Tudor Takes the Pelagos FXD to the Skies with New GMT Addition

Tudor’s Pelagos FXD platform, originally designed in collaboration with a specialist unit of the French Navy, has now evolved to also address the specific demands of French Naval Aviation. The latest addition, the military-style tool watch Pelagos FXD GMT, introduces a dedicated function to track “Zulu time” (UTC) alongside local time and an additional third time zone, a first in the Pelagos collection.

Since the 1950s, Tudor has been officially supplying the Marine Nationale with reliable diving watches designed to meet the need of the naval troops. The first Pelagos FXD model – “FXD” referring to the extra robust “FiXeD” strap bars of the watch case to ensure maximum rigidity – was introduced in 2021.

In 2024, the FXD family is expanded to meet the needs of Aéronautique Navale (French Naval Aviation), the division responsible for overseeing naval aviation operations. Making its entrance in the cockpit, the Pelagos FXD GMT is designed to track up to three time zones simultaneously, including Zulu time. Zulu time is the military term for Universal Time Coordinated (UTC), serving as the standard reference time for all aviators. Aligned with zero degrees longitude, also known as Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), the use of this time standard eliminates potential confusion across international borders and time zones. The term is the standardized phonetic alphabet code word used in aviation for “Z” or the first letter of the word “zero”.

The Zulu time is tracked by the bright orange hand that completes a full lap around the dial every 24 hours. Once set, this hand typically is not reset, allowing the wearer to check the global aviation reference time at a glance. The angular hour hand, commonly nicknamed “Snowflake,” indicates local time. It is set through the winding crown and “jumps” in increments of one hour for easy setting when changing time zones. The date changes when the hour hand passes midnight, in either direction— backwards or forwards.

A third time zone can be adjusted using the 24-hour luminous bi-directional bezel and the orange Zulu time hand. Crafted from titan grade 2 like the case it features a ceramic insert.

The design of the functionality focused dial differentiates between the primary time indications—hour, minute, and seconds hands— using blue luminescence, while the 24-hour hand and graduation on the bezel emit a green glow. This contrast enables an intuitive distinction between local and Zulu time (UTC), ensuring clarity at a glance, even in low-light environments. 

The new Pelagos FXD GMT features a rugged yet lightweight 42mm case made from grade 2 titanium, designed with fixed strap bars for enhanced durability and a waterproof rating of up to 200 meters. The entire case is fully brushed to achieve a refined matte finish that complements its robust character. The case back, crafted from grade 5 titanium, bears an engraved emblem of the Aéronautique Navale, showcasing a winged anchor topped with a star. Adding to its historical connection, the case back also includes the engraving “M.N.24,” signifying “Marine nationale 2024,” which marks the production year of each batch of this distinguished watch.

Inside the case lies the manufacture caliber MT5652-U, developed in collaboration with Kenissi. This robust movement is equipped with a silicon hairspring, enhancing its precision and resistance to temperature variations. The self-windingcaliber holds a prestigious Master Chronometer certification, issued by METAS, guaranteeing outstanding performance and resilience against magnetic fields up to 15,000 gauss. Operating at a frequency of 4Hz, it offers a robust power reserve of up to 65 hours.

The single-piece fabric strap of the Pelagos FXD GMT pays tribute to the French Navy. The color matches the one of the flight suit worn by aviators of the French Naval Aviation. Woven in France on 19th century Jacquard looms by the Julien Faure company in the St-Etienne region, its equipped with a grade 2 titanium pin buckle.

Pricing is marked at $4,625

To learn more, visit Tudor, here.