Tudor is the sister brand of Rolex, and a Tudor sport watch lists at about half the price of the Rolex it mirrors. Both sit in one group, which the Hans Wilsdorf Foundation owns. Tudor builds its own movements for most sport models today and does not use Rolex calibers. Rolex uses a different steel, holds its value better on WatchCharts data, and is far harder to buy at list price. Bizak & Co. is a sourcing desk, not an authorized Tudor or Rolex dealer: every watch here is found to order, not held in stock.
Last updated on November 2, 2026. Sources: Tudor history, Tudor Manufacture Calibres, Rolex on Oystersteel, Rolex Submariner 124060, Europa Star on Kenissi, JCK.
Is Tudor owned by Rolex?
In effect, yes, but Tudor is not a Rolex sub-brand. It is a separate company with its own name, its own watches and its own plant. Tudor and Rolex sit in one group, which the Hans Wilsdorf Foundation owns. The foundation is named after the man who founded both brands. That is why the trade calls them sister brands. In the early years Rolex stood behind Tudor. It guaranteed the quality, the distribution and the after-sales service, and Tudor says so on its own history page. Tudor assembles and tests every watch at its own plant in Le Locle, inaugurated in 2023. You can browse the full Tudor range and the Rolex range side by side to see how far the two have grown apart.
Who founded Tudor, and when?
Hans Wilsdorf, the founder of Rolex, founded Tudor. In February 1926 a watch dealer, Veuve de Philippe Hüther, registered the name The Tudor for him. Wilsdorf took the trademark over on 15 October 1936. On 6 March 1946 he set up a separate company, Montres Tudor S.A. His aim was simple. He wanted a watch his agents could sell for less than a Rolex, with Rolex reliability. From the mid-1940s Tudors paired Oyster cases and crowns with movements bought in from outside. The Tudor archive shows a late 1940s Tudor Oyster with a 34 mm Oyster case and a riveted Oyster-type crown. Tudor stopped selling in the United States in the early 2000s and came back in 2013.
Does Tudor use Rolex movements?
No. Tudor movements come from Kenissi, the company Tudor founded to build them, or from outside suppliers, not from Rolex. For most of its life Tudor used ETA and other Swiss calibers. That changed in 2015, when Tudor announced its first Manufacture Calibre. MT stands for Manufacture Tudor. Most MT calibers are built by Kenissi, a company Tudor set up in Geneva in 2016. Kenissi now runs its own plant in Le Locle, next door to Tudor. It also makes movements for Chanel, Breitling, TAG Heuer and Norqain, and Chanel owns a 20 percent stake. So the words in-house are a fair label, with one footnote. Kenissi is an affiliate with its own plant, not a Tudor workshop. The MT calibers are COSC certified, and most run for about 70 hours on a full wind. Many use a silicon balance spring. The newest add METAS Master Chronometer status. The MT5400-U in the new Black Bay 58 is COSC and METAS certified and runs 65 hours. Not every Tudor gets an MT caliber. The entry-level Tudor 1926 runs Caliber T601 with a 38-hour reserve, and Tudor does not call it a Manufacture Calibre.
Is Rolex steel better than Tudor steel?
It is a different grade. Tudor steel Black Bay cases start as a solid blank of 316L stainless steel. Rolex uses Oystersteel, its own name for a 904L grade produced for it since 1985. Rolex says the alloy is rich in chromium and molybdenum, so it resists corrosion and takes a bright polish. On the wrist the gap is small. Where Rolex pulls ahead is the rest of the build. Rolex regulates each watch to -2/+2 seconds a day after casing and calls it Superlative Chronometer. Tudor Manufacture calibers are COSC certified, and the MT5400 is tested on the finished watch to -2/+4. Rolex dive and GMT bezels use Cerachrom ceramic inserts. Tudor fits aluminum inserts on the Black Bay 58 and Black Bay GMT, and a ceramic disc on the Pelagos. Rolex sport bracelets carry the Glidelock or Easylink extension. Tudor answers with its T-fit clasp on the Ranger and the new Black Bay 58.
How much more does a Rolex cost than a Tudor?
About twice as much, model for model. Most Tudor steel sport watches list in the low to mid four figures. Among the four Tudors on this page, the Ranger sits at the low end, the Black Bay 58 in the middle and the Pelagos at the top. The Rolex rivals start in the high four figures with the Explorer 40. They move into the low five figures for the Submariner 124060 and the GMT-Master II, and go higher still for the Sea-Dweller. Those are list prices. Rolex steel sports models are allocated by official jewelers, not sold off the shelf. WatchCharts and Chrono24 listings put used Submariners, GMT-Master IIs and Explorer 40s above list, but not the Sea-Dweller. Tudor sells at list through its retailers.
