Tudor’s new GMT watch will get you out and about.
One can literally feel it in the air. The world is slowly opening up and, as you renew your passports and make a wish list of long-awaited countries to explore, make sure to also pencil in a friendly and reliable travel companion – a trusty two-time zone watch that not only helps you keep track of time at home and abroad with minimal fuss, but also exudes indelible presence to accentuate your holiday style.
This year, Tudor introduces the new Black Bay Pro, a technical model with GMT functionality that does all of the above and more. A robust travel tool watch, the Black Bay Pro draws from an incredible lineage that stretches back almost 70 years, when Tudor started to equip intrepid explorers on groundbreaking expeditions. A historic example is the two-year British North Greenland Expedition to study Arctic ice in 1952, where Tudor supplied watches for 30 members of the expedition with the Oyster Prince, the brand’s first waterproof and self-winding timepiece.
Though the Black Bay Pro is not a direct reiteration of the pioneering Oyster Prince model, it is built on the same values of ruggedness, performance and precision; a bona fide travel GMT watch with aesthetic and technical qualities that are instantly evident on first impressions.
Housed in a 39mm steel case, the Black Bay Pro immediately draws your attention to its GMT feature. The watch allows you to tell the time in two time zones at a single glance, keeping you constantly on top of things back home while you are on holiday. The dial comprises the main hour and minute hands, which tell the time of your current location. Accompanying those is an additional 24-hour hand that points to the bezel with 24-hour markings. This extra hand, which is longer and sheathed in yellow, indicates the reference (or home) time.
Not only is the Black Bay Pro easy to read, it is also a breeze to use. When in a different country, you can set the local time effortlessly by adjusting the hour hand forwards or backwards in one-hour increments.
Meantime, the date display at three o’clock is synced with local time. Meaning, if you are setting the time for a country that is hours ahead and will pass the midnight mark as you adjust the time, the date automatically jumps back to the previous day as you set the watch. This is so that the watch displays both the correct time and date of your new location.
The Tudor Calibre MT5652 makes the Black Bay Pro’s highly practical and sophisticated GMT feature possible. Introduced in 2018, the automatic movement has been developed and manufactured entirely in-house by Tudor. Unlike some movements with GMT features from other brands, which are built by adding a GMT module on top of a base movement, the Calibre MT5652 is a fully integrated engine.
On top of guaranteeing ease-of-use, the Calibre MT5652 is engineered for hardiness and precision. The movement is an Official Swiss Chronometer Testing Institute (COSC) certified chronometer that is precise to -4/+6 seconds a day – a precision rating that Tudor has further narrowed to -2/+4 seconds a day for the Black Bay Pro.
The Calibre MT5652 is highly energy-efficient, promising up to 70 hours of power reserve on a full wind. Which means that you can leave the Black Bay Pro untouched on the desk on a Friday evening, pick it up to wear the following Monday morning, and the watch would still be running.
As part of the Black Bay family, the Black Bay Pro sports many iconic designs that fans of the collection have come to recognise and love. Emanating irresistible tool watch-style toughness, the Black Bay Pro brandishes the range’s signature features such as a domed sapphire crystal case, and ‘Snowflake’ design on the hour, seconds and 24-hour hands, which first appeared in Tudor Submariner models from 1969.
At the same time, the new model boasts a host of new details that are not only unique to the Black Bay Pro, but also enhance its usability. The watch comes with a redesigned winding crown for better tactility and grip, which is set flushed to the middle case band to recall the look of Tudor’s historical technical watches. The applied hour markers are crafted from monobloc luminous ceramic for a more distinctive appearance while improving legibility in the dark. Another key detail that improves functionality – the watch’s bracelet clasp features Tudor’s ‘T-fit’ rapid size-adjustment system, which lets you easily make fine adjustments of up to 8mm.
While sporty in spirit and style, the Black Bay Pro is also incredibly versatile. The watch’s 39mm case ensures a perfect and proportional fit for both men and women. And wherever your next destination may be, the Black Bay Pro’s choice of a steel bracelet inspired by Tudor’s vintage folding riveted bracelets from the 1950s, black and yellow jacquard-woven fabric strap, or black hybrid rubber and fabric strap promise plenty of style mileage.
