Six Months Living & Diving With The Tudor Pelagos 39

The Smallest Member Of The Pelagos Family Is A Great Dive Watch & So Much More

Upon its unveiling in 2022, many were quick to deride the Tudor Pelagos 39, the smallest member of a model family that already included the original 500-meter-rated version and the Pelagos FXD, both of which measure a substantial 42mm in diameter. The criticisms were varied, with some saying the drop in water resistance from 500 meters to 200 meters and the loss of the helium escape valve meant the P39 simply wasn’t as much of a dive watch as the standard Pelagos. 

Others argued that the sunray dial and radial brushing on the bezel insert amounted to an effete version of what had been considered Tudor’s most hardcore diving collection. But were they right? Is the Pelagos 39 actually less of a dive watch compared to its larger siblings?