The Tudor Northflag is the Swiss brand’s adventure ready expedition watch, a modernised cousin to Rolex’s more retro leaning Explorer collection. However, it was discontinued in 2021 and we assumed it was gone for good when Tudor replaced it with models like the Tudor Ranger and the even more heavily Explorer-inspired Black Bay Pro that filled a similar niche. However, it’s back. For 2026 Tudor have revived the Tudor Northflag as a master chronometer GMT.
Starting with the case, the structure and style is an almost direct revival of the previous Northflag. It has a 40mm stainless steel case with 100m water resistance, making it versatile enough to survive the expeditions that the original 2015 model was designed for – the name Northflag comes from a 1950s expedition called the North Greenland Expedition. The case has a round shape finished with circular brushing across the lugs that lead into an integrated, H-link bracelet.
The dial is also instantly recognisable as Tudor Northflag thanks to the combination of a matte black base and bright, bright yellow markings that can’t fail to stand out. The seconds hand and GMT 24-hour hand are both yellow as are the odd hour markers on the 24-hour scale that’s mounted on the flange. The Northflag inscription at 6 o’clock is also yellow to tie it all together. Aside from the fact that it’s now a GMT display, the biggest change are the hour markers, which are now made from luminous ceramic blocks rather than lume filled appliques. It gives them a bolder, sharper look on the dial, improving legibility both during the day and at night.
Another significant update is the fact that the movement housed inside is a METAS master chronometer, a certification grade that Tudor started using after the discontinuation of the Northflag. It means that it has been more rigorously tested to ensure reliability and precision in a wider range of positions and conditions. That includes testing the watch at different temperatures typically 23 degrees and 33 degrees Celsius, which is good peace of mind if you are travelling to a hotter country.
The movement in question is the MT5652-U. It’s automatic with a 65-hour power reserve. Being automatic means that it will be constantly wound by the motion of your wrist so that you’ll never need to wind it while wearing it throughout an expedition. At the same time, it’s long enough that you’ll be able to put it down on a Friday evening and it will still be ticking on Monday morning if you decide to have a less active weekend.
For pricing, the Tudor Northflag revival is £4,310. That makes it the new top end of Tudor’s adventure watches as the Ranger is £3,140 and the Pro is £3,980. That’s largely because of the superior master chronometer certification of the Northflag compared to the COSC certification of its more accessible counterparts. Are you happy to see the Northflag return to the Tudor range?
