Tudor North Flag
Discussion
My 50th birthday this year and I'm considering a new watch to celebrate. I've liked the Tudor North Flag for a while now, and before I jump into the market wanted to hear the collective PH thoughts.
Are there any owners here who can comment on ownership? It's going to be worn daily, so is it has hard wearing as it looks?
They dont seem very popular, so I assume a deal could be struck below RRP?
Anything else I should know before I start dropping unsubtle hints to my wife?
Are there any owners here who can comment on ownership? It's going to be worn daily, so is it has hard wearing as it looks?
They dont seem very popular, so I assume a deal could be struck below RRP?
Anything else I should know before I start dropping unsubtle hints to my wife?
jimmyslr said:
I’ve worn one for c2 years now. No marks on the crystal and a few minor ones on the bracelet/case, but nothing much and I’m not a particularly careful owner. Wears like a pretty normal watch!
For me I liked the simplicity, the yellow accents and the fact it was a little different.
Cheers, I assumed that they were robust but its good to have it confirmed.For me I liked the simplicity, the yellow accents and the fact it was a little different.
The more I look at Tudor, the more I like them.
For me personally, the only concern I would have with the North Flag is its lack of any bezel - or more specifically, the fact I’m a clumsy f
ker and I’d be worried about damaging the edge of the glass. That said, it seems one or two posters above haven’t had any issues. Maybe I’m exceptionally ham fisted!
I do like the North Flag a lot though and agree with others who’ve said the bit of yellow on it gives it a certain extra something. I’m not sure it would look quite so good if it did have a bezel, certainly not one with numbers on, anyway.
For me personally, the only concern I would have with the North Flag is its lack of any bezel - or more specifically, the fact I’m a clumsy f
ker and I’d be worried about damaging the edge of the glass. That said, it seems one or two posters above haven’t had any issues. Maybe I’m exceptionally ham fisted!I do like the North Flag a lot though and agree with others who’ve said the bit of yellow on it gives it a certain extra something. I’m not sure it would look quite so good if it did have a bezel, certainly not one with numbers on, anyway.
I really like the North Flag.
Tried one on and researched it a lot, but ultimately bought a Tudor Black Bay instead (I'm a sucker for a dive watch).
Offering an in-house movement, sapphire display back, chronometer certification, solid build-quality, 100m water resistance, good lume, legibility and decent technology (70-hour power reserve, free-sprung silicon hairspring, power reserve indicator, instant date change, ceramic clasp closures...), it's also pretty good value to my mind (well, as far as that can be said of any luxury item).
A few of those features were firsts for Tudor I believe, certainly since its modern re-launch, but I don't think it's ever sold terribly well or captured wider imagination like the ever-expanding Black Bay collection. As such, I wouldn't be overly surprised if Tudor decides to quietly discontinue or upgrade it at some future point. If it does disappear, I could almost see it being later re-discovered as a bit of a cult classic, even if it'll never earn anyone a fortune.
Privately, they seem to re-sell second hand for circa £1,400 - £1,500, so don't buy it if value retention is important from new (though they do no worse than the majority of brands in that regard, it's no slight at all on the model itself). They do sell for higher from Trade, but then they'll offer you a rubbish buying price.
Also, the integrated bracelet/strap configuration with the case means it's not easy to change its look by switching it to generic aftermarket straps. Like any watch purchase, the OEM Tudor bracelet would be expensive to purchase separately afterwards, so buy on bracelet from the outset if you plan to wear it as such.
I'd have zero doubts about reliability or durability. That in-house movement is very well-constructed and has been around a longish time now to work out the kinks. Just check if the one you buy has been hanging around the display window for years. The bezel wouldn't worry me overly - the black ceramic ring will be very scratch-resistant, but its placement is such that it's as much a cosmetic touch as protective measure, still with a metal edging on top. One great design feature of the case & bracelet are those super-crisp lines, but the sharp edges are possibly slightly more prone to nicks as a result. But it's designed to look like a tool watch, so a few scratches & bumps won't detract from it at all, quite the opposite. The crystal is sapphire, flat & doesn't protrude at the edges much higher than the surrounding bezel, so it'll be as durable (if not more so) than any watch with sapphire.
