The Commando Strap

With the introduction of the Commando Strap, the connection between the French navy and issued dive watches gets even cooler!

I make no secret of my love for Tudor MilSubs. It’s one of the reasons that this site exists and so when when the Tudor Pelagos FXD was launched in 2021, I was understandably pretty excited. I’ve never been one to play it cool when it comes to military Tudors; my passion is well-documented here and elsewhere. From the inception of Tudor Collector to years spent leading talks and seminars on these storied watches, the FXD launch was a significant moment for me. Now, with the introduction of the Commando Strap, the connection between the French navy and issued dive watches gets even cooler!

Combat Swimmer Timekeeping

Developed in collaboration with the French Commando Hubert Combat Swimmers, comparable to the US Navy SEALs, the Tudor Pelagos FXD epitomizes the essence of a tool watch. It’s equipped with Tudor’s signature legible snowflake hands, a specifically-designed countdown bezel for mission timing, and fixed lugs that reinforce its robust construction and keep the FXD secure on the wrist. This watch isn’t just a device for timekeeping; it’s a vital tool for clandestine missions, and its inception marked another milestone in the over seven-decade-long partnership between Tudor and the military.

The Commando Strap

My relationship with the guys at Watches of Espionage (WoE) is also well known. The founder now owns one of my favourite discoveries of all-time, a South African Navy-issued Tudor Sub, on his wrist most days. Says WoE, “The genesis of the Commando Strap was sparked by a request from the elite divers of Commando Hubert. They needed a strap that was not only functional but also honoured the heritage of the Marine Nationale divers who historically crafted makeshift straps from parachute webbing for their Tudor MilSubs.”

The Commando Strap, developed in collaboration with Zulu Alpha Straps in the UK, is the result of lengthy prototyping of different solutions based on feedback from the French combat swimmers. It features durable elastic webbing and a special French Rapco buckle system that allows for quick release and secure fastening—essential features for the unpredictable conditions of military operations. To celebrate the centenary of the French Navy’s Diving School, Commando Hubert has commissioned 100 Tudor watches equipped with the Commando Strap. Each of these watches, crafted from historical new-old-stock parachute webbing, is a tribute to the enduring legacy of naval diving, presented in boxes designed to mirror the aesthetics of traditional diving gear.

I can exclusively reveal that there will be two versions of the strap. One is a regular production version that is made from specially commissioned bespoke elasticated webbing by Zulu Alpha straps. This is based on the original webbing used by the MN and those straps can be purchased now at either WoE or ZA Straps.

A second, very limited edition, version of the strap will also be available soon that is made from a new-old-stock roll of original webbing. The rolls of deadstock webbing had been in storage for the last few decades and this project seems to be, to me at least, the perfect use for the material.

Tudor and the Marine Nationale

The Commando Strap draws heavily from the rich heritage of the longstanding relationship between Tudor and the French Navy. This collaboration dates back to 1956 when Tudor first provided the Submariner watches to the Marine Nationale, which were immediately recognized for their precision and robustness in naval operations. The evolution of Tudor’s designs to meet the exacting standards of naval warfare culminated in the iconic “Snowflake” Submariners of the 1960s, designed for superior visibility in the murky depths.

Whilst the FXD is very much a watch designed with the Marine Nationale, the actual watches delivered to the Commando Hubert divers is different to the watches that are sold by official Tudor retailers. The most obvious difference is the dial. Devoid of the mention of the fact that the movement inside is officially certified as a chronometer, the dial simply states “PELAGOS” and “200m”; not even the imperial 600ft mention! No non-sense MilSub aesthetics. The case back is also very different. One of the coolest elements of the FXD is that each year, the watches will feature an MN case back engraving. One of the hallmarks of Tudor MN-issued watches from the 70s and 80s was the case back engraving of the letters MN followed by a short form version of the year – 74 for 1974 and 76 for 1976 (geek fact – only in 1975 was the full year used ie MN 1975). So, watches produced in 2021 were engraved MN21 and  MN22 in 2022. The issued watches have a much more stripped back engraving with just the year and a small issue number.

An MN-only MN21 case back

A civilian MN21 case back

The Commando Strap in Action

Exclusive photographs shared with me showcase the Commando Strap being tested in the field by the divers of Commando Hubert, demonstrating its resilience and functionality in operational environments. The strap is shown fitted on the specialized “two line” Pelagos FXD, used during rigorous training and real-world deployments, distinguishing itself from civilian models with its tailored functionalities and discreet design.

A Collector’s Dream

Sure, there are any number of dive watch straps out there and plenty that have a passing resemblance to those early straps that TUDOR displayed on the watches from its museum collection. But there is only one such strap that has been designed in collaboration with the Commando Hubert divers. And so if you enjoy wearing the Tudor watch that was co-designed with the Marine Nationale, I think there’s only one new strap that we should be putting on our FXDs!

The straps are available from either WoE or Zulu Alpha.