Tudor vs Rolex
Tudor is Rolex's sister brand, founded by Hans Wilsdorf to sell Rolex-quality watches for less. Today it makes its own movements and designs, at roughly a third to half the price of the closest Rolex.
Choose Tudor if
you want Rolex-level build and a robust in-house movement for far less, and you can buy one at list price
Choose Rolex if
you want the crown on the dial, the finishing and resale that come with it, and can pay several times more
Side by side
| Tudor | Rolex | |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1926 | 1905 |
| Based in | Switzerland | Switzerland |
| Owned by | Hans Wilsdorf Foundation | Hans Wilsdorf Foundation |
| Tier | — | — |
| Watches measured | 18 | 29 |
| List prices | $4,025–$6,875 | $6,200–$50,400 |
| Median list price | $5,438 | $11,850 |
| Mechanical | 100% | 100% |
| Sapphire crystal | 100% | 100% |
| Median case | 39.5 mm | 40 mm |
| Median lug-to-lug | 48.8 mm | 47.6 mm |
| Median thickness | 12.8 mm | 11.8 mm |
| eBay ask vs list | 90% | 134% |
| Movements by | Tudor | Rolex |
Figures cover the current watches in our catalog, not each brand's full range. eBay figures are median asking prices against list price, updated daily.
Closest head-to-head matches
For each style both brands make, the two watches closest in size.
| Style | Tudor | Rolex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Everyday | Tudor Monarch M2639W1A0U39 mm · 46.2 mm L2L · $5,875 | Rolex Explorer 40 22427040 mm · 46.5 mm L2L · $8,350 | |
| Sport | Tudor Black Bay Chrono M79360N41 mm · 49.9 mm L2L · $6,875 | Rolex Air-King 12690040 mm · 48 mm L2L · $8,150 | |
| Dress | Tudor Black Bay 31 M79600-000231 mm · — L2L · $4,600 | Rolex Datejust 31 27824031 mm · — L2L · $7,900 | |
| Dive | Tudor Black Bay Ceramic M79210CNU41 mm · 50 mm L2L · $6,125 | Rolex Submariner 12406041 mm · 47.6 mm L2L · $10,050 |
Questions
- Is Tudor better than Rolex?
- Tudor is Rolex's sister brand, founded by Hans Wilsdorf to sell Rolex-quality watches for less. Today it makes its own movements and designs, at roughly a third to half the price of the closest Rolex. Choose Tudor if you want Rolex-level build and a robust in-house movement for far less, and you can buy one at list price. Choose Rolex if you want the crown on the dial, the finishing and resale that come with it, and can pay several times more.
- Which is more expensive, Tudor or Rolex?
- In our catalog the median Tudor lists at $5,438 and the median Rolex at $11,850. Tudor ranges $4,025–$6,875; Rolex ranges $6,200–$50,400.
- Which holds its value better, Tudor or Rolex?
- On eBay, Tudor watches ask a median 90% of list and Rolex watches 134%, across the references we track daily, so Rolex holds value better.