Tudor's History with US Navy SEALs Documented at Navy SEAL Museum San Diego
The Navy SEAL Museum in San Diego showcases a lesser-known aspect of Tudor's history as an equipment supplier to elite US maritime units. The exhibition highlights the brand's long-standing relationship with the Navy, dating back to the 1960s when Tudor Submariners were officially procured for UDT/SEAL teams.
- Tudor Submariners were officially procured for US Navy UDT/SEAL teams starting in 1962.
- The Tudor Submariner was referenced in the 1973 US Navy Diving Manual.
- Tudor Submariner references were cataloged under a National Stock Number until 2004.
- The museum features vintage Tudor Submariner references including 7928, 9401, 7016, and 9411.
The relationship between Tudor and the US Navy began in 1962, with the first official order for 125 Tudor Oyster Prince Submariner reference 7928 watches.
The museum's display includes a reference 7928 previously worn by Philip “Moki” Martin, featuring its original US-made nylon strap with brass snaps and a Waltham wrist compass.
A blue-dial reference 9401 from 1978 illustrates Tudor's mid-1970s transition to angular “Snowflake” hands and square hour markers.
The exhibition also features two additional watches: a 1968 black-dial Oyster Prince Submariner 7016 and a blue-dial 9411 from 1974, both with original Olongapo bracelets.
Olongapo bracelets, originating during the Vietnam War, were handcrafted by local Filipino artisans and often featured specific insignias.
Tudor was an official founding donor and exhibition contributor for the museum, which was inaugurated on October 3rd, 2025.