Launched in 2012, Tudor’s Pelagos diving watch range formed a bond last year with the French Navy through the Pelagos FXD limited edition, but it chose a civilian partner for its latest models. To celebrate Tudor’s association with Alinghi Red Bull Racing, forged in 2022, a pair of new Pelagos FXD watches has been introduced.

Dubbed the Tudor Pelagos FXD Alinghi Red Bull Racing Edition and the Tudor Pelagos FXD Alinghi Red Bull Racing Chrono, the timepieces are far more than aesthetic statements simply sporting team logos. Instead, they serve as launch pads for new developments from Tudor, starting with the first-ever chronograph in the Pelagos line. This also introduces a chronograph calibre into a case with fixed strap-bars.

The cases themselves herald a major development in the evolution of the range. With potential beyond its arrival in the Tudor Pelagos FXD Alinghi Red Bull Racing watch is a new high-tech carbon composite,  which has been combined with titanium and stainless steel. This mix of materials is also employed in the construction of the Alinghi Red Bull Racing America’s Cup 75 (AC75) hydrofoil racing yacht.

This mix of carbon, titanium and stainless steel represents the pinnacle of maritime engineering. Further referenced in the watches’ materials are the hydrofoil and hull fittings fashioned from titanium, with blades made of steel.

In the Pelagos FXD Alinghi Red Bull Racing models, the carbon composite is used for the case and bezel insert, while titanium has been selected for the bezels, crowns and – on the chronograph model – the pushers. The movement housing and casebacks, which are engraved with the Alinghi Red Bull Racing logo (also appearing on the dial flange), are made of 316L stainless steel.

For the time-only Pelagos FXD Alinghi Red Bull Racing Edition, Reference 25707KN (£3,070), the colour of the 42mm matt-black carbon-composite case matches the sails, while the matt-blue dial matches the hull of the boat. In military fashion, the watch is fitted with fixed strap-bars, while the bi-directional rotatable bezel, with black matt-finished carbon-composite insert, is a countdown bezel rather than a traditional diving bezel, addressing the need for a team to calculate the time to the start line.

Inside the Pelagos FXD Alinghi Red Bull Racing Edition is the COSC-chronometer-certified automatic Manufacture Calibre MT5602. This provides a hacking second for precise time-setting, and the power reserve is 70 hours. Waterproof to 200m, the watch is fitted with a single-piece blue fabric strap with red accent. Specially designed for the Pelagos FXD models, its construction was developed by Tudor and the Julien Faure company, which produced the 22mm “Team Blue” jacquard- woven strap. It is secured by a titanium D-buckle with a self-gripping fastening system.

While the stylistic details and countdown bezel above apply to the Pelagos FXD Alinghi Red Bull Racing Chrono, Reference 25807KN (£4,250), the COSC-chronometer- certified automatic Manufacture Calibre MT5813 chronograph requires an increase in the case size to 43mm. Its two sub-dials are bordered in red, with the 45-minute counter at 3 o’clock and small seconds 9 o’clock. The Chrono also features an instantaneous date at 6 o’clock with rapid adjustment, water resistance to 200m and 70-hour power reserve.

In a nod to the Pelagos’ illustrious relatives, there’s another nice touch: both timepieces feature the name “Pelagos” in red. A flash of red on the dial once enhanced the collectability of certain Tudor siblings. Insiders, take note.