TUDOR – BLACK BAY CHRONO

The famous Black Bay family welcomes its first chronograph powered by Manufacture self-winding calibre with column wheel and vertical clutch.

Since the presentation in 1970 of the Prince Oysterdate Chronograph, its first chronograph, TUDOR has always produced watches that are closely tied to the world of motorsports. In the same way, since 1954 TUDOR has been constantly improving its professional divers’ watches. The new hybrid  Black Bay Chrono chronograph dares to combine the aquatic heritage represented by the Black Bay family with the queen of the racetrack, the chronograph. Remaining faithful to the Black Bay aesthetic with the famous snowflake hands – a brand signature since 1969 – the Black Bay Chrono model offers optimum readability against the domed matt black dial. Its sub-counters are hollowed for optimum contrast and a date aperture is positioned at 6 o’clock. The recognizable characteristics of the Black Bay are preserved in a steel case with a 41-millimetre diameter, fitted with pushers inspired by the first generation of TUDOR chronographs. A fixed bezel in circular satin-brushed steel with engraved tachymetric scale completes the face of this sporty new chronograph.

THE MANUFACTURE CHRONOGRAPH CALIBRE MT5813

Boasting a 70-hour power reserve, a silicon balance spring and certification by the Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute, the Manufacture chronograph Calibre MT5813 that drives the Black Bay Chrono model is a highperformance movement. Crafted in the purest watchmaking tradition, with column wheel mechanism and vertical clutch. In keeping with the TUDOR philosophy of quality, it presents extraordinary robustness and reliability, guaranteed by an array of extreme tests applied to all TUDOR products. Derived from the chronograph manufacture calibre Breitling 01, with a high-precision regulating organ developed by TUDOR and exclusive finishes, this movement is the result of a recent collaboration between the two brands, which now pool their expertise in the design and production of certain mechanical movements.

THE ORIGINS OF THE BLACK BAY INSPIRATION

TUDOR derived the characteristic aesthetic elements of the Black Bay Chrono model from its history. The overall shape, as well as the domed dial and crystal, come from the first TUDOR divers’ watches. The prominent winding crown is a feature of the famous reference 7924 from 1958. The first TUDOR watch to be waterproof to 200 metres (660 ft), known as the Big Crown. Finally, the characteristic angular hands, known as snowflake, are typical of the watches delivered to the French Navy in the 1970s.