Dr. N.
Today we see a watch designed to meet the needs of those looking for a wristwatch with a small diameter, with sporty styles at an affordable cost for a luxury product. We are talking about the Tudor Black Bay 36, a watch that recalls in many ways i Rolex Explorer I vintage.
What is the Tudor Black Bay 36?
As part of the lucky line BlackBay of Tudor, 2016 is an important year. At the same time as the presentation by the parent company Rolex, of the new Rolex Explorer 214270, which abandons the previous diameter of 36 mm, preserved for decades, in order to reach the current ones 39 mm, with a smart market move Tudor is aimed at users Rolex left without their beloved “adventurous” watch. Simultaneously with the introduction of the new Rolex Explorer 39mm presented in Basel on Tudor Black Bay 36mm.
Il Tudor Black Bay 36mm is a watch with sporty lines retro, in line with the latest Tudor trends. The references to the first series of Rolex Explorer I they are evident from the first glance. The clean, essential lines, the clearly legible dial without frills, the proportions, the shape of lugs and bracelet, many elements of this watch recall the Rolex stylistic features: the bezel recalls the Milgauss, the lugs recall the Datejust, the dial and the overall approach certainly refers to Explorer I.
The dial of the Tudor Black Bay 36mm is characterized by the so-called S handsnowflake, now widely used by Tudor as the leitmotif of his creations. These spheres stand out clearly on the black dial - or blue in another version -, guaranteeing excellent readability. The indices are also very marked. The rest of the dial appears clean, with few writings and a seconds scale that surrounds and encloses the whole. According to some, indices and spheres would be too marked and "heavy" compared to the size of the watch: we leave the evaluation, subjective like any aesthetic opinion, to the eyes of the beholder.
Tudor Black Bay 36: the technique
Il Tudor Black Bay 36mm it is one of the latest Tudor models without an in-house movement. This choice, which may make some people turn up their noses, is instead according to the writer not to be underestimated, in the perspective of a watch to be used for a long time and handed down to future generations. The in-house movement is generally considered to be more prestigious than that supplied by an external manufacturer, and this is one of the reasons why Tudor, like other watchmakers, has decided to develop its own line of movements. The other reason is to make a virtue of necessity: ETA, part of Swatch Group, a company that includes manufacturers such as Breguet, Omega and Blancpain, has in recent years decided to stop supplying movements externally, to focus on the synergies within the Group. Therefore, it appears necessary for all Swiss watch manufacturers to become movement manufacturers as well, as the draft Switzerland will not be available forever. It is true that the valid Japanese manufacturers remain, but mounting a movement from the Rising Sun in a Swiss case would not allow you to affix the sought-after “swiss made” trademark on your watches. So it seems inevitable to become producers of movements on your own, taking advantage of it to raise the perceived value of your brand among the public thanks to the creation of in-house calibers.
How does the presence of an ETA movement affect the Tudor Black Bay 36mm ? According to the writer, the Anglo-Saxon saying “It's not a bug, it's a feature” applies. The reason is obvious: the caliber mounted in the Tudor Black Bay 36 it is none other than the ETA 2824, one of the most widespread movements in the world, in production for forty years. It is a caliber that guarantees maximum reliability and that we can well define as “durable”, having stood the test of time. Spare parts for this movement are and will be widely available at affordable prices and there are numerous watchmakers able to put their hand to it. In short, what is lost in exclusivity, is gained in practicality and cost-effectiveness of management.
Tudor Black Bay 36mm: is it for me?
If you are looking for a watch with a size that was once considered classic for men, 36 millimeters, that fits well on all wrists thanks to the Oyster-style metal bracelet and that has a great presence even with a strap, if you like the idea of a robust, reliable andexcellent value for money, which guarantees the wearer all the Tudor quality, with smaller dimensions than the Rolex Explorer to which it refers, the Tudor Black Bay 36mm it is certainly a great choice.
