What Links The New Tudor Black Bay Chrono ‘Carbon 25’ to Formula 1
In recent years, Formula 1 has known only one trajectory: upwards. Television ratings have reached record highs, the sport’s Instagram account boasts over 34 million followers, and hit formats like Formula 1: Drive to Survive on Netflix — offering a behind-the-scenes look at the teams, fierce rivalries, and the emotions that define the sport — have turned its drivers into relatable, charismatic personalities.
Seven seasons have now delved into the defining moments of recent seasons — and there has been no shortage of drama. Lewis Hamilton’s sensational switch to Ferrari has officially marked the end of his iconic partnership with Mercedes. Max Verstappen has pushed his Red Bull car to the front of the grid with extraordinary precision, injecting fresh momentum into the series. And rising stars such as Oscar Piastri, who has been battling his way to the top in the shadow of his McLaren teammate Lando Norris, provide a compelling narrative for future instalments.
This growing allure of Formula 1 is now making itself felt in the world of mechanical watchmaking. Reflecting this connection is the new Black Bay Chrono “Carbon 25”, which draws design inspiration from the Visa Cash App Racing Bull Formula 1 car sponsored by Tudor — translated directly onto the dial and caseback. Here’s a closer look at the details behind this new timepiece.
A Union of Watchmaking and Formula 1
At this year’s Watches and Wonders — the world’s most prestigious watch fair — it became abundantly clear that the Formula 1 trend has firmly entered the realm of mechanical timekeeping. TAG Heuer’s stand was flanked by two full-size F1 cars, radiating the aura of motorsport. At the centre of IWC’s booth stood the original race car set to appear in the upcoming Brad Pitt film F1. Tudor also showcased a Formula 1 car, accompanied by racing suits from its partner team, Visa Cash App Racing Bull.
Beyond the fair, other brands are embracing the sport in similar ways. H. Moser & Cie supports Alpine Motorsports, while Girard-Perregaux partners with Aston Martin, offering their clients exclusive motorsport experiences. Richard Mille is a notable exception, sponsoring not just one but two teams — McLaren and Ferrari — and ensuring its watches are prominently displayed on the wrists of drivers.
What links the new Tudor Black Bay Chrono ‘Carbon 25’ to Formula 1
The Case
Formula 1 plays a pivotal role in Tudor’s latest release. In tribute to the pinnacle of motorsport, Tudor has chosen its Black Bay Chrono to combine certain elements of its first chronograph — the Oysterdate from 1970 — with visual codes of the Visa Cash App Racing Bull team, presented here in a limited edition version of its dive watch.
To reduce the weight of the case, Tudor has utilised a fixed tachymetre bezel, as well as a case, crown, and chronograph pushers — all crafted from carbon fibre. This clearly nods to Formula 1 technology: in today’s race cars, carbon fibre is employed virtually everywhere that requires low weight and high strength. Most notably, the monocoque — a single-piece structural chassis that also serves as the driver’s safety cell — is made entirely from carbon fibre.
The case of this new model measures 42 mm in diameter and has been reshaped with a flatter profile compared to its stainless-steel counterparts. The titanium caseback, meanwhile, offers the clearest reference to Formula 1: engraved with a bird’s-eye view of the Visa Cash App Racing Bull Formula 1 car, it also features the unique serial number of the watch, which is limited to 2,025 pieces. Subtle aerodynamic lines around the engraving reinforce the impression of speed so inherent to the world of racing.
The new model continues the concept introduced with the first watch, the Black Bay Ceramic Blue, which was launched in 2024 as a nod to the racing team. It featured a matte black ceramic case with a diameter of 41 mm, paired with a domed dial in a striking shade of blue inspired by the colours of the Visa Cash App RB team.
The Dial
The domed dial is dominated by a colour combination that draws a further connection to Tudor’s sponsored Formula 1 team. A tone referred to as “Racing White” is accented by a shade of blue that encircles the dial, beginning at the seconds track. This very combination features not only in the 2025 season livery of the Racing Bull F1 car, but also on the race suits of the team’s two drivers, Liam Lawson and Isack Hadjar.
Like other models in the Black Bay line, the Black Bay Chrono “Carbon 25” adopts Tudor’s distinctive angular hands — known as “Snowflake” hands — which first appeared in the brand’s catalogue in 1969. On this model, both the hands and the hour markers are outlined in black and coated with Super-LumiNova for optimal legibility.
Additional vintage-inspired elements include the 45-minute chronograph counter and the date display at six o’clock — both design cues taken from Tudor’s very first generation of chronographs. The dial’s composition is further enhanced by two recessed subdials, whose carbon fibre-style texture echoes the case and offers a striking contrast against the predominantly white backdrop. Only two red accents interrupt this appearance: the tip of the chronograph seconds hand, and a line of text above the date window noting the watch’s water resistance of 200 metres.
