tudor's range
The Royal arrived in 2021 as Tudor's answer to a specific question: what does an integrated-bracelet sports watch look like when the brief is refinement rather than robustness? The notched yellow gold bezel and the gold cap centre links of the bracelet trace a clear line back to 1970s luxury sports design, but at 38mm with a case just over 10mm tall, the proportions are closer to a dress watch than to anything that would read as sporty on the wrist. That low profile is the Royal's most persuasive quality. The integrated lugs articulate enough that the bracelet follows the wrist naturally from the first wearing, and the champagne dial — sunray-finished, with applied Roman numerals in gold — reads warmly in low light without demanding it. The T601 inside is a movement built on proven architecture, chosen because it services readily and runs reliably over a long ownership, not because it makes a point of itself.
- Reference
- M28503-0003
- Brand
- Tudor
- Collection
- Royal
- Case size
- 41mm
- Case thickness
- 10.4mm
- Lug width
- 10mm
- Case material
- Two-tone
- Case shape
- Round
- Dial
- Champagne
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Movement
- Automatic
- Calibre
- ETA 2824
- Functions
- Date
- Water resistance
- 100m
- Bracelet / strap
- Stainless steel bracelet
- Strap colour
- Two-tone
- Clasp
- Deployant clasp
- Lume
- Luminous
- Condition
- Ex-display
- Retailer
- Mappin & Webb
Additional specifications
- Lug-to-lug
- 44.6mm
- Power reserve
- 38 hours
- Gem set
- Yes
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), Two-Tone Watches (476), Pre-Owned, Ex-Display & Vintage Watches (344) and Champagne & Cream Dial Watches (180).
Manufacturer’s guarantee
Best of 2 retailers
What the specifications mean
A mechanical watch for everyday wear.
Strengths
- 100m water resistance covers swimming and watersports
- 44.6mm lug-to-lug keeps the 41mm case wearable
- 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 alternatives
Watches from other brands at a similar price, style and size, so you can see what else your budget can buy.
| Specification | M28503-0003 | BR03A-GB-ST/SCA | AIRCO-M1-BK-B |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £3,050 | £2,650 | £2,950 |
| Case size | 41mm | 41mm | 40mm |
| Water resistance | 100m | 100m | 100m |
| Movement | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic |
| Strap | Stainless steel bracelet | Leather strap | Leather strap |
| Power reserve | 38 hours | 54 hours | 38 hours |
| This watch |
| Closely matched |
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?
10mm. 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 44.6mm, 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 wristCheapest place to buy
Both Goldsmiths and Mappin & Webb list it at £3,050, so choose on delivery and warranty rather than price.
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