October 16, 2026
Tudor's "North Flag," Enshrined with Glacial Memories
TUDOR | The Tudor North Flag
TUDOR revives the "North Flag," a model embodying the indomitable spirit of the pioneers and adventurers etched in the brand's history. It has been updated with a new design, GMT function, and Master Chronometer certification.
Text by Kosaku Waseda
Inheriting the Spirit of 1950s Exploration
In the 1950s, Tudor watches were supplied as equipment for the British North Greenland Expedition, worn on the wrists of adventurers and ticking away through two years of harsh, extreme conditions. This proven reliability cemented their reputation as incredibly robust tool watches.
The name "North Flag" originates from the British North Greenland Expedition. From 1952 to 1954, members were assembled for a project to study glaciers, weather, and geology. The first model, launched in 2015, was a landmark piece equipped with Tudor's first in-house manufactured movement, Calibre MT5621, but production ceased in 2021.
The new North Flag inherits the robustness tested in extreme cold while newly featuring a 24-hour hand. Whether in the perpetual daylight of the midnight sun or the unending darkness of polar night, its function as a timepiece remains paramount.
This second-generation model carries forward the iconic form and design elements of its inspirational predecessor, the historic 1973 "Ranger II."
One such element is the integrated design, where the case flows seamlessly into the bracelet. The black dial, featuring large Arabic numeral hour markers, is now enhanced with monobloc luminous ceramic, harmonizing with a 45-degree angled flange marked with 24-hour graduations. An arrow-tipped 24-hour hand, angular seconds hand, and baton-shaped minute hand combine to pay homage to the historic model.
The case is crafted from 316L stainless steel with a diameter of 40mm, featuring a satin-brushed and polished finish. The fixed bezel is also made of the same material. The hands are coated with Grade A Swiss Super-LumiNova® luminescent material.
Another defining feature of the North Flag is its integrated bracelet. The 316L stainless steel two-link bracelet boasts chamfered, polished links, and the clasp is equipped with Tudor's proprietary "T-fit" adjusting system. This tool-free mechanism allows the wearer to adjust the length in five steps within an 8mm range.
The clasp incorporates ceramic ball bearings for a smooth operation and a secure closure. Corresponding details are found on the case, with polished chamfers on the lugs and the top of the bezel.
The crown has a matte finish, combining satin-brushed and bead-blasted textures. The case back features a slightly domed sapphire crystal, revealing the Master Chronometer-certified movement within.
The movement is the Manufacture Calibre MT5652-U, an automatic winding movement with hours, minutes, seconds, date, and GMT functions. It is adorned with a sunray-effect laser decoration and bears the "MASTER CHRONOMETER" engraving on the bridges. The monobloc tungsten rotor features an open-worked design with a sandblasted finish and laser-added radial grooves. The variable inertia balance wheel is secured by a traversing bridge with two arms, ensuring both robustness and high precision.
This caliber meets COSC certification standards, as well as Tudor's own stricter daily deviation of -2/+4 seconds, and the METAS Master Chronometer certification requirement of within 0/+5 seconds per day. It is also certified for resistance to magnetic fields of up to 15,000 gauss and offers a 65-hour power reserve when fully wound, making it "weekend-proof."
The North Flag has earned its certification by meeting all criteria, including accuracy tests under two temperatures, six positions, and two power reserve levels; operational checks in a high magnetic field of 15,000 gauss; 100m water resistance; and a 65-hour power reserve.
With robustness forged in extreme conditions, functional beauty pursuing practicality, and exceptional precision, the new North Flag may represent the ideal tool watch that Tudor has continuously strived for.
Tudor North Flag
Case size | 40mm, thickness: 12.7mm,
Case material | 316L stainless steel (satin & polished finish)
Case material | 316L stainless steel (satin & polished finish)
Dial | Black, flange with 24-hour markings
Crystal | Domed sapphire crystal
Bezel | 316L stainless steel fixed bezel, satin & polished finish
Crown | 316L stainless steel conical screw-down crown, embossed Tudor shield logo
Crystal | Domed sapphire crystal
Bezel | 316L stainless steel fixed bezel, satin & polished finish
Crown | 316L stainless steel conical screw-down crown, embossed Tudor shield logo
Case back | Open case back with sapphire crystal, domed
Movement | Manufacture Calibre MT5652-U Automatic (bidirectional winding rotor), integrated GMT function, COSC & METAS Master Chronometer certified
Power reserve | 65 hours (METAS certified)
Functions | Hours, minutes, seconds (center), 24-hour hand (center), date display (at 3 o'clock - instantaneous, no prohibition period), seconds stop mechanism
Bracelet | 316L stainless steel two-link bracelet, satin & polished finish, "T-fit" quick-adjust clasp
Water resistance | 100m water resistance (METAS certified)
Movement | Manufacture Calibre MT5652-U Automatic (bidirectional winding rotor), integrated GMT function, COSC & METAS Master Chronometer certified
Power reserve | 65 hours (METAS certified)
Functions | Hours, minutes, seconds (center), 24-hour hand (center), date display (at 3 o'clock - instantaneous, no prohibition period), seconds stop mechanism
Bracelet | 316L stainless steel two-link bracelet, satin & polished finish, "T-fit" quick-adjust clasp
Water resistance | 100m water resistance (METAS certified)
Price | ¥765,600 (incl. tax)
Inquiries
Frequently Asked Questions about Tudor Watches
Q. What is the origin of the name "North Flag"?
The name originates from the British North Greenland Expedition, which took place from 1952 to 1954. During this project, which gathered members to study glaciers, weather, and geology, Tudor watches were supplied as equipment and kept time through two years of harsh, extreme conditions. This proven reliability has firmly established Tudor's reputation as a robust tool watch. The first "North Flag," launched in 2015, was a commemorative model equipped with Tudor's first in-house manufactured movement, Calibre MT5621, but its production ended in 2021.
Q. How has the second-generation "North Flag" evolved?
This iteration draws inspiration from the historic 1973 "Ranger II" model, inheriting its iconic form and design elements. The integrated design, flowing seamlessly from case to bracelet, the black dial with large Arabic numerals, and the combination of an arrow-tipped 24-hour hand, angular seconds hand, and baton-shaped minute hand all pay homage to the historic model. Functionally, it now includes a GMT function with a 24-hour hand, allowing for day-night differentiation even in the perpetual daylight of the midnight sun or the unending darkness of polar night. The dial features newly adopted monobloc luminous ceramic, harmonizing with a 45-degree angled flange marked with 24-hour graduations.
Q. Please tell me about the precision and performance of the movement.
The Manufacture Calibre MT5652-U is an automatic movement featuring hours, minutes, seconds, date, and GMT functions. It meets COSC certification, Tudor's own stringent daily deviation of -2/+4 seconds, and the METAS Master Chronometer certification requirement of within 0/+5 seconds per day. It is also certified for resistance to magnetic fields of up to 15,000 gauss and offers a 65-hour power reserve when fully wound, making it "weekend-proof" – it will keep running from Monday morning even if not wound over the weekend. The variable inertia balance wheel is secured by a traversing bridge with two arms, ensuring both robustness and high precision. The open case back allows viewing of the sunray-effect laser decoration, the "MASTER CHRONOMETER" engraving, and the open-worked tungsten rotor.