In terms of haggling, ADs don't discount steeply on Tudor, so whilst 5% is very achievable, 10% is tougher (though I have seen more available). That said, it isn't a big seller, so push hard. If you can buy through a cash-back site like 'Quidco', it would help.
I think they're great, excellent value, handsomely durable and of laudably distinctive design, so a second-hand one will probably make its way into my watch box at some point.
Tried one on and researched it a lot, but ultimately bought a Tudor Black Bay instead (I'm a sucker for a dive watch).
Offering an in-house movement, sapphire display back, chronometer certification, solid build-quality, 100m water resistance, good lume, legibility and decent technology (70-hour power reserve, free-sprung silicon hairspring, power reserve indicator, instant date change, ceramic clasp closures...), it's also pretty good value to my mind (well, as far as that can be said of any luxury item).
A few of those features were firsts for Tudor I believe, certainly since its modern re-launch, but I don't think it's ever sold terribly well or captured wider imagination like the ever-expanding Black Bay collection. As such, I wouldn't be overly surprised if Tudor decides to quietly discontinue or upgrade it at some future point. If it does disappear, I could almost see it being later re-discovered as a bit of a cult classic, even if it'll never earn anyone a fortune.
Privately, they seem to re-sell second hand for circa £1,400 - £1,500, so don't buy it if value retention is important from new (though they do no worse than the majority of brands in that regard, it's no slight at all on the model itself). They do sell for higher from Trade, but then they'll offer you a rubbish buying price.
Also, the integrated bracelet/strap configuration with the case means it's not easy to change its look by switching it to generic aftermarket straps. Like any watch purchase, the OEM Tudor bracelet would be expensive to purchase separately afterwards, so buy on bracelet from the outset if you plan to wear it as such.
I'd have zero doubts about reliability or durability. That in-house movement is very well-constructed and has been around a longish time now to work out the kinks. Just check if the one you buy has been hanging around the display window for years. The bezel wouldn't worry me overly - the black ceramic ring will be very scratch-resistant, but its placement is such that it's as much a cosmetic touch as protective measure, still with a metal edging on top. One great design feature of the case & bracelet are those super-crisp lines, but the sharp edges are possibly slightly more prone to nicks as a result. But it's designed to look like a tool watch, so a few scratches & bumps won't detract from it at all, quite the opposite. The crystal is sapphire, flat & doesn't protrude at the edges much higher than the surrounding bezel, so it'll be as durable (if not more so) than any watch with sapphire.
In terms of haggling, ADs don't discount steeply on Tudor, so whilst 5% is very achievable, 10% is tougher (though I have seen more available). That said, it isn't a big seller, so push hard. If you can buy through a cash-back site like 'Quidco', it would help.
I think they're great, excellent value, handsomely durable and of laudably distinctive design, so a second-hand one will probably make its way into my watch box at some point.
UnclePat said:
I really like the North Flag.
Tried one on and researched it a lot, but ultimately bought a Tudor Black Bay instead (I'm a sucker for a dive watch).
Offering an in-house movement, sapphire display back, chronometer certification, solid build-quality, 100m water resistance, good lume, legibility and decent technology (70-hour power reserve, free-sprung silicon hairspring, power reserve indicator, instant date change, ceramic clasp closures...), it's also pretty good value to my mind (well, as far as that can be said of any luxury item).
A few of those features were firsts for Tudor I believe, certainly since its modern re-launch, but I don't think it's ever sold terribly well or captured wider imagination like the ever-expanding Black Bay collection. As such, I wouldn't be overly surprised if Tudor decides to quietly discontinue or upgrade it at some future point. If it does disappear, I could almost see it being later re-discovered as a bit of a cult classic, even if it'll never earn anyone a fortune.
Privately, they seem to re-sell second hand for circa £1,400 - £1,500, so don't buy it if value retention is important from new (though they do no worse than the majority of brands in that regard, it's no slight at all on the model itself). They do sell for higher from Trade, but then they'll offer you a rubbish buying price.
