Contemporary Chrono
TUDOR Black Bay Chronograph
The concept of multiple discovery theorizes that inventions and discoveries are often achieved independently by several people, at roughly the same time. This phenomenon is evident in the history of watchmaking as it is often not clear who should get the credit for certain innovations. Take the chronograph for example, which is a timepiece that includes a stopwatch function. Two Frenchmen, Louis Moinet and Nicolas Rieussec, both created chronographs within five years of each other in the 1800s. The first developed his mechanism to time the passage of stars and planets while the latter was a “Watchmaker to the King” and debuted his timing apparatus at a public horse race in Paris. Chronographs went on to become one of the most important watch complications, often used as essential tools across disciplines such as astronomy, marine navigation, flight, exploration, science, medicine, military, and sports. When every second matters, the chronograph is the watch for the job.
While functionality remains an important feature of contemporary chronographs, they also have to have bold aesthetics to capture today’s watch buyer. With their heritage of performance, TUDOR is known to make some of the finest looking and best performing chronograph watches out there. TUDOR’s chronograph history dates back to 1970 when the brand introduced the sporty Oysterdate chronograph. Since then, TUDOR has released numerous chronograph collections in a range of styles. In 2020, two new Black Bay Chrono models joined the lineup to celebrate 50 years of TUDOR chronographs.
Powering the pair of Black Bay Chrono watches is TUDOR’s in-house Caliber MT5813 automatic chronograph movement. Not only is this movement certified by the Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute (COSC) as a chronometer but it also supplies the watches with 70 hours of power reserve.
Signature Styling
Sporty and stylish, the newest Black Bay Chrono models feature 41mm stainless steel cases with both satin-brushed and high-polished finishes. Contrasting with the steel case is a black anodized aluminum bezel insert with a tachymeter scale, which can be used in conjunction with the center chronograph hand to calculate the hourly average speed between two points.
The dial of the new Black Bay Chrono is where the fashionable and functional aspects of the watch converge in harmony. The dial houses a 45-minute chronograph counter at three o’clock, a small seconds indicator at nine o’clock, and a date window positioned at six o’clock. There are two dial color pairings to choose from: white with black subdials, affectionately known as the “Panda” dial, and black with white subdials, aptly nicknamed the “Reverse Panda” dial. Both versions include luminous round and triangular hour markers and “snowflake” style hands—a signature of the Black Bay collection. The crystal that shields the dial is vintage-inspired with its domed shape, yet the scratch-resistant synthetic sapphire material is entirely modern.
Wrapping The Wrist
In addition to dial colors, there are also three bracelet options available. The first is a classic stainless steel bracelet, complete with exposed rivets on the links as a nod to vintage TUDOR bracelets from the 1950’s and 1960’s. There’s also the option of a bund cuff crafted in aged black leather with ecru topstitching and a folding clasp. Finally, the Black Bay Chrono is also available with a black Jacquard-woven fabric strap, manufactured by Julien Faure—a 150-year old French family business that uses 19th-Century Jacquard looms.
With a selection of two dials and three bracelets, the new Black Bay Chrono is available in six different configurations. Regardless of the specific style, TUDOR has successfully recalibrated vintage-inspired design touches into high-performing and modern watches in the form of the Black Bay Chrono.
