I bought my Pelagos in late 2012 in the Caribbean, before Tudor had returned to the US. I saw the Basel release earlier that year and I decided that I must have it. My wrist is small (somewhere between 6-6.25”) and 42 mm is larger that I like, but at the time large watches were more popular and it only came in 42. It checked all my boxes— titanium (offsets the larger size somewhat), HEV (coolness factor), and most of all, that clasp was unlike anything I had seen before. At the time, I thought the expanding setting was the default to adjust to wrist position, temperature expansion, etc. I wasn’t crazy about the ETA movement, but it wasn’t a dealbraker. Tudor had historically used ETA movements and didn’t offer in-house, so it was what it was.
I actually barely wore the watch because I ended up wearing another watch for a daily wearer, then I stopped wearing watches altogether for several years, replying only on my cell phone). I had heard about Tudor’s new in-house movement with 72h PR and of course I felt I missed out a bit, but I do like the cleaner dial of my Pelagos so wasn’t too regretful.
Recently, I heard about the Pelagos 39. I took my 2-liner out of storage and began wearing it again, pondering if I should sell it and buy the 39 instead. A few surprises, though. I had been out of the watch scene for over 5 years and only vaguely knew about the Rolex “shortage” but didn’t expect the 39 to be so hard to get. Also, places that used to discount aren’t doing so anymore. Was it worth swapping my 42 for the 39? I obsessed over this for about 2 weeks and watched every video and read ever review out there about the 39. Meanwhile, I got really comfortable with my 42 again. I like looking at the HEV when it’s on my wrist. I like that it’s a hardcore diver. I like the clasp, even if it isn’t what I thought it was when I bought it, For the 39, I keep reading how long the clasp is, but I still don’t know if it’s longer than the 42’s clasp. My clasp is big but it’s centered on my wrist and doesn’t bother me, and I’ve never read any complaints about the 42’s clasp. The lower WR and lack of HEV on the 39 are bummers. Of course I’ll never need them, but I don’t need a diver either. The Pelagos is my hardcore diver and that’s what made it unique. Otherwise, it’s just a plain titanium diver Nothing else about it is unique. The 39 won’t fill that role. I agree with others that it’s just a Ti BB58, which isn’t bad, but not enough for me to swap out my 42. That said, if the 39 had the same clasp and the HEV, I’d give up my 42 right away.
I actually barely wore the watch because I ended up wearing another watch for a daily wearer, then I stopped wearing watches altogether for several years, replying only on my cell phone). I had heard about Tudor’s new in-house movement with 72h PR and of course I felt I missed out a bit, but I do like the cleaner dial of my Pelagos so wasn’t too regretful.
Recently, I heard about the Pelagos 39. I took my 2-liner out of storage and began wearing it again, pondering if I should sell it and buy the 39 instead. A few surprises, though. I had been out of the watch scene for over 5 years and only vaguely knew about the Rolex “shortage” but didn’t expect the 39 to be so hard to get. Also, places that used to discount aren’t doing so anymore. Was it worth swapping my 42 for the 39? I obsessed over this for about 2 weeks and watched every video and read ever review out there about the 39. Meanwhile, I got really comfortable with my 42 again. I like looking at the HEV when it’s on my wrist. I like that it’s a hardcore diver. I like the clasp, even if it isn’t what I thought it was when I bought it, For the 39, I keep reading how long the clasp is, but I still don’t know if it’s longer than the 42’s clasp. My clasp is big but it’s centered on my wrist and doesn’t bother me, and I’ve never read any complaints about the 42’s clasp. The lower WR and lack of HEV on the 39 are bummers. Of course I’ll never need them, but I don’t need a diver either. The Pelagos is my hardcore diver and that’s what made it unique. Otherwise, it’s just a plain titanium diver Nothing else about it is unique. The 39 won’t fill that role. I agree with others that it’s just a Ti BB58, which isn’t bad, but not enough for me to swap out my 42. That said, if the 39 had the same clasp and the HEV, I’d give up my 42 right away.
