The TUDOR Black Bay Chrono - Practicality and Style

TUDOR’s history of reliable engineering is the foundation of the Black Bay collection. The domed dial, crystal and case design are taken from the first TUDOR divers’ watches, proven to endure extreme aquatic conditions. The angular ‘Snowflake’ hands harken back to the TUDOR watches used by the French National Navy in the 1970s, providing easy readability in high-pressure situations. Lastly the large winding crown comes from the famous 7924 ‘Big Crown’ of 1958, allowing the watch to be wound even while wearing thick gloves or other bulky gear.

The Black Bay Chrono adds one more element; the connection to motorsports TUDOR has cultivated since launching their first chronograph in 1970. Chronographs have historically been used by drivers to record their lap times and pit stops. Naturally they relied upon both the accuracy of these timepieces and their reliability under duress.

Chronographs allow for precision timekeeping, measurement of elapsed time and speed or distance calculations. The Black Bay Chrono has two sub-dials for this purpose, operated by screw-down pushers either side of the matching crown. The tachymetric scale on the bezel helps with the computation of speed, travel time, distance based on speed, or indeed anything else that can be measured as a number of units per hour.

The Manufacture Chronograph Calibre MT5813 is guaranteed by both COSC certification and the extreme tests applied to all TUDOR products. It features a column wheel mechanism to control the chronograph functions and a vertical clutch to prevent the seconds hand stuttering when the chronograph starts or stops. A 70hr power reserve gives you peace of mind if you like to swap out watches or only wear your watch during the working week.

The Black Bay Chrono is available in steel or in steel and yellow gold, often referred to as S&G. Here at Prestons we are particularly fond of the champagne-coloured dial. The sunray finish contrasts with the matt black sub-dials in both colour and texture, creating a subtle yet striking aesthetic. If you prefer a more muted look, the black dial options with either silver or champagne-coloured sub-counters are equally handsome.

On top of the material and dial options there are three options for the bracelet. Firstly, a riveted bracelet provides a classic look. The design is inspired by the TUDOR bracelets from the 50s and 60s, famous for the visible rivet heads which held the links together. Alternatively, a leather strap creates a more rugged aesthetic. The removable bund is a nod towards military watches of the past, originally added to protect the wearer from the metal case in extremes of temperature and to insulate the watch itself from impacts. The last option is a fabric strap, a hallmark of TUDOR, woven in the St-Étienne region of France on 19th-century Jacquard looms.

The Black Bay Chrono is a striking reinterpretation of tool watches from TUDOR’s heritage. The contrasting sub-dials and new champagne-colour dial released in 2022 distinguish these models, and the variety of options makes them easy to incorporate into your personal style. Meanwhile the Manufacture Chronograph Calibre MT5813 ensures the high performance and robustness for which TUDOR is renowned. If you’re looking for your first luxury watch, or want to add a bit of sport chic to your collection, this is a fantastic choice.

If you’d like to discuss the Black Bay Chrono or the rest of the TUDOR collection, we would invite you to contact Prestons Wilmslow or Prestons Guildford by telephone, via our online contact form, or by visiting us in-store. One of our specialists will be happy to guide you through any enquiry you may have.