The Tudor North Flag Is Back, And This Time It Has A GMT
Well, this is one I wasn’t expecting.
Tudor has brought back the North Flag, more than a decade after the original appeared in 2015, and I suspect there will be quite a few Tudor enthusiasts rather pleased to see it return.
The original North Flag has always been something of an interesting watch within Tudor’s modern history. It never enjoyed anything like the success of the Black Bay, but over the years it has developed a pretty loyal following. Since being discontinued, it has arguably become more appreciated than it ever was when you could actually walk into an AD and buy one.
Funny how that happens.
For 2026, Tudor hasn’t simply pulled the old North Flag out of the archives. The basic character remains, but this is a considerably more modern interpretation and, importantly, Tudor has given it a GMT complication.
And on first impressions, I think that makes a lot of sense.
A Bit Of North Flag History
The original North Flag arrived in 2015 and was an important watch for Tudor for reasons beyond its slightly unusual looks. Inside was the MT5621, making the North Flag the first Tudor to use one of the brand’s own Manufacture movements.
At a time when Tudor was rapidly reinventing itself, that was a pretty significant moment.
The name itself goes further back. It references the British North Greenland Expedition of the 1950s, where Tudor watches were used in some genuinely hostile conditions.
There’s also some 1970s Tudor DNA in the design, particularly the Ranger II from 1973, and thankfully the new watch hasn't abandoned that slightly unconventional personality.
This still looks like a North Flag.
The GMT Changes Things
Perhaps the biggest update is the addition of a GMT function.
The new North Flag uses Tudor’s Manufacture Calibre MT5652-U, complete with an arrow-shaped 24-hour hand working against a 24-hour scale around the edge of the dial.
Interestingly, Tudor has angled that 24-hour rehaut at 45 degrees. It gives the dial more depth and makes the GMT scale feel integrated into the design rather than simply printed around the perimeter.
There is also a nice connection back to the whole North Greenland story here. In areas affected by polar night and the midnight sun, distinguishing between day and night can genuinely become useful.
Most owners probably won't be timing their next expedition across Greenland, admittedly, but it gives the complication a reason for being there beyond simply saying, "people like GMTs".
Visually, I think it works too.
It's Still A Proper Tool Watch
The case measures 40mm and is made from 316L stainless steel, with predominantly satin-brushed surfaces combined with polished chamfers. That's a sensible size for this style of watch.
One of the things that always made the North Flag interesting was its integrated appearance, and Tudor has retained that idea with a dedicated two-link steel bracelet. The transition between the case and bracelet looks particularly clean and gives the watch a very different character from the Black Bay family.
And that's important. Tudor doesn't exactly need another Black Bay.
The bracelet also gets Tudor's excellent T-fit clasp, offering five tool-free adjustment positions across an 8mm range. Once you've lived with a good micro-adjustment system, going back to a bracelet without one feels surprisingly primitive.
The dial is probably where the biggest visual improvements can be found. Tudor has used large monobloc luminous ceramic hour markers alongside its distinctive North Flag handset, all filled with Grade A Swiss Super-LumiNova.
The result looks bold, extremely legible and very much in keeping with what the North Flag should be.
The Movement Is A Serious Upgrade
Turn the watch over and Tudor has retained another unusual North Flag characteristic: an exhibition caseback.
Behind the slightly domed sapphire crystal sits the MT5652-U.
It's COSC certified, but more importantly it's also METAS Master Chronometer certified.
That means the watch is being tested not simply for movement accuracy, but as a complete watch across criteria including precision, magnetic resistance, power reserve and water resistance.
There's also a silicon balance spring and a 65-hour power reserve.
Tudor's movements have become one of the strongest parts of its watches over the past decade, and putting a METAS-certified GMT calibre into the North Flag feels like an appropriate way of bringing it back.
My First Thoughts
I like this.
Actually, I think the North Flag returning might be more interesting than Tudor launching an entirely new collection.
The original was always a slightly oddball member of the Tudor family. It didn't have the vintage dive-watch appeal of the Black Bay and it wasn't trying to be a smaller Rolex. It was simply Tudor doing something different, and I think the brand could use a little more of that.
Keeping the integrated bracelet, angular case and distinctive dial architecture means the new North Flag hasn't lost the personality that made the original interesting. Adding the GMT complication gives it greater everyday usefulness, while the METAS-certified movement brings the technical side firmly up to date.
There will undoubtedly be comparisons with the original, and I'm sure some North Flag purists will prefer the simplicity of the 2015 watch. Personally, though, the GMT feels like a natural evolution rather than something that has been added purely for the sake of it.
There is one catch.
The new Tudor North Flag is available exclusively through Tudor Boutiques and is priced at £4,310.
Boutique exclusivity may frustrate a few people, particularly if demand turns out to be strong, but I wouldn't be surprised if this becomes one of those Tudor releases that attracts considerably more attention once people start seeing it on wrists.
Because the North Flag has always been a watch that's easier to appreciate in person than in photographs.
We've already asked Tudor if we can get one in for a full hands-on review, because this is definitely a watch I want to spend some proper time with.
For now, though, first impressions are very positive. The North Flag is back. It still looks slightly different, slightly quirky and unmistakably Tudor.
And perhaps best of all, it isn't another Black Bay.