Also, the integrated bracelet/strap configuration with the case means it's not easy to change its look by switching it to generic aftermarket straps. Like any watch purchase, the OEM Tudor bracelet would be expensive to purchase separately afterwards, so buy on bracelet from the outset if you plan to wear it as such.
I'd have zero doubts about reliability or durability. That in-house movement is very well-constructed and has been around a longish time now to work out the kinks. Just check if the one you buy has been hanging around the display window for years. The bezel wouldn't worry me overly - the black ceramic ring will be very scratch-resistant, but its placement is such that it's as much a cosmetic touch as protective measure, still with a metal edging on top. One great design feature of the case & bracelet are those super-crisp lines, but the sharp edges are possibly slightly more prone to nicks as a result. But it's designed to look like a tool watch, so a few scratches & bumps won't detract from it at all, quite the opposite. The crystal is sapphire, flat & doesn't protrude at the edges much higher than the surrounding bezel, so it'll be as durable (if not more so) than any watch with sapphire.
In terms of haggling, ADs don't discount steeply on Tudor, so whilst 5% is very achievable, 10% is tougher (though I have seen more available). That said, it isn't a big seller, so push hard. If you can buy through a cash-back site like 'Quidco', it would help.
I think they're great, excellent value, handsomely durable and of laudably distinctive design, so a second-hand one will probably make its way into my watch box at some point.
Thanks, I'm buying to keep, so depreciation doesn't concern me. The only thing making me question the purchase is the lack of options for replacement straps, but I'll probably buy on bracelet and also buy the strap too. Tried one on and researched it a lot, but ultimately bought a Tudor Black Bay instead (I'm a sucker for a dive watch).
Offering an in-house movement, sapphire display back, chronometer certification, solid build-quality, 100m water resistance, good lume, legibility and decent technology (70-hour power reserve, free-sprung silicon hairspring, power reserve indicator, instant date change, ceramic clasp closures...), it's also pretty good value to my mind (well, as far as that can be said of any luxury item).
A few of those features were firsts for Tudor I believe, certainly since its modern re-launch, but I don't think it's ever sold terribly well or captured wider imagination like the ever-expanding Black Bay collection. As such, I wouldn't be overly surprised if Tudor decides to quietly discontinue or upgrade it at some future point. If it does disappear, I could almost see it being later re-discovered as a bit of a cult classic, even if it'll never earn anyone a fortune.
Privately, they seem to re-sell second hand for circa £1,400 - £1,500, so don't buy it if value retention is important from new (though they do no worse than the majority of brands in that regard, it's no slight at all on the model itself). They do sell for higher from Trade, but then they'll offer you a rubbish buying price.
Also, the integrated bracelet/strap configuration with the case means it's not easy to change its look by switching it to generic aftermarket straps. Like any watch purchase, the OEM Tudor bracelet would be expensive to purchase separately afterwards, so buy on bracelet from the outset if you plan to wear it as such.
I'd have zero doubts about reliability or durability. That in-house movement is very well-constructed and has been around a longish time now to work out the kinks. Just check if the one you buy has been hanging around the display window for years. The bezel wouldn't worry me overly - the black ceramic ring will be very scratch-resistant, but its placement is such that it's as much a cosmetic touch as protective measure, still with a metal edging on top. One great design feature of the case & bracelet are those super-crisp lines, but the sharp edges are possibly slightly more prone to nicks as a result. But it's designed to look like a tool watch, so a few scratches & bumps won't detract from it at all, quite the opposite. The crystal is sapphire, flat & doesn't protrude at the edges much higher than the surrounding bezel, so it'll be as durable (if not more so) than any watch with sapphire.
In terms of haggling, ADs don't discount steeply on Tudor, so whilst 5% is very achievable, 10% is tougher (though I have seen more available). That said, it isn't a big seller, so push hard. If you can buy through a cash-back site like 'Quidco', it would help.
I think they're great, excellent value, handsomely durable and of laudably distinctive design, so a second-hand one will probably make its way into my watch box at some point.