The Movement
Inside the Black Bay Chrono “Carbon 25” beats the Manufacture chronograph calibre MT5813. Based on Breitling’s calibre 01, the movement has been enhanced with a regulating organ developed in-house by Tudor. Featuring a tungsten rotor with cut-out sections, as well as satin-brushed and sandblasted finishes, the design remains faithful to previous Tudor movements — complete with a mix of sandblasted and polished surfaces and laser decorations on the bridges and mainplate.
Offering a power reserve of 70 hours and fitted with a silicon balance spring, the MT5813 has been officially certified by the Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute (COSC). While COSC standards allow for an average daily variation of –4 to +6 seconds per day for uncased movements, Tudor claims an accuracy of –2 to +4 seconds per day for the fully cased calibre.
Price & Availability
The Tudor Black Bay Chrono “Carbon 25” is presented on a strap featuring carbon fibre elements and is now available in a limited edition of 2,025 pieces worldwide. The retail price is €7,350.
Before we even get into the details of this special edition, it is important to realise that there is hardly any other German watch brand that enjoys such a high level of recognition among watch enthusiasts and non-watch enthusiasts alike as Junghans from the Black Forest. I would argue that, at least among people who…
The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore is a watch that has been around for over 25 years. It was introduced in 1993 as a larger and more robust version of the Royal Oak. Since then, it has become a symbol of the brand’s innovation and creativity. One of the materials that Audemars Piguet has been…
Richard Mille is known for technical finesse beyond the norm. Now, the brand is launching the RM 30-01 featuring a declutchable rotor in two versions. Its movement automatically stops the winding as soon as the maximum power reserve is reached. This prevents the barrel from overwinding, which in turn improves accuracy. The RM 30-01 follows…
At Watches & Wonders 2024 Chanel presented the Monsieur de Chanel Superleggera Edition Intense Black. The models in the collection mostly have precious metal cases and make an elegant appearance. This Superleggera version instead has a robust and lightweight ceramic case and racing-inspired dial and so dedicates itself to sportiness. A similar version with red…
With the Manero Minute Repeater Symphony, Carl F. Bucher is presenting an extraordinary minute repeater. The watch combines three elements – oscillating weight, tourbillon and regulator – with peripheral mounting. Last but not least, the watch in the 43.8 mm red gold case comes with a COSC chronometer certificate. As the most complex watch ever…
The Fifty Fathoms collection embodies Blancpain's passion for the underwater world, which began in 1953 with the creation of the first modern divers' watch. With its 70-year history of Fifty Fathoms, the brand is closely aligned with the world's explorers, photographers, oceanographers and conservationists who appreciate and protect precious underwater life. Now, the model line…
Not many can claim that they have seen the other side of the Moon. The crew of the Apollo 8 mission can count themselves lucky. In 1968, they were the first to orbit the Moon in a spacecraft. On the astronauts’ wrists: the Speedmaster. Omega is now honouring this special moment with a new edition of the Speedmaster…
The Vacheron Constantin Traditionnelle Complete Calendar Openface combines the classic case of the Dress Watch collection with a bold openworked dial. The watch appears in white gold or red gold and offers a full calendar with moon phases. The movement can be seen through the exposed dial, which emphasises the technical feel of the watch.…
Earlier this month, to mark the introduction of H. Moser and Cie.'s new online sales platform, the family-run Swiss watch company has presented three new models: the H. Moser and Cie. Vantablack editions. Their colour? Completely black. Unusually, the dials are coated with Vantablack, the blackest black ever produced by artificial means. In fact, Vantablack…
On the occasion of this year’s Rugby World Championship and in honor of its partnership with the Rugby national team of New Zealand the Swiss watch brand TUDOR presents the Black Bay Chronograph in black. The quantities of these limited pieces depend on how many players have been part of the All Blacks ever since their foundation…
With the Vacheron Constantin Overseas Tourbillon Skeleton, the brand is presenting a skeletonised version of the Overseas with tourbillon. In addition to a variant with a pink gold case, the house is also launching a model made entirely of titanium - a first for the brand. The calibre 2160 powering the watch was skeletonised and…
Jaeger-LeCoultre added a new model to the 'Polaris collection', revealed at the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie in Geneva: the Polaris Geographic WT (Ref. Q904847J). Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris Geographic WT Ref. Q904847J The design is inspired by the 1968 Memovox Polaris watch, one of the models of the Grande Maison's 'Memovox line'. The model is characterized by a sporty,…
In 2019, Breitling introduced their first Re-Edition of a Navitimer Ref. 806 from 1959. Now, this series is being expanded by Ref. 765 AVI from 1953, a pilot’s watch (AVI stood for aviation), known as the Co-Pilot. The Co-Pilot was a 1950s interpretation of the onboard clocks designed and produced by Breitling’s Huit Aviation Department…