TUDOR Black Bay 68
TUDOR presents the Black Bay 68, an entirely new Black Bay model in a 43mm diameter stainless steel case. Master Chronometer certified by METAS, this automatic watch is available with a sun-brushed silver or TUDOR Blue dial.
In 1968, TUDOR dreamed up the emblematic Snowflake hand. It entered the catalogue shortly thereafter in ’69. The Black Bay 68 pays homage to this important moment in the brand’s history. Another TUDOR mainstay, “TUDOR Blue” makes its way into the design of the Black Bay 68 in the form of a new dial.
Along with the TUDOR rose on the crown, the Black Bay 68 is full of nods to TUDOR’s past. What’s new is a bracelet with smooth side flanks instead of the vintage-inspired rivets.
With the introduction of this brand-new Black Bay, TUDOR has successfully submitted yet another model for tests to obtain Master Chronometer certification.
This is part of a constant bid to improve the quality of its products and another step towards a future where the entire TUDOR collection will be Master Chronometer certified. This certification, offered by a Swiss government body, METAS, requires a substantial number of changes to a regular TUDOR Manufacture Calibre and comes as an independent confirmation of the exceptional quality of the TUDOR watches.
The Manufacture Calibre MT5601-U, which powers the Black Bay 68, displays hour, minute and seconds functions. It offers the general look and feel of TUDOR Manufacture Calibres with a dedicated sun laser design and bears the Master Chronometer mention on its bridges, emphasising its distinctive performance.
Its rotor is fashioned in tungsten monobloc and is open-worked. It also features the distinctive laser radial grooving with sand-blasted details. Its bridges and mainplate have alternate sand-blasted and polished surfaces and laser decorations.
Calibre MT5601-U provides an exceptional power reserve of 70 hours. To ensure robustness and precision, the variable inertia balance wheel is maintained by a sturdy traversing bridge with two-point anchoring. It is certified as a chronometer by the Official Swiss Chronometer Testing Institute (COSC), with its performance going beyond the standards set by this independent institute.
In fact, where COSC allows an average variation in the daily rate of an uncased movement of between -4 and +6 seconds and TUDOR applies a 6-second (-2/+4) variation standard on its fully assembled watches, METAS requires a Master-Chronometer-certified watch to run within a tolerance range of 5 seconds (0/+5). Not only is the Manufacture Calibre MT5601-U certified to be more accurate, it is also rated as anti-magnetic, making it impervious to magnetic fields below 15,000 gauss.
In its latest 43mm iteration, the new case keeps the proportions of the original design while now being slightly thinner. The unidirectional rotatable bezel offers very prehensible sides and its insert shows subtly curved numerals aligning with the outline of the outer ring.
The seconds hand recalls the look of the early diving watches of the brand with a lollipop design, while the silver or TUDOR Blue dial is softly radial-brushed for a very subtle shine under direct light.
Ergonomics have evolved as well. Inspired by the curves found on the crowns of the brand’s historical technical watches, the redesigned crown is set flush to the middle case band so that its tube is not visible.
The Black Bay comes fitted on an entirely satin-brushed 3-link stainless steel bracelet that features smooth flanks on the links, departing from the “rivet-style” bracelet typical of the Black Bay range. Additionally, the taper is gradual, contrasting the “ladder-style” taper that is also typical of the Black Bay.
The redesigned bracelet was developed with wearing comfort in mind to match the aesthetics of the largest Black Bay in the line-up. It also features the TUDOR “T-fit” rapid adjustment clasp. Easy to use, requiring no tools and offering five positions, this practical system allows wearers to carry out a fine, instant adjustment of the total length of the bracelet along an adjustment window of 8mm.
The clasp also features ceramic ball bearings that ensure a smooth and secure closure in addition to adding a pleasing tactile element to the action of the clasp.
Model: TUDOR Black Bay 68, Reference M7943A1A0NU
Case
43mm stainless steel case with polished and satin finishes
60-minute unidirectional bezel in stainless steel withmatte black aluminium insert
Stainless steel screw-down crown with the TUDOR rose in relief
Domed sapphire crystal
Waterproof to 200m (660 ft)
Dial
Sun-brushed silver or TUDOR Blue, domed, with applied hour markers
Movement
Manufacture Calibre MT5601-U
Self-winding mechanical movement with bidirectional rotor system
Total diameter: 33.8mm
Thickness: 6.5mm
25 jewels
Oscillator with Variable inertia balance, micro-adjustment by screw
Non-magnetic silicon balance spring
Frequency: 28,800 beats/hour (4 Hz)
Power reserve: Certified 70 hours by METAS
Precision: Swiss Chronometer officially certified by COSC (Official Swiss Chronometer Testing Institute) Master Chronometer Certification from METAS
Functions
Centre hour, minute, and seconds hands
Stop-seconds for precise time setting
Bracelet
3-link stainless steel bracelet with smooth side flanks and polished and satin finishes, with TUDOR “T-fit” clasp
