Watch the Clock - Tudor North Flag

We explore the makings of the Tudor North Flag - the first Tudor timepiece that features the company’s in-house manufacture calibre.

Say hello to the Tudor North Flag and the calibre MT5621.

For the very first time in Tudor’s history, the timepiece bearing the shield logo joins the Crown brethren in offering a watch where what is inside is as impressive as what it is on the outside - with its very first in-house, manufacture calibre. This Tudor North Flag is an officially certified chronometer, meaning the calibre MT5621 is indeed submitted to COSC.

Arguably, Tudor has always been known for its style, quality and reliability. In this very sense, watches from Tudor were built in ways that were superior to those from its big brother. They were rugged, functional, bomb-proof, and more importantly, more affordable. And this was only made possible through using Swiss-made calibres available through third-party vendors. In short, Tudor chose to abandon “in-house” calibres for the sake of efficiency, financially speaking.

The North Flag, as it’s dubbed, looks and feels 21st century. As such, it undoubtedly moves the watchmaker into the true-tool-watch category. With a 40mm stainless steel case and a double bezel made of a matt black ceramic ring and a satin finished stainless steel ring on top, the North Flag takes design inspiration from the original Oyster Quartz collection also seen on the reference 1530 Oyster Date with the integrated lug design.

More relevantly, bright yellow accents, as can be seen on the watch’s power reserve indication and running second hand, are richly contrasted when placed against the matte black dial. The hour markers are nicely sized and Superluminova-filled, which will help brighten the face in a nice blue hue when in the dark.

Available in either a steel bracelet or matching matte leather strap, the North Flag is what it is to the Ranger like what the Pelagos is to the Black Bay. Of course the simplicity of it all is that the North Flag is completely different from the rest of the watches in Tudor’s collection. In a good way, this timepiece can’t be seen anymore as a Rolex and the design clearly positions itself as a unique proposition.

The quality of the entire timepiece itself is unquestionable and is extremely bang for buck. Clean, sharp and well-executed are apt words to describe the construction of the watch.

The dimensions are reasonable enough for great wearing comfort and adaptability to every wrist. But this doesn’t mean it hasn’t got the knack to be regarded as a tool watch. If you ask us, the Tudor North Flag is one high quality watch that is every bit as a tool watch as it should and can be.