Style -- 1 day ago
Tudor aren’t your regular watch brand. Having been born under the watchful eye of Rolex, they had something of a head start over the Average Joe, yet it hasn’t always been plain sailing. Like a younger sibling living in the shadow of their elder, Tudor fell under the radar for far too long, but now, the tables have turned. A big international re-launch in 2007 saw a number of new product lines take centre stage, including the lauded Black Bay and Ranger models.
Launching innovative and exciting advertising campaigns, as well as partnering with some of the coolest brands around meant that Tudor have reached audiences that other brands have failed to. One such brand is Ducati, and as official ‘Timing Partner’, they’ve been present at the Italian marque’s Moto GP races globally. The collaboration extends beyond simply signage and branding though, as Tudor have released a new watch directly inspired by Ducati’s new motorcycle, Scrambler.
Scrambler Ducati
Tudor Fastrider Chrono
Whilst it may not seem like it on the surface, Tudor and Ducati have a lot in common. Both brands are steeped in history, the kind of which is only forged after decades of experience. Both company’s end products are created by elite craftsmen who have dedicated years of their lives to producing highly technical, reliable and above all beautiful designs that stand the test of time, getting better with age and use. Where they differ mainly though is that Ducati have always been the benchmark for their respective industry, and although they have always been of exceptional quality, Tudor have lived a long life under the shadow of their parent company, Rolex. This has all but changed now though.
With collaborations such as that of Ducati, and of course an outstanding product line-up of genuinely interesting, thought-provoking and innovative watches, Tudor are now a force to be reckoned with. They appeal to a slightly younger audience than Rolex thanks to their lower price points, but just as they’ve always done, they don’t skimp on quality. They’re also a stickler for the details, and each Tudor timepiece boasts its own little quirky nuances such as the vintage-style cream luminescent paint on the Heritage Black Bay, or the bright red seconds hand on the Ranger. This means they appeal to hardcore collectors too, so their audience is as far-reaching as any.
This brings us back to Tudor’s new watch, the Fastrider Chrono. It’s available in three colour ways, bright yellow – matching the original colour of the 1980s Ducati Scrambler, olive green and Ducati red, found on bikes ranging from the iconic 916 to the new Panigale models. It’s a chronograph featuring three old school contrasting sub-dials that are both pleasing to the eye and functional, given that they are so easy to read.
Similar to Ducati, Tudor have chosen to innovate with their material use on the Fastrider Chrono. The case itself is constructed from a matt-finished stainless steel but the bezel, pushers and crown are all made from black PVD-coated ceramic, a notoriously time-consuming material to work with.
Part of Tudor’s partnership with Ducati extends to the race circuit, as Ducati Corse compete in Moto GP, the most competitive motorcycle series in the world. To experience the thrill of the track action as well as the new Fastrider and Scrambler Ducati models, The Gentleman’s Journal was invited to Mugello, the home of Italian motorcycle racing, for a weekend of high-octane thrills.
Race day at Mugello
A talk with Ducati team engineers
Tudor do things differently. Despite the fact they’re a Swiss brand with an impressive heritage, they shun the staid conventions practiced by their competitors. Their youthful energy, respect for their history and ability to produce new and exciting timepieces marks them out, and the new Fastrider Chrono is just another example of this.
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