The New Tudor Pelagos Ultra 1,000m

The Tudor Pelagos was released 13 years ago, under the reference 25500TN. A highly capable diver made of titanium, it was the brand’s answer to the Sea-Dweller, a true tool for diving, with a proper instrument-like design. This 500m dive watch has evolved over the years, receiving a manufacture movement and a blue dial in 2015, a lefty version (LHD) in 2016, and a 39mm no-date version in 2022. And that’s without counting the FXD editions for the Marine Nationale or the Cycling Edition chronograph. This year, Tudor releases the top-of-the-range version, a titanium 1,000m model that benefits from the streamlined look of the Pelagos 39 and a METAS-certified movement. Meet the Tudor Pelagos Ultra.

The Pelagos Ultra, as you’ve guessed from its name, is nothing more than a beefed up version of the traditional Pelagos dive watch, capable of resisting to greater depths. As such, the basics are still present and the Pelagos Ultra is still made out of titanium, with a full satin-finish, including the bevels on the side of the case. With now a 1,000 water-resistance, the case has grown a bit to 43mm in diameter and 14.5mm in thickness – compared to 42mm and 14.3mm for the 500m version. On that topic, it is not replacing the 500m model.

The rest is classic Pelagos, with a unidirectional bezel equipped with a matte black ceramic insert, and a 60-minute scale that’s seamlessly integrated into it and using Super-LumiNova. The crown screws down, the caseback is solid grade 5 titanium caseback and there’s a helium escape valve at 9 o’clock. However, look closely and you’ll see that some elements have been redesigned: the crown has more pronounced notches, just like the bezel (both in line with the recent evolution of the Black Bay 41) for better grip, and the crown guards have been reshaped and are now curved, following the shape of the bezel. Lug width is still 22mm.

As for the dial, the Tudor Pelagos Ultra is not a revolution but there are some notable evolutions, following the streamlined look brought on the Pelagos 39. As such, the 3D-like inner flange of the Pelagos 500m, with its cutouts around the hour markers, is gone and replaced by a more traditional 60-minute angled réhaut sandblasted finished. The dial remains however matte black for better legibility and to avoid reflections. The hands are classic white Snowflake and fully coated with X1 Swiss Super-LumiNova. The square hour markers are again known but are now made of monobloc luminescent ceramic composite, a feature that enhances the technical aesthetics, whilst increasing the luminous surface of the hour markers. The Pelagos mention is written in grey, the date is still white (echoing the marker at 9 o’clock) and the literature at the bottom of the dial has been reduced to 3 lines (instead of 5 on the Pelagos 500m).

One of the main evolution comes from the movement… Well, not the movement itself, which is still quote as Calibre MT5612, but now with a new letter at the end, making it calibre MT5612-U. And that means Master-Chronometer certification by METAS, high resistance to magnetic fields and a tolerance range of 5 seconds (0/+5 per day). The rest is the same as the classic Pelagos 500m, with a 4Hz frequency and a 70h power reserve.

As for the bracelet, the Tudor Pelagos Ultra relies on a 22mm fully satin-finished titanium 3-link bracelet – as it should – with a folding clasp equipped with a redesigned diving extension system, as well as a safety catch. There’s a new visual indicator on the clasp that includes a luminous marker to easily discern what setting the bracelet is at. The Pelagos Ultra is also delivered with an additional black rubber strap with its own pin buckle and a wet-suit extension.

The Tudor Pelagos Ultra 1,000m seems like a highly capable diver, no doubt about it. It will be released as part of the permanent collection and will be priced at EUR 5,960 or CHF 5,500. For more details, please visit tudorwatch.com.