The Pelagos FXD platform, initially developed with a French Navy specialist unit, has now expanded to suit the needs of the French Naval Aviation, with the addition of a function that allows aviators and flight support personnel to keep track of “Zulu time” in addition to local time and a third time zone. The new Pelagos FXD GMT is Master Chronometer-certified by METAS to ensure maximum precision and reliability in the adverse real-world conditions endured by personnel of the Aéronautique Navale.

The Pelagos FXD GMT can keep track of time in up to three time zones at once, one being Zulu time, the military name for Universal Time Coordinated (UTC) and the standard reference time for all aviators—a valuable tool when undertaking crucial missions. Zulu time corresponds to zero-meridian time or the time at zero degrees of longitude, commonly known as Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). It’s standardized use in global aviation prevents confusion in communications between nations and time zones. The word “Zulu” is the standardized phonetic alphabet code word used in aviation for “Z” or the first letter of the word “zero”.

This new creation features a 42 mm diameter grade 2 titanium case, machined from a single block, water-resistant to 20 atm, with fixed strap bars and a grade 5 titanium case back engraved with the Aéronautique navale (French Naval Aviation) logo and the inscription “M.N.24” (Marine nationale 2024).

The matte black dial has applied hour markers, blue luminescent snowflake hands for local time and a date window at 3 o'clock. Zulu time is tracked by the highly legible bright orange hand that completes a full lap around the dial every 24 hours. Once set, this hand typically is not reset, allowing sailors of the French Naval Aviation to check the global aviation reference time at a glance. It is set through the winding crown and “jumps” in increments of one hour for easy setting when changing time zones. The bidirectional titanium bezel with its 24-hour ceramic disc is coated with Swiss Super-LumiNova® Grade A in a beige colour that emits a green glow in the dark. A third time zone can be checked using the 24-hour luminous bidirectional bezel and the orange Zulu time hand.

balance wheel equipped with an anti-magnetic silicon balance-spring that beats at a frequency of 4 Hz and has a 65-hour power reserve. Its monobloc rotor is made of tungsten. It is openworked and features the laser radial grooving and sand-blasted details distinctive to TUDOR Master Chronometer calibres. The movement is chronometer-certified by the Swiss COSC, and its performance exceeds the standards set by this independent institution. Not only is the Manufacture Calibre MT5652-U certified to be more accurate, it is also rated as anti-magnetic, making it impervious to magnetic fields below 15,000 gauss.

Made from a 22mm green polyester woven ribbon, the strap features a grade 2 titanium pin buckle and keeper as well as a removable fabric keeper, finely embroidered with the French Naval Aviation’s roundel.

We look forward to seeing you in our shop to show you more!