Whats the problem of buying one thats been on display for a while, and more importantly other than asking (and believing the response), how do you know?
Depends. May not be an issue, and might even be a negotiation opportunity.
As I suspect the North Flag isn’t a huge seller, I doubt many ADs carry stock beyond what’s in their window. For many other watch models with regular, quick turnover it’s usually not a concern – most stock sold will have come from the display.
In general, if I were offered the choice between a watch recently received factory-fresh from Tudor, and one which has been knocking-around an AD’s window for a couple of years, I know which I would prefer (even though both will benefit from the exact same warranty length from point of sale).
For instance, there is a North Flag on strap in the window of my nearest AD that has been there for about three years – I know because I walk past their window often, and the power reserve indicator appears permanently ‘stuck’ at about 15% capacity, on a non-running watch (i.e. in a fully unwound state with the crown screwed in). I can think of no good reason why it should not reset fully to show 0% power reserve, so it’s potentially an unwell puppy that I’d avoid.
In terms of hanging around in an AD window for ages, there’s two main areas of concern for me, both of which really depend upon the circumstances the watch is stored in, and how it’s handled.
1) Scratches, dings, rubs etc. on stickers-removed display items, from being hauled out for tyre-kickers to try on, sometimes not all that carefully. Or even sales stuff rushing to get home at night, being careless when removing the window stock to their overnight safe & then out again next morning. That said, if it’ll be a daily wearer anyway you’ll likely do worse yourself to it in the first weeks of ownership, and it’s not as if the North Flag is a highly-polished dress piece that depends upon pristine looks, but I’d take the time in-store to make sure you don’t miss something that may potentially annoy if you notice it at a later date, too late. Of course, that’s only as regards external cosmetic issues you can see, there’s no telling if it’s been bashed, the date set at the ‘wrong’ time (if applicable), or the screw-down crown partially threaded. It may be under warranty, but no-one wants to have to use it.
2) Age of the watch. This isn’t as big a deal really, but it’s not ideal if your ‘new’ watch was actually shipped in 2015. Of course, a watch which doesn’t run daily doesn’t then pick-up any extra mechanical wear & tear, so a few years sitting idle isn’t a problem in itself. However, a watch sitting in a hot, sun-lit window display day-in, day-out for years is not exactly optimum. Modern synthetic oils resist aging much better than in past years and are designed to operate in a temperature range, but constant exposure to sun/heat isn’t ideal, nor for rubber gaskets or colour fade. Mind you, some ADs have air-con pumping in those areas to counteract this, and if it’s an internal display then it’s really not much of an issue.
You’ll only know by asking the AD to tell you when they received the watch instore – they’ll be able to check their inventory record. Of course, unless you have the watch serial number (and a method of checking Tudor’s records), then you’ll just have to take their word for it.
It’s not necessarily be deal-breaker though. For instance, when I bought my Tudor Black Bay, I specifically wanted one with the older, discontinued ETA movement, which had since been superseded by the in-house movement version. I found an AD with a few ETA models in stock, which I was fully aware had been in the (air-conditioned, interior) window for some time, and I used that to my advantage, getting a large discount, 50% off the first future service of the watch, and a few bits of watch tat.
As I suspect the North Flag isn’t a huge seller, I doubt many ADs carry stock beyond what’s in their window. For many other watch models with regular, quick turnover it’s usually not a concern – most stock sold will have come from the display.
In general, if I were offered the choice between a watch recently received factory-fresh from Tudor, and one which has been knocking-around an AD’s window for a couple of years, I know which I would prefer (even though both will benefit from the exact same warranty length from point of sale).
For instance, there is a North Flag on strap in the window of my nearest AD that has been there for about three years – I know because I walk past their window often, and the power reserve indicator appears permanently ‘stuck’ at about 15% capacity, on a non-running watch (i.e. in a fully unwound state with the crown screwed in). I can think of no good reason why it should not reset fully to show 0% power reserve, so it’s potentially an unwell puppy that I’d avoid.
