From Formula One to the America’s Cup. Certainly for Tudor, 2024 will be a year of adrenalin and performance. (Here all our posts on Tudor)
Tudor lands in Formula One
And so to the presence of the Swiss brand alongside Alinghi Red Bull Racing Team at the next America’s Cup was added the decision taken by Tudor to line up at the start of the Formula One world championship alongside the Visa Cash App RB Formula One Team. “Tudor has always been driven by a bold spirit, a consistent desire to do things differently,” says Eric Pirson, CEO of Tudor, who adds: “And this spirit, which we call Born to Dare, is exactly what Visa Cash App RB is demonstrating in the new Formula One season. We are excited to return in motorsport with a partner who is ready to get involved.” For a comeback there is an absolute debut.
Sponsor of Alinghi Red Bull Racing Team
The watchmaker is in fact expected to be at the start of the 37th edition of the America’s Cup, which will begin at the end of August with the challenger selection races. There is indeed great expectation to see Alinghi Red Bull Racing Team, the only team that has so far had the merit of bringing the America’s Cup back to Europe, and more precisely to Switzerland, after 152 years (it was 2003). Other times and other boats one might say. Yes, because the parallel with the queen of motorsport passes in this case through the AC75 hulls capable of flying over the water at over 50 knots. Marking the time of the Swiss challenge will be the Tudor hands.
Tudor Pelagos FXD Alinghi Red Bull Racing Edition
While waiting to discover this year’s novelties, the Swiss watchmaker wanted to delight the palates of sailing and watchmaking enthusiasts by presenting the Pelagos FXD Alinghi Red Bull Racing Edition collection. Divided into two references, time-only and chronograph, the family of timepieces is inspired by the Swiss AC 75, a hull with a high technological content, especially in terms of materials. The same attention in terms of research and performance can be found in the Pelagos FXD models: a hitech carbon composite (an extremely light and robust material) for the case and bezel disc; titanium for the bezel, crown and direct-action pushers; 316L stainless steel for the case back and the element housing the movement.
Water-resistant to 200 metres
Initially developed in collaboration with divers and combat swimmers in the French Navy, the case of these models is water-resistant to 200 metres and features the emblematic “FXD” design, where the contraction of the English “fixed” refers to the robust fixed bars for attaching the strap. Both watches also feature a bidirectional rotating bezel with 120 notches and Swiss SuperLumiNova® Grade X1 coating, a luminescent material that offers up to 60 per cent better performance after two hours than standard grades.
To easily monitor the countdown, a key moment before the start of each race, the bezels are graduated from 60 to 0. The Alinghi Red Bull Racing logo is engraved on the case back. From the case to the dial, the step is short. With a matt finish, they sport the same colour as the hull of the AC75, and put legibility first. Both are offered in Alinghi Red Bull Racing team blue with a red-tipped seconds hand. In the chronograph model, red is also found around the counters: a further nod to the aesthetics of the AC75, particularly the red stripes on the hull. The subtle inscription “Alinghi Red Bull Racing” dominates the dial on the flange at 45° between 10 and 2 o’clock. The “Snowflake” hands and square hour markers, emblematic Tudor elements since the 1960s designed to offer a larger luminous surface, are made of luminescent ceramic composite to ensure optimal readability even in the most difficult circumstances.
Pelagos FXD Alinghi Red Bull Racing Edition in the time-only version is powered by the Manufacture calibre MT5602 automatic movement that regulates the hours, minutes and seconds functions. The Manufacture MT5813 movement that animates the Pelagos FXD Chrono model offers hour, minute and seconds indication, chronograph functions and date display. The autonomy is 70 hours or “weekend-proof” and the movement features a silicon balance spring. Both calibres are COSC-certified and have an accuracy level of -2/+4 seconds per day.
Matteo Zaccagnino
