We’re officially entering release season after a relatively slow summer, with Geneva Watch Days right around the corner, and a surprise release from Tudor this morning in a new Black Bay Chrono in a brilliant blue color. The Black Bay Chrono last saw updates when it received black and white dial options in 2021. The latest example might not reflect all the changes we’d like to see made with this watch, but it’s a welcome addition nonetheless. This release attempts to class the joint up a bit, with a sun ray blue finished dial and a sleek new five-link bracelet akin to what we’ve seen released on the time-ony references.
The Black Bay Chrono is an interesting design, as it is born of a heritage inspired collection, but doesn’t adhere to any tangible piece of heritage from the brand. It’s a modern chronograph design, but it’s still a Black Bay. Chalk that up to the power of the name, I suppose. This is a dual register design that sets a 45 minute totalizer at 3 o’clock, and the running seconds at 9 o’clock. They are contrasting sub dials in this example which recess into the dial, and feature a silver finish with matching hands. This execution may hinder legibility of the functions, but it creates a very clean, chic look overall.
As we’ve seen in previous Black Bay Chrono references, this latest example is using the manufacture chronograph caliber MT5813, which has been COSC certified (no METAS just yet with this one). This movement is derived from the Breitling B01, and it’s the one thing I’d have liked to have seen get some refinements. It’s quite large, and necessitates a rather bully case as a result. The steel case measures 41mm in diameter, and just shy of 15mm in total thickness. As with other Black Bay watches, the case wall shows nearly every bit of that thickness measurement.
A slightly trimmer Black Bay Chrono would have been a welcome sight, especially when paired with a more elegant dial execution seen here, but overall it’s not all that unwieldy on the wrist. Furthermore, the new bracelet option (which does boast the T-fit clasp) should offer a bit more comfort as well as a classier aesthetic, as this bracelet is a standout feature on the newer time-only models. Check out my review of that watch right here.
The real star of the show here is the dial. It’s a soft blue that gets a subtle sun ray texture emanating radially, and it’s followed through with an anodized blue aluminum bezel insert. The bezel works quite well here, and shows off some of the range of this design. Small red accents stand out from the blue at the bottom of the dial, and at the tip of the timing hand, but overall this is a very uniform, well thought out color execution from Tudor.
We always love to predict what we might see next from Tudor, and while this one wasn’t on my bingo card, it’s a welcome addition to a very popular collection. The new Tudor Black Bay Chrono Blue is available now from boutiques, and is priced from $5,675. Tudor