A Breakdown of the 2022 Novelties from Tudor
By: Chris Van Hoven | Posted: April 01, 2022
Background of the Brand
Watches and Wonders is the biggest watch fair of the year, so watch enthusiasts from all over the world have been paying close attention to this year’s fair, eagerly awaiting any new releases from their favorite brands. Tudor is one of the brands that have garnered a lot of attention through the years, with releases like the Tudor Black Bay GMT and Tudor Black Bay Chronograph earning the admiration of many. Since then, fans have been clamoring for new versions, and Tudor absolutely delivered this year.
What is the Deal?
The first new variation to the Black Bay GMT is the Black Bay Pro, which takes some inspiration from their sister company Rolex’s Explorer II and Ref. 1655. It’s a gorgeous nod to vintage sensibilities with a segmented and brushed 24-hour steel bezel, and a redesigned crown without guards on a 39mm stainless steel case. Adding to its vintage aesthetic are slightly off-white luminous hands, markers, and yes, even the date wheel, providing that touch of patina we’ve come to love about vintage watches. Rated at 200m of water resistance, this tool watch shows a bit of sporty flair as well with a yellow GMT hand that pops from the dial. Powering the Black Bay Pro is the Tudor in-house caliber MT5652, beating at 28,800 vibrations per hour for up to 70 hours with COSC-certified levels of accuracy.
The next new variant of the Tudor Black Bay GMT is the Black Bay GMT S&G – a two-tone offering following a theme that seems to be predominant with Tudor this year. It’s undoubtedly a dressier take on the classic sports watch, with a change in the bezel from steel to gilt, and with the aluminum bezel insert adopting a more “rootbeer” color scheme of black and red-brown. It comes with three bracelet options: brown leather, black and gold NATO, and our personal favorite, the steel and gold bracelet that really accentuates the aesthetic with 18k gold center links. It’s powered by the same movement as the Black Bay Pro – the in-house caliber MT5652 with its 70 hour power reserve, COSC certification, and jumping-hour GMT complication.
Continuing the steel and gold two-tone theme is the Black Bay Chrono S&G, now featuring a sunburst champagne satin-finished dial and contrasting black subdials. This take on the Black Bay Chrono is definitely on the flashier side, but we’d be lying if we said it didn’t catch eyes easily. Besides the gold bezel, black and gold insert, gold hands, and gold dial, you’ll find gold in the pushers, as well as the center links of the bracelet option. Powering the Black Bay Chrono S&G is the same MT5813 movement found in the previous iteration, featuring a 70-hour power reserve, 28,800 vibrations per hour, and a silicon balance spring for magnetic resistance. It’s offered on a fabric NATO, a leather bund strap, or a riveted bracelet with the aforementioned 18k yellow gold center links.
Tudor’s steel and gold story continues with completely new offerings for their fixed-bezel references, all with two-tone options. From the biggest size of 41mm all the way down to their 31mm line, each new Black Bay retains the classic Tudor signature characteristics such as the snowflake hands and COSC-certified movements, adding a lot of exciting variations to the respective lines. There are a multitude of variations available, with dial choices including classic black and sunburst silver, as well as options with diamond set bezels and diamond hour markers, all with the two-tone treatment. All sizes come with the comfortable steel and yellow gold five-link bracelet.
Tudor has made a strong statement this year, fully embracing the two-tone aesthetic and applying it to all their most important models. It’s a big risk considering how polarizing the look can be, but I for one, absolutely love it. It breathes new life into each collection, adding a dash of luxury to normally standard tool watches, which breaks the monotony of an all-steel case as well.
Specifications
| Brand: | Tudor |
| Model Name(s): | A. Black Bay Pro B. Black Bay GMT S&G C. Black Bay Chrono S&G D. Black Bay 31/36/39/41 S&G |
| Reference: | A. Black Bay Pro: M79470-0001 / M79470-0002 / M79470-0003 B. Black Bay GMT S&G: M79833MN-0001 / M79833MN-0003 / M79833MN-0004 C. Black Bay Chrono S&G: M79363N-0007 / M79363N-0008 / M79363N-0006 D. Black Bay 31/36/39/41 S&G: M79603-0001 / M79653-0001 / M79673-0001 / M79683-0001 |
| Dial: | A. Black Bay Pro: Matte black B. Black Bay GMT S&G: Black gilt C. Black Bay Chrono S&G: Sunburst champagne D. Black Bay 31/36/39/41 S&G: Black / Silver sunburst / Anthracite pattern / Gold pattern |
| Diameter: | A. Black Bay Pro: 39mm B. Black Bay GMT S&G: 41mm C. Black Bay Chrono S&G: 41mm D. Black Bay 31/36/39/41 S&G: 31mm / 36mm / 39mm / 41mm |
| Case Material: | Stainless Steel |
| Movement: | A. Black Bay Pro: Self-winding, Calibre MT5652 B. Black Bay GMT S&G: Self-winding, Calibre MT5652 C. Black Bay Chrono S&G: Self-winding, Calibre MT5813 D. Black Bay 31/36/39/41 S&G: Self-winding, MT5201 (31mm) / MT5400 (36mm) / MT5602 (39mm) / MT5601 (41mm) |
| Certified Chronometer: | Yes |
| Water Resistance: | A. Black Bay Pro: 200m B. Black Bay GMT S&G: 200m C. Black Bay Chrono S&G: 200m D. Black Bay 31/36/39/41 S&G: 100m |
| Bracelet Material: | A. Black Bay Pro: Black NATO with rubber stripe / Black fabric and rubber hybrid / Steel bracelet B. Black Bay GMT S&G: Black and gold NATO / Brown leather / Steel and gold bracelet C. Black Bay Chrono S&G: Black nato / Brown leather bund / Steel and gold bracelet D. Black Bay 31/36/39/41 S&G: Steel and gold 5-link bracelet |
Our coverage of the various Watches and Wonders continues into the week of 30 March-5 April 2022. To keep yourself informed of the latest releases at the event on our website.
Find out more at the Vintage Grail website. For more information, contact us at [email protected] or contact us at (+63) 917 159 1211.
