Tudor Iconaut

Tudor. Tudor is the second brand of Rolex. Both brands, Rolex and Tudor, were fathered by Hans Wilsdorf. Rolex was founded in 1905 while Tudor was established in in 1946. Rolex actually manufactures the Tudor, using movements supplied by Swiss Ebauche. Initially, Tudor watches were near copies of Rolex models, but in the 1990's a decision was made to allow Tudor to develop its own brand identity and Tudor watches today are distinctively different in appearance from their Rolex counterparts.

Tudor Iconaut. The Tudor Iconaut, announced at Basel 2008, is one of the products of the new independent directions Tudor is taking. It offers something Rolex does not have in its line-up: a dual time chronograph watch.

The Tudor Iconaut features a self winding mechanical movement which produces 28,800 vibrations per hour and a 46 hour power reserve. In addition to time and date functions, the movement has a conventional chronograph function, which uses the large seconds hands, and two sub-dials, at the 6 and 12 o'clock positions, to measures intervals of time of up to twelve hours. The sub-dial at the 9 o'clock shows continous seconds. A tachymeter scale is engraved on the edge of the dial.

A second red hour hand, which rotates once every twenty four hours, can be used to keep track of a second time zone.

The Iconaut is a fairly large watch, with a 43 mm case made of stainless steel. Three dial options are available - grey, balck and white. Interestingly, the case is rated as water resistant to 150 meters, which is beter than the 100 meter water resistance rating of the Rolex non-divers watches.

Expect the Iconaut to retail at about US$3,500. All in all, the new direction of Rolex's little brother is looking pretty good.