The history of the Tudor divers’ watch dates back to 1954 and the launch of reference 7922. As a tribute to the brand's naval heritage, Tudor has identified the historic uses of its watches and reinterpreted them in its latest models. Baselworld 2019 brings us a new Tudor Black Bay Bronze, this time with a slate grey dial with an in-house movement and a chronometer.
Following the introduction of the first bronze model in 2016, a Black Bay with a chocolate-brown dial, Tudor continues to explore this rare bronze material with its characteristic patina. It’s likely another winner for Tudor atelier and precious collectors item. All the Black Bay models bear the principal distinctive characteristics that forged the reputation of their legendary ancestor and established it as the archetypal diver’s watch, and Black Bay is no exception.
The latest additions to the collection are both extraordinary accomplishments and a tribute to the pioneers who made autonomous diving possible. It was their passion and devotion that opened up the horizons of underwater exploration and inspired atelier Tudor to bring innovative materials and new technical solutions to bear in extending the limits of its timepieces and satisfying the most demanding requirements.
Now in its new bronze dive suit, the Black Bay Bronze features a slate-grey gradient dial and is fitted with manufacture calibre MT5601, complete with COSC chronometry certification.
Like other models in the Black Bay line, the Black Bay Bronze model features a dial inspired by the Tudor dive watches produced in the 1950's nostalic era. It also adopts the characteristic angular and very much beloved hands, known as "snowflake" that appeared in the brand’s 1969 catalogue.
Finally, the unprotected winding crown, typical feature of the first generations of Tudor diver's is adorned with an engraved Tudor rose.
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.
This "living" metal, a high-performance aluminium-copper alloy used in naval engineering for submerged parts that needs to be highly resistant to corrosion, will produce a subtle, unique patina, based on the wearer's habits.
In addition to a highly functional appearance, the Black Bay Bronze presents entirely satin-brushed finishes that guarantee homogeneous development of the mesmerising patina.
The Calibre MT5601 that drives the Black Bay Bronze model measures 33.8 millimetres, the widest diameter of all Tudor's calibres. Its openwork rotor is satin-brushed with sand-blasted details, and its bridges and plate have alternating polished sand-blasted surfaces and laser decorations. It displays the hours, minutes and seconds functions. Along with a 70-hour power reserve, its build has been designed to ensure robustness, longevity and reliability.
Thanks to these qualities, together with its non-magnetic silicon balance spring, the calibre is certified as a chronometer by the Official Swiss Chronometer Testing Institute (COSC).
