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Tudor Royal 38mm Stainless Steel and Yellow Gold
Ref. M28503-0006
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Stepping up in the same colour and case shape
The Royal arrived in 2021 as Tudor's answer to the integrated-bracelet sport watch — the genre dominated by pieces that carry considerably longer waiting lists and considerably more complicated acquisition stories. The brief was to offer the architecture and the wrist presence of that category in a watch that people could actually buy and wear. At 38mm with a case sitting just under 11mm high, it wears closer to a dress watch than the sport-adjacent positioning might suggest, and the integrated bracelet pulls the lug-to-lug measurement down further than the case diameter alone implies. The black dial has a sunray finish that catches light differently as the wrist moves, and the applied Roman numerals are gold-toned against it — legible without being stark. The notched bezel is solid 18ct yellow gold, cut with alternating grooves in a way that reads as deliberate craft rather than ornament. The centre bracelet links use a 0.2mm yellow gold cap over steel rather than solid gold throughout — an honest technical choice at this scale, and one that keeps the watch from feeling heavier than it should. The T601 inside is built on a Sellita or ETA 2824 architecture, which means parts and service are straightforward anywhere in the world: the kind of movement that does not make headlines but will still be running in twenty years.
- Reference
- M28503-0006
- Brand
- Tudor
- Collection
- Royal
- Case size
- 38mm
- Case thickness
- 11mm
- Lug width
- 10mm
- 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
- Goldsmiths
Additional specifications
- Lug-to-lug
- 45mm
- 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 5 collections
This watch appears in the Tudor Royal range (11), Back in Stock (4,847), Automatic Watches (1,736), Two-Tone Watches (476) and Pre-Owned, Ex-Display & Vintage Watches (344).
Manufacturer’s guarantee
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 alternatives
Watches from other brands at a similar price, style and size, so you can see what else your budget can buy.
| Specification | M28503-0006 | 01 400 7778 7153-07 7 | AIRCO-M1-BK-B |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £3,050 | £2,750 | £2,950 |
| Case size | 38mm | 39mm | 40mm |
| Water resistance | 100m | 100m | 100m |
| Movement | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic |
| Strap | Stainless steel bracelet | Titanium bracelet | Leather strap |
| Power reserve | 38 hours | 120 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 45mm, 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
Goldsmiths is the only UK retailer we track stocking this reference, so there is nothing to compare it against today.
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