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WATCH REVIEW Tudor Heritage Chrono

Editor's opinion
70 / 100
Review of a chronograph with a strong personality: its design, colors, density, and history set it apart from the rest. The Watch Observer has tested the Tudor Heritage Chrono for you. Review.
Straight to the Point

Tudor Heritage Chrono

Ref.: 70330n-95740
$3,070.00 US retail price April 28th, 2011
Pros
  • a successfully-accomplished neo-vintage figure
  • a good deal for the price
Cons
  • its weight, when equipped with the steel bracelet
  • the safety screwed-in push buttons not practical for daily use
Brand Tudor
Model name
Heritage Chrono
Reference
70330n-95740
Case material
Steel
Case diameter (without crown)
42 mm
Case diameter (crown included)
45.40 mm
Movement type
Automatic
Caliber
ETA 2892 + Module Dubois-Depraz 2054
Base Caliber
ETA 2892
Functions
Chronograph
Date
Hour
Minute
Second
Crystal
Sapphire glass
Power reserve
42h
Transparent back
No
Lug width
22.03 mm
Length from lug to lug
50.10 mm
Case thickness
12.97 mm
Clasp type
Deployment clasp
Clasp material
Steel
Total weight
168 grams
Retail price USA at April 28th, 2011
$3,070.00
Comfort (/15) 14
Movement (/20) 6.5
Movement Optimisation / Garnishment (/5) 0
Ease of handling and adjustment (/5) 4
Movement control proceeded by the Manufacture / horlogical awards (/3) 0
Power reserve (/2) 1
Complications (/5) 1.5
Finishing (/20) 13
Dial finishing (/6) 4.5
Case finishing (/6) 4
Quality of garnishment / caseback engraving quality (/2) 0.5
Crystal quality (/4) 2
Clasp finishing (inner and extern) (/2) 2
Functionality (/20) 16.5
Diurnal legibility (/5) 5
Night legibility (/4) 3.5
Water resistance (/3) 1
Strap : ease of size adjustment + ease of substitution (/4) 3
Clasp : quality and safety (/4) 4
Additional items (/10) 5
Limited edition (/3) 0
Watch delivered with several straps (/2) 1
Quality of the watch box (/1) 1
Portability with shirtsleeves buttoned (/2) 2
Goodies included (/1) 0
Understandability of the brochure (/1) 1
Value for money (/15) 15
When to wear it ? With casual clothing!
Users opinion
79%
like this watch
Do you like this watch?

Foreword

There was an old commercial in the 1970’s that showed the particular care that rally car racing driver Tim Wheatley took in picking his watches: “Tim Wheatley, rally driver, chose his watch as carefully as he chose his lights”.

His watch was, of course, a Tudor Chronograph Oysterdate!

Now, in 2010, Tudor has relinked with this tradition by becoming the timing partner for Porsche Motorsport…

A chronograph with a strong personality

In the 70’s, the Oysterdate Tudor chronograph was already using the signature styles of its parent company, Rolex.
The Heritage Chronograph follows these footsteps with colors and shapes that set it apart.

First, let’s look at the colors.
The orange color of the chronograph‘s hand, along with the numbering for the minutes around the periphery, offer a contrast with the dial’s black background, and the grey background of the 45-minute counter and small seconds display.

Next, let’s examine the shapes.

The twelve applied hourmarkers are pentagonal, and the sub-counters are themselves in the shape of a trapezoid.
Finally, the hours and minutes hands, with their large facets, and generously coated with luminous material, are triangular.

These elements as a whole occupy a space delimited by the circular railroad track of the black chronograph on a white background.

These contrasts of shapes and colors give this Tudor Heritage Chrono a strong “racing car” look, and excellent readability, day or night.

The date display is itself quite discreet in its window at the 6 o’clock mark, but it stays easily readable, nevertheless.
It’s a shame, though, that the cyclops of its ancestors is now gone!
It gave this chronograph a very unique touch.

Conversely, the replacement of the tachymetric bezel with a black bi-directional pivoting one made of anodized aluminum is a great update.

The screwed-in push buttons and the crown get the same grid surface treatment than the bezel’s edge, making it easy to grip.
This contrast of treatment between the polished and brushed surfaces on the case and beveled lugs is part of the watch’s functional esthetics.

The Tudor logo, applied in shiny black on the crown and referenced by the black spots on the tip of the push buttons may be a little superfluous compared to the technical sobriety of this chronograph.

The Tudor Heritage Chrono positions itself comfortably on the wrist, despite – or rather because of – its weight: once it’s settled into place, it’s hard to dislodge it!

Once the push buttons are unscrewed, the use of the chronograph is stiff but easy. And the dial’s unusual lines along with the general strong colors don’t adversely affect the countdown of time, quite the opposite!

A Tudor chronograph which comes with
two straps for two personalities

This Tudor chronograph is sold with two straps, each giving it a very different personality.

The metallic and rather classic-looking Oyster strap, with folding clasp, gives it a sportswear look, almost like a diving watch.

The NATO-type nylon one, with its colors referencing those on the dial, is equipped with a steel pin buckle.
This second option is more original and summer-like: it lightens the overall piece, and gives this Tudor a nice look veered towards the world of car-racing.

These contrasts of shapes and colors give this Tudor Heritage Chrono a strong “racing car” look, and excellent readability, day or night.

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Movement

The Tudor Heritage Chrono is equipped with an ETA 2892 automatic movement with a Dubois-Depraz 2054 chronograph module.

Let’s explain: above the standard movement, an additional level (the module) has been added with the chronograph function.

The motives that have caused Tudor to make this technological choice are not known.

In any case, while we are not in the realm of high-end watchmaking, the Dubois-Depraz module is reliable and the ETA on which it rests is a tested base.

A bonus point for Tudor: while this type of design usually creates an annoying shift in the height positioning of the push buttons (located on the extension of the module) relative to the crown (itself located on the movement’s level), this aspect is barely noticeable on the Heritage.

What to remember

This Tudor Heritage Chrono with its fun colors, and its reliance on nostalgia and technology, asserts its own unique personality.

It will not go unnoticed on its owner’s wrist, and will seduce the connoisseur of watches with a vintage look, as well as the aficionado of car-racing.

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