In terms of hanging around in an AD window for ages, there’s two main areas of concern for me, both of which really depend upon the circumstances the watch is stored in, and how it’s handled.
1) Scratches, dings, rubs etc. on stickers-removed display items, from being hauled out for tyre-kickers to try on, sometimes not all that carefully. Or even sales stuff rushing to get home at night, being careless when removing the window stock to their overnight safe & then out again next morning. That said, if it’ll be a daily wearer anyway you’ll likely do worse yourself to it in the first weeks of ownership, and it’s not as if the North Flag is a highly-polished dress piece that depends upon pristine looks, but I’d take the time in-store to make sure you don’t miss something that may potentially annoy if you notice it at a later date, too late. Of course, that’s only as regards external cosmetic issues you can see, there’s no telling if it’s been bashed, the date set at the ‘wrong’ time (if applicable), or the screw-down crown partially threaded. It may be under warranty, but no-one wants to have to use it.
2) Age of the watch. This isn’t as big a deal really, but it’s not ideal if your ‘new’ watch was actually shipped in 2015. Of course, a watch which doesn’t run daily doesn’t then pick-up any extra mechanical wear & tear, so a few years sitting idle isn’t a problem in itself. However, a watch sitting in a hot, sun-lit window display day-in, day-out for years is not exactly optimum. Modern synthetic oils resist aging much better than in past years and are designed to operate in a temperature range, but constant exposure to sun/heat isn’t ideal, nor for rubber gaskets or colour fade. Mind you, some ADs have air-con pumping in those areas to counteract this, and if it’s an internal display then it’s really not much of an issue.
You’ll only know by asking the AD to tell you when they received the watch instore – they’ll be able to check their inventory record. Of course, unless you have the watch serial number (and a method of checking Tudor’s records), then you’ll just have to take their word for it.
It’s not necessarily be deal-breaker though. For instance, when I bought my Tudor Black Bay, I specifically wanted one with the older, discontinued ETA movement, which had since been superseded by the in-house movement version. I found an AD with a few ETA models in stock, which I was fully aware had been in the (air-conditioned, interior) window for some time, and I used that to my advantage, getting a large discount, 50% off the first future service of the watch, and a few bits of watch tat.
Hi I purchased a North Flag and a Black bay 41 last month - Found a Tudor dealer having a closing down sale so went in for a look around and left with both - I could not decide what one l preffered.
I am very happy with both watches - Tudor build quality is excellent and I must say the North Flag movement is very accurate and although initially I was not sure of the power indicator I now really like it.
I went for the bracelet rather than the strap - may purchase the strap in the future for a different look but works well on the bracelet.
I do not think that you would regret the purchase
I am very happy with both watches - Tudor build quality is excellent and I must say the North Flag movement is very accurate and although initially I was not sure of the power indicator I now really like it.
I went for the bracelet rather than the strap - may purchase the strap in the future for a different look but works well on the bracelet.
I do not think that you would regret the purchase
I had a Pelagos, their definitive tool watch and it lost a piece of Lume from the bezel one day (no marks on bezel and no memory of knocking it) - Rolex/Tudor refused to sort under warranty and asked for £450 so I sold it to a mate instead. Since then he’s lost another piece of lume.
Poor quality watches in my experience.
Poor quality watches in my experience.
AlasdairMc said:
I was looking at the North Flag but ended up with a Ranger instead. The strap was my main concern as I wanted to vary between a Nato and a leather strap (my other watches are all bracelet only).
The Ranger is a lovely watch, a nice vintage look to it.
Hmmm, I also like the Ranger too The Ranger is a lovely watch, a nice vintage look to it.
I'll have to try them on and see which I prefer. Seeing as I've just come into some money, might be able to get both....
Just heard from my AD that the north flag on strap has been discontinued. You can pick up one from EJ for £2080 rather than £2800. The surgical steel bracelet is £600 from Tudor so a neat saving of £200 or 10% if you choose to take that route. Plus you get teh leather strap as well to mix things up. Personally prefer the bracelet but if you love the strap then this is a great bargain for the piece.
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