About the TUDOR North Flag Watch
Released in 2015, the North Flag was not only a brand-new TUDOR watch model, but it also debuted the company’s first in-house-made movement. The TUDOR North Flag chronometer takes its name from the British North Greenland expedition, and it is a robust tool watch built with high-grade materials. Thanks to contemporary touches like ceramic detailing on the bezel and colorful accents on the dial combined with a vintage-inspired case shape, the North Flag seamlessly marries past and present.
TUDOR North Flag History
Although TUDOR launched the North Flag watch in 2015, the history of the watch dates back to the mid-20th century. In 1952, crew members of the British North Greenland expedition were equipped with TUDOR Oyster Prince watches. They were requested to report on how the timepieces performed in the frigid and wet environment. Six decades later, TUDOR named the then-new North Flag after that scientific expedition and constructed the watch to be an ideal companion for adventuring.
The North Flag watch is an important part of TUDOR’s modern history as it is the first to feature an in-house-made movement. Prior to the North Flag, TUDOR had relied on movement suppliers for its watches. Therefore, the North Flag paved the way for many more TUDOR watches powered by manufacture movements to follow.
North Flag Timeline
- 1952: TUDOR supplies Oyster Prince watches to the British North Greenland Expedition.
- 2015: TUDOR debuts the North Flag Reference 91210n with the first in-house movement.
A Review of the TUDOR North Flag Design and Features
The North Flag Reference 91210n watch sports a 40mm stainless steel case with a steel bezel surrounded by a matte black ceramic rim. With its integrated lugs and angular corners, the North Flag’s case silhouette channels a 1970s vibe. Some TUDOR fans will recognize it as being similar to the vintage Ranger II model from the brand’s archives.
The case houses a black dial with a date window at the 3 o’clock position. On the opposite side, sitting at the 9 o’clock position, is the power reserve indicator—in bright yellow. The lively color continues with a yellow arrow-tipped seconds hand and yellow hash marks adjacent to the hour markers. TUDOR uses mostly batons for hour markers, but there are oversized numerals at 6 and 12 o’clock. The hour hand is also arrow-tipped while the minute hand is straight. For optimal legibility, the North Flag has Super-LumiNova-coated hands and hour markers that glow blue in the dark. Shielding the dial is a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, and the watch is water-resistant to 100 meters (330 feet).
TUDOR North Flag Strap Options
In customary TUDOR fashion, the North Flag is available with a choice of a bracelet or a strap. The “H-Link” stainless steel bracelet is fitted with a folding clasp. The black leather strap is accented with yellow stitching and fitted with a folding clasp.
TUDOR Caliber MT5621
As mentioned, the North Flag was the first-ever TUDOR timepiece to run on an in-house-made movement. As a result, the back of the watch is furnished with a sapphire crystal exhibition caseback (another first for the brand) for a view of the TUDOR Caliber MT5621.
Caliber MT5621 is an automatic movement that supplies the North Flag with 70 hours of power reserve. It also features a quickset date function, which permits the user to set the date independently from the timekeeping hands. Furthermore, the seconds hand comes to a complete halt when the winding crown is pulled out for precise time setting. Finally, Caliber MT5621 is certified by the Official Swiss Chronometer Testing Institute (COSC)—as indicated by the “Chronometer Officially Certified” designation on the dial.
Rolex Explorer vs. TUDOR North Flag
Since TUDOR and Rolex are sister companies, it’s only natural to question how the North Flag compares with the Explorer. The Rolex Explorer and the North Flag are both adventure-inspired stainless steel watches that contain automatic movements inside their 100-meter water-resistant cases. They also both include black dials that have Arabic numerals that stand out alongside baton indexes.
Yet, unlike the time-only Explorer, the North Flag benefits from the addition of a date window and a power reserve indicator. TUDOR’s offering is also larger with its 40mm diameter compared with Rolex’s Explorer, which once had a 36mm case but now has a 39mm case. Plus, the North Flag has a display caseback while the Explorer has a solid steel one. The former also provides the choice between a strap and bracelet while the latter exclusively comes equipped with a steel bracelet.
One of the most important considerations when comparing Rolex Explorer vs. TUDOR North Flag is the price difference.
TUDOR North Flag Price and Collectibility
TUDOR has always been the more affordable alternative to Rolex, and the North Flag is an especially great deal considering all the features it offers. The retail price of a TUDOR North Flag is $3,725 on a leather strap and $3,850 on a metal bracelet.
The North Flag was TUDOR’s first watch with an in-house movement and the only one with a power reserve indicator on the dial. However, it never gained the type of mass popularity that the Black Bay watch enjoys. It’s often cited as a quirky and overlooked TUDOR watch.
Since late 2019, there have been rumors that TUDOR has discontinued the somewhat overlooked North Flag watch. There’s also some chatter across watch forums claiming that it’s been difficult to find TUDOR North Flag for sale at authorized dealers. Subsequently, the price of preowned North Flag watches has been climbing in the secondary market. As of 2021, the price for a preowned North Flag ranges from $3,325 to over $4,700.
The possibility of discontinuation coupled with lower production numbers may set the stage for the North Flag to be a highly collectible TUDOR timepiece in the future.