Inside the enclave of the Rolex building in Geneva, the Tudor facility feels somewhat diminutive. What makes it feel even smaller is that this is a relatively new manufacture designed for future growth. It is hard to get your head around the fact that every Tudor released into the market is assembled in this workshop and, while components are manufactured and assembled in various facilities around Switzerland, the final movement assembly, casing, dial- and hand-fitting, and testing are conducted right here.

For decades, Tudor has struggled to establish an independent identity from big brother Rolex, but keeping its watchmaking so physically close serves a dual purpose, according to Tudor spokesman Christophe Chevalier. “We could have had a separate building with a big Tudor sign on top,” he says. “But having both brands under one roof sends out the message that we are a family.” While some may suggest that this is a complete reversal of past messages, it can also be seen as a signal that Tudor has found its strength in the modern world.

No longer regarded as just a more affordable add-on to its affiliated company, it is a powerhouse in its own right with a desirable and covetable selection of timepieces and a backstory to match that of any brand – a fact backed up by recent auction prices for early Tudor Submariners.