Which Tudor matches which Rolex?
Four pairs cover most of the decision. In each one the Tudor is a lot cheaper and close on specification. In three of the four it is also a little smaller. All eight run about 70 hours on a full wind.
| Pair | Tudor | Rolex | List price gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black Bay 58 vs Submariner | M79030N: 39 mm 316L steel, Caliber MT5402, 70 h, 200 m, aluminum bezel insert | 124060: 41 mm Oystersteel, Caliber 3230, 70 h, 300 m, Cerachrom bezel insert | Tudor about half |
| Pelagos vs Sea-Dweller | M25600TN: 42 mm titanium and steel, Caliber MT5612 with date, 70 h, 500 m, helium valve | 126600: 43 mm Oystersteel, Caliber 3235 with date, 70 h, 1,220 m, helium valve | Tudor well under half |
| Black Bay GMT vs GMT-Master II | M79830RB: 41 mm steel, Caliber MT5652 GMT, 70 h, 200 m, aluminum bezel insert | 126710BLNR: 40 mm Oystersteel, Caliber 3285 GMT, 70 h, 100 m, Cerachrom bezel insert | Tudor under half |
| Ranger vs Explorer 40 | M79950: 39 mm steel, Caliber MT5402, 70 h, 100 m, smooth steel bezel | 224270: 40 mm Oystersteel, Caliber 3230, 70 h, 100 m, smooth bezel | Tudor about half |
The Black Bay 58 row is the M79030N, built from 2018. The new M7939A1A0NU replaces it and runs the MT5400-U for 65 hours. Two other details matter. The Submariner is rated to 300 m against 200 m for the Black Bay 58, and the Sea-Dweller to 1,220 m against 500 m for the Pelagos. The Black Bay GMT turns the tables with 200 m against 100 m for the GMT-Master II. The Ranger and the Explorer 40 are both 100 m watches. If you want a Tudor GMT in a 39 mm case, the Black Bay Pro uses the same MT5652 caliber as the Black Bay GMT. For the Rolex side of these pairs, see the Sea-Dweller 126600 guide and the Explorer 224270 up close.
Which holds value better, Tudor or Rolex?
Rolex, by a wide margin. In November 2026 WatchCharts showed current Rolex models trading about 15 percent above retail on average, and current Tudors about 33 percent below. In September 2021 Rolex said in a rare statement that the scarcity of its watches was not a strategy, and that it could not meet demand without cutting quality. Demand for steel sports models has run ahead of supply for years. That is why used Submariners and GMT-Master IIs have changed hands above list for years. Fratello reported the premium in 2021, and WatchCharts and Chrono24 listings still show it. Tudor carries no such premium. You can walk into a Tudor retailer and buy most models at list, so a used Tudor usually sells for less than a new one. If you want to understand the Rolex queue, read our waitlist explainer.
Should you buy Tudor or Rolex?
Buy Tudor if you want a Manufacture caliber, a 39 to 42 mm case and strong water resistance at about half the money, and you plan to wear it rather than trade it. The Black Bay 58 and the Pelagos are the strongest picks. Buy Rolex if you want the 904L steel, the tighter regulation, the ceramic bezel and the stronger resale, and you can accept a wait or a premium to get one. The no-date Submariner 124060 and the Explorer 40 make the most sense at list. If you are torn, read the Black Bay vs Submariner comparison and decide on the wrist, not on the spec sheet.
Related reading: Why Rolex costs so much, Who owns Rolex, Tudor vs Omega, Breitling vs Rolex, Tudor Black Bay vs Rolex Submariner, the best Tudor watches and the Tudor Pelagos guide.
Quick answers
Is Tudor owned by Rolex?
In effect, yes. Tudor is a separate company, but Tudor and Rolex sit in one group, which the Hans Wilsdorf Foundation owns. That makes them sister brands.
Does Tudor use Rolex movements?
No. Most Tudor sport watches run Tudor Manufacture calibers built by Kenissi, the movement company Tudor founded. Entry models use calibers from outside suppliers.
Is Tudor steel the same as Rolex steel?
No. Tudor steel Black Bay cases are 316L stainless steel. Rolex uses Oystersteel, its own name for a 904L grade it has used since 1985.
Is a Tudor half the price of a Rolex?
Close to it. Most Tudor steel sport models list in the low to mid four figures. The Rolex watches they mirror list in the high four to low five figures.
Which holds value better, Tudor or Rolex?
Rolex. WatchCharts data shows its steel sports models often sell above list on the used market. Tudor can be bought at list, so a used Tudor usually sells for less than a new one.
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