Introducing – Tudor Pelagos LHD with left crown and cream indexes (hands-on photos, price)

After several collections based on the Heritage Black Bay, Tudor Watches gets back into the game of the rugged, professional-oriented and modern watches with a new version of its tool watch: the Pelagos. After a first version introduced in 2012, with a black dial, followed by a revamp in 2015, with the addition of a blue dial and the introduction of the manufacture movement, the Pelagos is back again, this time in a variation that worthy of the title “the coolest”. Please say hello to the Tudor Pelagos LHD 25610TNL, or the lefty version with cream indexes and red “Pelagos” printing.

The concept of the left-handed watch isn’t new to Tudor. This Tudor Pelagos LHD is a actually a nod to the past, paying tribute to a watch made for the French navy in 1961, the Tudor 9401 left-hand, with a black dial and snowflake hands (you can see the link already…). Back then some of the left-handed divers reported issues when wearing the watch on their left arm and so they came up with the solution of wearing their watch turned upside down on their right wrist. This enabled them to still use the elapsed minute function whilst leaving their dominant hand free to access the bezel and crown. Not long after left-handed watches started to appear on the market, with the crown positioned on the opposite side of the case.

An example of left handed Tudor Submariner (1981, ref. 94010)

With the introduction of the Tudor Pelagos LHD, the brand offers both a very cool option, as well as a practical solution for left-handed professional divers. We must not forget that this was the original vocation of the Tudor Pelagos. When it was introduced in 2012, alongside the Black Bay, the watch was intended to fill a gap in the Tudor range; providing a rugged, efficient and comprehensive dive watch that focused more on functionality than style (even if the result is a very nice-looking watch.) Indeed, the Pelagos is a real tool watch, with a 500m water-resistance, a helium escape valve, a clear and legible dial, a lightweight, hyper resistant case and bracelet in titanium with a real diving clasp.

It was first launched in 2012 with a black dial, pure-white indexes and hands (of course with the square hour indexes and the snow flake hands, just like the old Subamriners 9401 or 7016). However, while the Black Bay played more to the emotional and vintage side, this Pelagos was fully oriented towards practicality. In 2015, Tudor revealed a new version of the Pelagos, this time with their in-house movement (calibre MT5612, the 3-hand / date version). A new blue dial and bezel version also made its debut at this time, although there were further technical developments beyond this.

This year, the watch makes a fresh appearance in what is certainly its coolest version: a left-handed edition. Basically, there’s no evolution in terms of technique or style, just a relocation of the crown from 3 to 9. This will be helpful (and quite cool) for left-handed people or those who prefer to wear their watches on the right arm (and I know quite a few…). The case of the Tudor Pelagos LHD still measures 42mm and is still crafted from grade 2 titanium with an entirely satined finish and the relocated crown is still protected by a pointy crown guards. To accommodate the movement of the crown the helium escape valve is now placed in the case band at 3. The Tudor Pelagos LHD is still delivered on titanium bracelet (with super convenient bracelet extension system developed and patented by Tudor). A rubber strap (in black) with extra extension piece is also offered in the box as before.

Mechanically, the Tudor Pelagos LHD relies on the same movement as the normal Pelagos, the in-house Calibre MT5612 (of course, the movement has been turned 180 degrees to put the crown at 9). This movement packs 70 hours of power reserve, features a silicon balance spring, a variable inertia balance with micro-adjustment by screw, beats at 4Hz and is COSC certified. A reliable and strong automatic movement which clearly offers a more robust package, compared to the previous ETA-based Pelagos (2012-2014 versions).

So what else is new with the Tudor Pelagos LHD? Not only the case is slightly different, but Tudor also wanted the LHD to have something special. It features the same square-indexes and snowflake hands but they are now cream-colored instead of pure-white as before. Same goes for the scale on the black ceramic bezel, which shares this slightly vintage tone, giving the Pelagos LHD a nice, maybe less professional touch. To complement this, Tudor has also fitted the Pelagos LHD with a red model name at 6 on the dial (again, a tribute to earlier vintage editions). The red can be seen on the date wheel too, with even days printed in red and uneven days printed in black.

Last detail is the caseback, which features a unique production number engraved in large Arabic numerals. Why that? Even if the Tudor Pelagos LHD is not limited in production, it will be a numbered series. This is why all watches will be different, on the caseback at least. Price for the Tudor Pelagos LHD: 4,200 Swiss Francs / 4,140 Euros / 4,400 USD (just like the standard Pelagos). Available as of tomorrow (18 November 2016). Tudorwatch.com.

Specifications of the Tudor Pelagos LHD 25610TNL

• Case: 42mm diameter – grade 2 titanium, fully satined – numbered steel caseback – left crown – unidirectional bezel with 60-minute ceramic insert – sapphire crystal on the front – 500m water resistant
• Movement: in-house calibre MT5612, COSC certified – 28,800vph – 70 hours power reserve – automatic – H, M, S and date
• Bracelet: titanium Oyster-type bracelet with bracelet extension system – additional black rubber strap
• Ref. 25610TNL