Following the watch’s initial presentation in 2012, Tudor has launched a new version of the Tudor Black Bay, part of its Heritage collection. The new watch features a black dial and a matte blue bezel, providing a counterpoint to the previous Black Bay’s chocolate-and-burgundy palette. This new color scheme is intended to emphasize the history of Tudor watches designed for divers, the brand says.
Tudor’s Heritage collection draws upon the brand’s history, updating design elements from notable earlier Tudor watches. The Black Bay is not a reissue of any one previous Tudor, but rather a synthesis of dive-watch designs. The Black Bay recalls the Tudor Submariner reference 7922, which was originally launched in 1954, and has a domed sapphire crystal similar to its ancestor’s. Another key feature is the “snowflake” hour and seconds hands, a Tudor characteristic from the 1970s.
Tudor was all the rage at the 2013 Baselworld show, especially because the brand had just announced that it would return to the U.S. market for the first time in over a decade. As Rolex’s sister brand, Tudor watches sell in the “affordable-luxury” price range.
The new Tudor Heritage Black Bay is powered by Tudor’s automatic 2824 movement. It has a 38-hour power reserve. Its case is 41 mm in diameter, made of steel with polished and satin finishing. The hour, minutes and seconds hands are silver-colored and have luminous coating. The blue-on-black display is meant to recall the blue Tudor watches that were issued to the French Navy for decades. The midnight-blue bezel rotates in one direction and is also made of steel. The steel screw-down crown is engraved with the Tudor rose logo and has a blue anodized aluminum crown tube to match the bezel. The watch is water-resistant to 200 m. It comes on a dark blue aged-leather strap for $3,100 or a polished steel bracelet for $3,425. Both versions come with a fabric strap as well.
That’s cool. I love the new blue Blackbay.