In 2016 the Swiss watch manufacture Tudor presented the Black Bay Bronze (Ref. 79250BA) for the first time. The model, inspired by the brand’s naval heritage, even won the price „Petite Aiguille“ at the 2016 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève. On the watch fair Baselworld 2019 the brand now introduced this successful model in slate-grey model with shaded dial.
Like in the process of designing the first Black Bay Bronze model, the extraordinary bronze material of the model and its characteristic patina inspired Tudor’s designers again: The colour scheme based on slate grey now decorates the dial and bezel of this divers’ watch. Particularly special about the material bronze is the patina, which develops differently over time and makes each watch a unique piece. Other than that the watch brings over the naval inspiration with lovingly thought-out naval details. The Black Bay Bronze is equipped with the cailber MT5601.
A unique piece on the wrist
The central feature of the model Black Bay Bronze is its 43 mm case. It reminds of the brass used in old ships and other diving equipment. Due to the use of this material – a high-performance aluminium-copper alloy – in naval engineering for submerged parts, it is highly resistant to corrosion. Through that the case develops a decent and unique patina, which reflects the owner’s habits and individually adapts. The entirely satin-brushed finishes guarantee a homogeneous development of the patina.
The model’s dial is slate-grey, shaded from the exterior to the centre. Other than that the model has a slate-grey bezel and gold accents on the hands and hour markers.
The manufacture calibre MT5601
The Black Bay Bronze ist driven by the manufacture caliber MT5601, which until now has Tudor’s largest diameter with 33,8 mm. It displays the hours, minutes and seconds functions, and its appearance and finishes are typical of the brand’s manufacture calibres. Its openwork rotor is satin-brushed with sand-blasted details, and its bridges and plate have alternating polished sand-blasted surfaces and laser decorations.
In the the design special focus was laid on robustness, longevity and reliability, as in its variable inertia balance, which is maintained by a sturdy traversing bridge with a two-point fixation. Due to these qualities, together with its non-magnetic silicon balance spring, the calibre is certified as a chronometer by the Official Swiss Chronometer Testing Institute (COSC). Moreover the model has a power-reserve of approximately 70 hours.
An historical strap
The strap of the new model is as well a tribute to the naval heritage of the brand. The latest models refer to the brand’s historic models and their operational areas. For example, the French Navy had Tudor watches delivered without bracelets and then fitted them with their own straps, handmade or otherwise. One of them, found on a period divers’ watch kept in the brand’s archives, is made of elastic recovered from French rescue parachutes. This strap, recognisable by its gold-coloured thread, is the reference behind the slate-grey woven jacquard strap available for the Black Bay Bronze. As a second option an aged black leather strap with cut accentuates and a rustic effect is available.
The essence of ‘Black Bay’
Like other models in the ‘Black Bay line’, the Black Bay Bronze model features a dial inspired by the Tudor divers’ watches produced in the 1950’s. It also adopts the characteristic angular hands known to collectors as “snowflake” that appeared in the brand’s 1969 catalogue. Finally, the unprotected winding crown, like the holes drilled across the horns, are typical features of the first generations of the brand’s divers’ watches.
| BRAND: | Tudor |
| MODEL: | Black Bay Bronze |
| REFERENCE: | Ref. 79250BA |
| PRICE: | 3,770 Euro |
| CASE MATERIAL: | Bronze with satin finish |
| DIAMETER: | 43 mm |
| DIAL: | Slate-grey, domed |
| STRAP: | Rounded black nubuck leather or slate-grey fabric strap with bronze buckle |
| CALIBRE: | Calibre MT5601 (COSC) |
| MECHANISM: | Self-winding mechanical movement with bidirectional rotor system |
| POWER RESERVE: | 70 hours |
| FUNCTIONS: | Central hour, minute and second hands, stop seconds for precise time setting, water resistance: 200 m |