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Tudor Royal Day-Date 41mm Stainless Steel and Yellow Gold
Ref. M28603-0006
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Stepping up in Tudor's range
The Royal arrived in 2020 as Tudor's answer to a particular kind of watch — one that could carry the integrated-bracelet vocabulary of the 1970s without pretending to be vintage. The five-row bracelet flows directly into the case with no conventional lugs, and at 41mm the result sits noticeably closer to the wrist than that diameter usually implies. The two-tone execution here, with yellow gold running through the links and case alongside the steel, suits the champagne dial well: the sunray finish catches the light differently at different angles, and the combination of applied Roman numerals and eight diamond hour markers reads as dressed without being overdressed. The bezel is fixed and notched with alternating grooves, polished and brushed in rotation — a small detail that anchors the 1970s reference without labouring it. The day of the week spells out in full at twelve o'clock, which at 10.6mm thick disappears beneath a shirt cuff more readily than most day-date watches manage. Bracelet sizing means adding or removing links rather than using a quick-adjust system, so getting the fit right at the outset is worth the effort.
- Reference
- M28603-0006
- Brand
- Tudor
- Collection
- Royal
- Case size
- 41mm
- Case thickness
- 10.6mm
- Lug width
- 10mm
- Case material
- Two-tone
- Case shape
- Round
- Dial
- Champagne
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Movement
- Automatic
- Calibre
- ETA 2834
- Functions
- Day-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
- 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), Automatic Watches (1,736), Two-Tone Watches (476), Pre-Owned, Ex-Display & Vintage Watches (344) and Champagne & Cream Dial Watches (180).
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What the specifications mean
A mechanical watch for everyday wear.
Strengths
- 100m water resistance covers swimming and watersports
- 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 Day-Date alternatives
Watches from other brands at a similar price, style and size, so you can see what else your budget can buy.
| Specification | M28603-0006 | AB01766A1A1X1 | CBN201D.FC6543 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £3,750 | £4,165 | £3,815 |
| Case size | 41mm | 41mm | 42mm |
| Water resistance | 100m | 100m | 100m |
| Movement | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic |
| Strap | Stainless steel bracelet | Leather strap | Leather strap |
| Power reserve | 38 hours | 70 hours | 80 hours |
| This watch | Closely matched | 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.
Is it a men's or women's watch?
Listed as men's.
Cheapest place to buy
Both Mappin & Webb and Goldsmiths list it at £3,750, so choose on delivery and warranty rather than price.
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