Man of the Hour

For Ross Povey, there’s nothing more desirable than a Tudor timepiece, whether it’s to wear or collect.

When I went to find out more about them, I discovered that there was very little out there. This was back in 2002, and from then on, I made it my mission to be the expert and research their history. I set up a site, TudorCollector.com, that’s now a big source for information on Tudors and talks a lot about vintage ones.

Ross Povey is the founder of TudorCollector.com, which is internationally regarded as the preeminent resource for the vintage Tudor collecting community. As part of his extensive research, Ross has unearthed some of the most important Tudor watches, especially military-issued pieces.

The brand was founded in 1926 by Hans Wilsdorf, who wanted to offer consumers watches that were affordable but maintained a remarkably high quality.

Tudors are prized for their style, oyster cases and selfwinding mechanism. Each comes with a guarantee for performance and reliability.

Povey, based in Cheshire, England, is one of the world’s foremost experts on Tudor watches and shares his insights and fascination about the brand below.

Q. How did you become an expert on Tudor watches?

A. I’ve been into watches and the mechanics of how they worked since I was a kid. I indulged my interest on online forums with fellow enthusiasts.

Occasionally, people on these forums would chat about Tudors and post pictures. I was drawn to them because they are playful and have colorful dials.

Q. When did you get your first Tudor Chronograph?

AIn 2008, from a local watch dealer. I bought it at a good price and wore it for many years until I traded it in for another Tudor.

Q. Today, the Black Bay Chrono, which was recently introduced, is the watch everybody wants. Why do you think that is?

A. The demand for vintage watches has never been higher than it is today, and the prices are insane. What Tudor does incredibly well is launch watches with a style that appeals to vintage fans, and the

Black Bay Chrono is a perfect example of that. It has all the vintage design cues like the white dial with black sub-dials, but it’s a modern high-tech watch at heart with super quality. It’s not as delicate as a vintage watch.

Q. Can you tell us a bit about the origins and history of the Tudor Chronograph? We know the Oysterdate 7000 Series was introduced in 1970, but what exactly about it made it take off? And how did it get the nickname “home plate”?

A. I think it was so popular because of the style, which was more daring than anything else out there at the time. The gray dial had strong orange accents, and the design was a standout that resonated with watch buyers.

As for the nickname, the dial has five-sided arrow markers like the home plate does in baseball

Q. That model was followed by the 7100 series, the Monte Carlo in ‘71, another cool name. How did these timepieces differ, and how are they technologically different from today’s versions?

A. Monte Carlo’s dial had similar colors, but the dial itself was a different shape. It looked like a roulette table, hence its name. Today’s versions are more precise with timetelling and sturdier.

Q. You’ve said that the Tudor Blue Heritage Chrono is one of your favorites. What in particular do you like about it?

A. It was released in 2014 and very faithful to the original Monte Carlo watches, which I loved. However, this new version had modern technology and was meant to be an everyday watch. It’s also waterproof so it could withstand wear and tear, which a vintage Monte Carlo couldn’t.

Q. Are there any other Tudor Chronographs that stand out in your mind? And why?

A. Probably the Black Bay Chrono Dark. It’s all black and a limited- edition piece. It stands out on your wrist when you wear it, and it’s rare because Tudor had never done a limited-edition watch before. so cool and great for everyday but also for special occasions. I also own the Home Plate from 1970, but I reserve that for special occasions high days and holidays as I like to say.

Q. Which Tudor/s are you going to pass down to your children?

AThe 1970 Home Plate. I would sell any other watch I own, but this one is a true heirloom that I never want to part with.

Q. Why is it a good time to collect? What are some good choices right now? And what advice do you have for seasoned as well as new Tudor collectors?

Q. Do you think the 2020s are a particularly important time for the chronograph? Are design and technology going through big changes? Or is the classic chronograph taking solid, almost permanent form?

AThe chronograph is timeless and hasn’t changed in form and function since the 1930s. There’s nothing groundbreaking about what the new models do, but they are becoming better quality in the way the movements are manufactured. They’re more precise and more durable.

Q. What is your personal favorite among the Tudor chronographs? What are the things you love about it? And if you have more than one Tudor Chrono, what are they and are there different occasions in which you wear them?

A. Actually, I think this is a difficult time if you want to collect because the prices are sky high. The classic Tudors are so expensive and hard to find. My advice would be to look at the Chronos from the mid to late 1990s if you’re searching for collectibles. You can still buy them for a good value, and, in an ideal world, they’ll be worth a lot more down the line. But there are no guarantees of that, of course.

A. My hands-down favorite is the Black Bay Chrono Dark. It’s just The new Tudor Black Bay Chronograph, full view and detail