Tudor black bay bronze watch

The Tudor Black Bay Bronze Replica is a 43 mm divers’ watch inspired by the brand’s naval history and fitted with the TUDOR Manufacture calibre MT5601.

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 as “Snowflake” that appeared in the brand’s 1969 catalogue. Finally, the winding crown with no crown-guard, like the holes drilled across the horns, are typical features of the first generations of TUDOR divers watches Replica .

The central feature of the Black Bay Bronze model is its 43-millimetre bronze case, an aesthetic reference to the brass used in old ships and diving equipment. This “living” metal, a high-performance aluminium-copper alloy used in naval engineering for submerged parts that need to be highly resistant to corrosion, will produce a subtle, unique patina, based on the wearer’s habits. In addition to a highly functional appearance, the Black Bay Bronze presents entirely satin-brushed finishes that guarantee homogeneous development of the patina.

The Manufacture calibre MT5601 that drives the Tudor Black Bay Bronze Replica model measures 33.8 millimetres, the widest diameter of all TUDOR’s 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. It displays the hours, minutes and seconds functions. Along with a 70-hour power reserve, its build has been designed to ensure robustness, longevity and reliability, as has its variable inertia balance, which is maintained by a sturdy traversing bridge with a two-point fixation. Thanks 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).

As a tribute to the brand’s naval heritage, TUDOR has identified the historic uses of its watches and reinterpreted them in its latest models. For example, the French Navy had TUDOR watches delivered without bracelets and then fitted them with their own straps. One of them, kept in the brand’s archives, is made of elastic recovered from French rescue parachutes. This ultra-functional relic, recognisable by its gold-coloured thread, is the reference behind the slate-grey woven jacquard strap available for the Black Bay Bronze. A second option is an aged slate-grey leather strap whose straight cut accentuates the rustic effect.

Following the introduction of the first bronze model in 2016 TUDOR continues to explore this rare bronze material with its characteristic patina. A new colour scheme based on slate grey now embellishes the dial and bezel of this striking divers’ watch, whose aesthetics have changed over time and whose naval inspiration can be found in every detail. The impressive Black Bay Bronze also offers high technical performance thanks to its Manufacture calibre MT5601.