A Presentation of The Tudor Black Bay GMT

While Tudor’s sibling, Rolex, has a fabled history of producing GMT watches, starting in the 1950s with the reference 6542, throughout their history, Tudor have never had a GMT watch in their collection. Baselworld 2018 saw a historic first for the brand with the introduction of their first GMT watch - the Black Bay GMT. Although the wait for a GMT has been a long one for Tudor collectors, the Black Bay GMT is well worth it and represents the highest level of quality at an accessible price for which Tudor are well renowned.  GMT watches have a fourth hand that accompanies the minute, hour and seconds hand, in a legible red on the Black Bay GMT, which displays an additional time-zone via the 24-hour rotatable bezel. The bezel can also be manipulated to display a third time-zone, making it an extremely handy complication for those that travel regularly. The Tudor Black Bay GMT represents a welcome addition to the iconic Black Bay collection and borrows several features from the rest of the range including the 41mm stainless steel case, 200 metres waterproofness and oversized crown with rose motif. The Black Bay GMT has a two-colour bezel that marries the familiar burgundy and midnight blue from its older cousins together and features the familiar shield logo on the matte black dial. With the exception of the Black Bay S&G and the Black Bay Steel, typically the range comes sans the date but as with any true GMT watch, the date is a necessity and it is neatly featured on the Black Bay GMT at 3 o’clock.

The watch is fitted with a brand-new movement – the calibre MT5652 – which is an in-house, self-winding, chronometer certified movement with a 70-hour power reserve and a free-sprung silicon balance spring. Silicon is used in all of Tudor’s in-house movements and is particularly useful in a watchmaking context as it is impervious to changes in temperature and also magnetism which will help the longevity and the precision of the watch over time. The movement is also tested independently to a chronometer standard and then is subjected to further testing in-house by Tudor to a daily tolerance of -2/+4 which is extremely accurate for a mechanical watch.

Along with the introduction of a new movement, the Black Bay GMT sports several other details that set it apart from the rest of the Black Bay range. The most obvious aesthetic difference is the two-colour blue and burgundy bezel that helps the wearer easily delineate between day and night with a glance – a first for the brand. A signature detail of the Black Bay range is a beautiful chamfer to the top of the case which is representative of Tudor’s reputation as a brand that prides itself on detail, detail, detail and the Black Bay GMT differs from the rest of the collection by featuring a chamfer to both sides of the case. Chamfering is widely considered as a hallmark of a quality timepiece as it is a challenging technique that is hand-applied by highly skilled polishers. Tudor are obsessive about detail and the chamfering of the case is just one of many examples of the brand’s pursuit of the best quality watches at the most accessible price.

The Black Bay GMT is available on three different bracelet and strap options - the watch is available on a stainless-steel bracelet in the style of vintage rivet bracelets that were commonplace on Tudor watches in the mid-20th century but with a modern construction that is far more durable than the bracelets of old. It is also available on a ‘Terra di Siena’ leather strap with stainless steel folding deployment clasp and or a black and red woven fabric strap with stainless steel buckle in the shape of the Tudor shield. Each combination brings a distinct personality and the straps can be ordered separately, giving the owner effectively three watches in one.

Pricing for the Tudor Black Bay GMT is extremely competitive with the bracelet option retailing at £2,790.00 and the leather and fabric strap versions coming in at £2,570.00. These prices represent unparalleled value for money considering the in-house GMT movement along with the award-winning Black Bay design and robust construction. 

For more information, we recommend that you contact your nearest Prestons showroom in Wilmslow, Leeds or Guildford and they will be delighted to discuss this timepiece with you in further detail.