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TUDOR Ambassador David Beckham Extols The Virtues Of The Watchmaking House
TUDOR Ambassador David Beckham Extols The Virtues Of The Watchmaking House
Feb, 2024
4 min read
The brand’s state-of-the-art manufacturing facility and iconic Black Bay Burgundy star in an evening of high-octane glamour and sports.
No football legend comes as decorated and charming as David Beckham. Likewise, few watchmaking houses boast a heritage as rich and celebrated in the sporting arena as TUDOR. When these two giants of their respective fields came together, a dazzling display of glamour and horological excitement was inevitable—and that's exactly what 250 guests experienced at a once-in-a-lifetime event at Sentul Depot in Kuala Lumpur, hosted by TUDOR and graced by Beckham.
The evening’s theme, “Beckham's Born To Dare Journey with TUDOR”, was expressed through a combination of cultural celebration, gastronomic delights, Beckham’s engaging star quality and, most importantly, immersive experiences that showcase TUDOR’s watches and manufacturing prowess.
Upon entering the cavernous event venue, guests were drawn to a special interactive installation, which invited them to virtually tour TUDOR’s headquarters in Le Locle, Switzerland, seen through the eyes of Beckham. While a visit to the state-of-the-art facility is a must for TUDOR enthusiasts, the immersive experience at Sentul Depot brought the Manufacture closer to its Malaysian fans.
A bona fide horological hub, the TUDOR Manufacture opened in 2021, following three years of construction. Located in the Swiss Jura region, which is home to the world’s most illustrious watch brands since the 18th century, the building is emblematic of watchmaking’s past, present and future.
Cloaked in the brand’s iconic red, with TUDOR’s famous shield logo—representing robustness, engineering, and manufacturing prowess—perched atop, the Manufacture spans over 5,500 square meters and four levels. The facility houses all of TUDOR's key departments and facilities, enabling the brand to exercise full control over the conception and construction of its watches, along with the most rigorous quality checks.
Every aspect of the Manufacture is geared towards producing timepieces of the highest quality and reliability. From natural light that basks the watchmakers’ benches to enhance productivity, to the solar panels to Sage Glass-equipped windows that regulate energy consumption, every detail reflects a balance between cutting-edge technology and ecological sensitivity.
At the same time, a confluence of tradition and innovation within the building gives rise to spectacular creations like the Black Bay 'Burgundy', a series of Black Bay models distinguished by their scarlet bezels and at the forefront of TUDOR’s most exciting innovations.
Indeed, the inaugural Black Bay model from 2012, featuring a burgundy bezel, remains a highly sought-after collector’s item. In 2016, this line was among the first watches to incorporate TUDOR’s first-ever in-house automatic movement, the Calibre MT5621.
Last year, its exceptional lineage continued by being the latest Black Bay model to earn the Master Chronometer certification, boasting timekeeping performance, precision, robustness, and magnetic resistance that eclipses all other watches on the market today. Issued by the Swiss Federal Institute of Metrology, the METAS certification process subjects the watches through eight punishing tests and simulations that cover areas of robustness, precision, waterproofness, anti-magnetism, and power reserve. At the event, guests were invited to don watchmakers’ lab coats to learn about the intricacies and processes behind the METAS Master Chronometer certification process.
From an immersive tour of TUDOR’s headquarters, to gleaning insights on the iconic Black Bay watches, it was an exhilarating evening that celebrated the world’s foremost legacies in watchmaking and sports. “Beckham's Born To Dare Journey with TUDOR” event is certainly one for the memories. One that also demonstrated, in no uncertain terms, why TUDOR and David Beckham are in a league of their own.
