“Only Watch 2023” - Tudor Prince Chronograph One, the return of Big Block, all-new Tudor Manufacture Movement

At the 'Only Watch 2023' charity auction, Tudor unveiled an exciting new timepiece called the Tudor Prince Chronograph One, showcasing a groundbreaking new in-house movement. This watch will be showcased at the 'Only Watch 2023' charity auction in 2023, generating excitement and anticipation for Tudor's future products.

Until now, Tudor chronograph watches have used modules from Valjoux, ETA, and Dubois-Depraz, or movements from Breitling. However, the Tudor Prince Chronograph One introduces a completely new in-house chronograph movement called the MT59XX. This integrated automatic winding movement is equipped with a column wheel, and although not explicitly mentioned, it likely also features a vertical clutch. It adheres to Tudor's high standards and includes a horizontal bridge, a silicon hairspring, and a 70-hour power reserve. The movement is anti-magnetic and has been tested on fully assembled watches, achieving a precision of -2/+4 seconds per day.

Considering the complexity and cost of developing a chronograph movement, it is highly likely that the MT59XX will not remain exclusive to this unique sample. Tudor is likely to gradually introduce this new movement in future chronograph watches or existing Black Bay chronographs, and there may even be variants with dual sub-dial displays.

The Tudor Prince Chronograph One pays homage to the 1976 Tudor Prince Oysterdate Big Block 9430/0. This watch features a 42mm solid yellow gold case and bracelet, focusing on a racing-inspired style. The fixed bezel is complemented by a black aluminum insert with a tachymeter scale, while the dial responds to the classic Valjoux-powered watches with a 6-9-12 sub-dial configuration. The refined baton hour markers and a small date window at 3 o'clock perfectly highlight the elegant design. The right side of the case has also been redesigned, adding new screw-down pushers and a more traditional crown and crown guards.

As with previous 'Only Watch' charity auctions, Tudor's participation can be seen as an exciting preview of future products. The brand has previously showcased prototypes through this platform and later released production models. One notable example is the Black Bay One in 2015 and the Black Bay Ceramic One in 2019.

While the 18k yellow gold Tudor Prince Chronograph One created for the 'Only Watch 2023' charity auction may still be a unique design, enthusiasts eagerly anticipate the Tudor Prince Chronograph, which is expected to be launched in the near future, possibly at Watches & Wonders 2024.

The Tudor Prince Chronograph One will be auctioned exclusively at the 'Only Watch 2023' charity auction, with an estimated value of 25,000 - 35,000 Swiss francs. The proceeds from the auction will be used to support research on Duchenne muscular dystrophy. For more information, please visit Tudor's official website and the 'Only Watch' auction website.

Photo credit: Tudor