Tudor has brought back one of the stranger watches from its modern catalog. The North Flag, discontinued in 2021 after a relatively under-the-radar six-year run, has returned as the Northflag with a GMT movement, a revised case, and enough changes to make this feel like a proper second generation. And at first glance, this version gets me really, really excited.
The original North Flag arrived in 2015 and holds an important place in Tudor’s recent history (and my heart). It was the first watch from the brand to use an in-house movement, yet it always existed somewhere outside the gravitational pull of the Black Bay. Its angular case, integrated bracelet, yellow accents, and power-reserve indicator gave it an identity that was distinctly its own. For the new Northflag ref. M9140G1A0U-0001, Tudor has kept that independence while reconsidering some of the details.
The stainless-steel case remains 40mm, though thickness drops to 12.7mm. Tudor fits it with a domed sapphire crystal, sapphire display caseback, 100 meters of water resistance, and an integrated two-link steel bracelet with the brand’s T-fit adjustment system. The black dial retains the yellow accents associated with the previous generation, while a new 24-hour scale runs around the rehaut.
The old power-reserve display is gone. Boo. In its place is a yellow 24-hour hand powered by Tudor’s MT5652-U automatic GMT movement. This is a flyer-style GMT, allowing the local hour hand to jump independently when changing time zones. The movement is COSC and METAS certified, offers 65 hours of power reserve, and is visible through the caseback.
Losing the original power-reserve indicator will probably give North Flag fans something to argue about. However, I think the GMT makes considerably more sense to me as a functional complication for this watch. It also gives the Northflag a clearer reason to exist alongside Tudor models like the Ranger, which has become another compelling corner of the catalog for those of us interested in what Tudor does beyond the Black Bay.
There’s historical context here, too. Tudor points toward the integrated-bracelet Ranger II from 1973 as a design ancestor for the Northflag. The connection is useful for understanding the geometry, although the modern Northflag still feels like its own thing rather than a straightforward historical recreation.
Then there’s the $5,525 price. That’s substantial, although the specification makes it fairly easy to understand within Tudor’s current catalog. You’re getting the flyer GMT, METAS certification, T-fit bracelet, display back, and a design that doesn’t simply revisit another familiar Black Bay formula. Availability will initially be limited to Tudor boutiques.
The bigger question is whether turning the Northflag into a GMT improves what made the original interesting. From what we can see so far, I think it does. The design looks more resolved, the complication feels useful, and Tudor has preserved enough of the oddball character that made the original worth remembering.
Co-Founder & Senior Editor
Michael Peñate is an American writer, photographer, and podcaster based in Seattle, Washington. His work typically focuses on the passage of time and the tools we use to connect with that very journey. From aviation to music and travel, his interests span a multitude of disciplines that often intersect with the world of watches – and the obsessive culture behind collecting them.