The moment has come, the brand new Tudor watches from Baselworld 2019 have arrived. The famous Black Bay family welcomes four distinct models, and a version of the Black Bay Chrono in Steel&Gold – tying motorsport to the Black Bay family – inspired by diver's watches. Tudor is also paying tribute to its lavish history with a daring P01 model, based on a prototype from the 60'.
We begin with the Black Bronze with a new slate grey dial, 43mm version. Like other models in the Black Bay line, the Black Bay Bronze model features a dial inspired by the Tudor divers’ watches produced in the 1950's. The central feature of the Black Bay Bronze model is its 43-millimetre bronze case, an aesthetic reference to the brass used in old ships and diving equipment.
Following the introduction of the first bronze model in 2016, a Black Bay with a chocolate brown dial, atelier Tudor continues to explore this rare bronze material with its characteristic patina. A new color scheme based on slate grey now embellishes the dial and bezel of this imposing divers’ watch, whose aesthetics change over time and whose naval inspiration can be found in every detail. The impressive Black Bay Bronze also offers high technical performance thanks to its Manufacture Calibre MT5601 with 70-hour power reserve.
The first Tudor chronograph, with a self-winding Manufacture Calibre, column wheel and vertical coupling is now available in an S&G version. Since the presentation of Tudor’s first chronograph in 1970, of the Prince Oysterdate, the brand has always produced watches that are closely tied to the world of motorsports. In the same way, since 1954 Tudor has been constantly improving its professional divers’ watches.
The daringly hybrid Black Bay Chrono S&G chronograph (S&G stands for Steel & Gold) combines this aquatic heritage, represented by the Black Bay family, with the queen of the racetrack, the chronograph, for a precious sporty-chic result with an undeniable touch of nostalgia.
Tudor is expanding the offering of the Black Bay 32, 36 and 41 models, which are now all available in an S&G version with a new five-link yellow gold and steel bracelet, exclusive to these models.
Just as sporty and even more elegant than ever, the Black Bay 32/36/41 S&G (Steel & Gold) models retain the aesthetic features of the Black Bay line, together with the reliability and historical connection to Tudor divers’ watches.
In the same spirit as the brand’s previous S&G models, this introduction adds a precious quality to the timepiece. Combining polished steel and yellow gold satin-brushed surfaces offers a subtle contrast and distinction as well as warmth to the case and bracelet.
The choice between a matt black or satin-brushed champagne-colored dial allows the wearer to further refine the watch’s aesthetics, bringing distinction for the former and radiance for the latter.
Tudor introduces the Black Bay P01, a watch based on a legendary prototype developed in the late 1960s and proposed to the US Navy, and in so doing lifts the veil on a little-known aspect of its history. In 1967, Tudor, who had been supplying the US Navy with divers’ watches since the late 1950s, began development of a technical model to replace the Oyster Prince Submariner 7928 reference, which was standard-issue at that time.
This new watch needed to meet a set of specifications decreed by the American government and incorporated the results of the latest research into functionality and ergonomics carried out by the brand’s engineers.
A development phase was launched which resulted in the production of prototypes, as well as a patent for a hitherto unseen function.
This ambitious project, which carried the code name “Commando”, never came to fruition as the regular Tudor divers’ watch, reference 7016, which replaced reference 7928 in the Tudor catalogue, was eventually adopted by the US Navy.
In 2019, the Tudor Black Bay P01 model – which stands for prototype 1 – is inspired by a prototype developed as part of this study and kept in the brand’s archives, only to have its unique aesthetic brought to life and mass-produced 50 years later. Respecting the utilitarian aesthetic of the prototype that inspired it, the case is entirely satin-brushed for a matt finish.
The strap developed for the Black Bay P01 model is a rubber base with “snowflake” motif on the back, finished with a brown leather trim. The Manufacture Calibre MT5612 that drives the Black Bay P01 model displays the hours, minutes, seconds and date functions.
