Tap the image to enlarge
Tudor Royal 41mm Stainless Steel and Yellow Gold
Ref. M28603-0001
See more premium optionsHide
Stepping up in Tudor's range
The Royal arrived in 2021 as Tudor's answer to a specific brief: an integrated-bracelet sports watch that could move between a weekend and a working week without asking anything of the person wearing it. The two-tone execution — steel and yellow gold running through both case and bracelet in a five-row link design — gives it a character distinct from the all-steel siblings, leaning toward something that reads as deliberately dressed without abandoning the collection's sport-casual footing. What makes this reference quietly unusual is the geometry. At 10.6mm thick with a lug-to-lug of 47.8mm, it sits substantially flatter and shorter than the 41mm diameter would lead you to expect, and the near-flush caseback keeps it close against the wrist rather than perching on it. The T603 inside draws on Sellita SW240-2 architecture — a movement that watchmakers know well, which means straightforward servicing and a dependable 38-hour reserve without ceremony.
- Reference
- M28603-0001
- Brand
- Tudor
- Collection
- Royal
- Case size
- 41mm
- Case thickness
- 10.6mm
- Case material
- Stainless steel
- Case shape
- Round
- Dial
- Silver
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Movement
- Automatic
- Calibre
- T603
- Functions
- Day-date
- Water resistance
- 100m
- Bracelet / strap
- Stainless steel bracelet
- Strap colour
- Two-tone
- Clasp
- Deployant clasp
- Lume
- Luminous
- Condition
- Ex-display
- Retailer
- Goldsmiths
Additional specifications
- Lug-to-lug
- 47.8mm
- 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 7 collections
This watch appears in the Tudor Royal range (11), Back in Stock (4,847), Stainless Steel Watches (3,197), Automatic Watches (1,736), Silver Dial Watches (718), Two-Tone Watches (476) and Pre-Owned, Ex-Display & Vintage Watches (344).
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
- 47.8mm 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 | M28603-0001 | BR03A-GB-ST/SCA | AIRCO-M1-BK-B |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £3,250 | £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.
Will it fit my wrist?
Lug-to-lug is 47.8mm, 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
Both Goldsmiths and Mappin & Webb list it at £3,250, so choose on delivery and warranty rather than price.
More Tudor watches like the Royal
In stock, and close on style and price
