Dr. N.
In the last article we went to discover the new designs that have allowed Tudor to relaunch its image. We have seen how the Tudor Heritage Chrono, il Tudor Black Bay and Tudor Black Bay 58 have managed to convince collectors and enthusiasts with a skilful balance of modern and vintage.
We closed the article by proposing to discover together one of the most loved models of the new Tudor course, the Tudor Black Bay GMT. So let's go and examine this watch together, to understand the reasons why it has gained so much appreciation.
The Tudor Black Bay GMT: the origins
After the great success of the Tudor Black Bay and Tudor Black Bay 58, maison della rosa chooses to create a similar but different model.
Similar, because it is a looking watch vintage with modern movement and manufacturing quality.
Different, because unlike the rest of the range Black Bay, draws only a small part of inspiration from models made by Tudor in the past.
Il Tudor Black Bay GMT was born on the basis of the stylistic features already experimented with the Tudor Black Bay Heritage. A full-bodied, massive case with sturdy lugs, a large winding crown, the “Snowflake” spheres. The latter, in particular, unite all of Tudor's recent production. They originated in 1969, when the designers of Tudor, with the aim of aesthetically differentiating the Tudor Submariner from its "big brother" Rolex Submariner, while improving readability, thought of inserting a square rotated by 45 ° in the shape of the hands. . The effect, in addition to being aesthetically pleasing, becomes a distinctive trait of Tudor, so much so that the maison has decided to use the “Snowflake” spheres in his most recent creations.
Tudor Black Bay GMT: style
Il Tudor Black Bay GMT chooses to refer to a famous watch of the past, the Rolex GMT “Pussy Galore”, as collectors still nickname it, due to the name of the character in the movie 007 Mission Goldfinger who in 1974 wears this Rolex model.
Of the famous Rolex 6542, the Tudor Black Bay GMT it incorporates the general aesthetic setting, with the crown without protective shoulders, the date window at 3 o'clock, but above all the two-tone red and blue “Pepsi” bezel, much appreciated by nostalgics.
Il Tudor Black Bay GMT reference 79830 However, it presents substantial differences with the watch it pays homage to. First of all, the case size, 41 millimeters, and the overall perception of solidity are typical of modern watches. There is no magnifying glass on the date window, a choice that I personally find pleasant, as it does not disturb the legibility of the dial. The “Snowflake” hands refer to the Tudor stylistic features, as does the chosen logo: a shield, more compact in size than the Tudor rose, which however appears on the winding crown.
Tudor Black Bay GMT: the technique
Il Tudor Black Bay GMT not only is it pleasing to look at, it also boasts a Tudor-manufactured movement. As the dial shows, this movement, number MT 5652, has obtained the official chronometer certification, proof of the quality of the project.
TudorFor this watch, it didn't just add a 24-hour sphere module to the standard Black Bay movement, it chose to integrate the GMT function directly in the design phase. This made it possible to keep the thickness of the watch within the same limits as the Tudor Black Bay.
The MT 5652 movement also boasts more than valid technical characteristics: it is in fact equipped with a silicon balance spring, a bidirectional winding rotor and a considerable power reserve of 70 hours.
Tudor Black Bay GMT: is it for me?
If you are interested in a sturdy, well-made watch with an in-house movement and GMT function, all at a market price of less than € 4000, the Tudor Black Bay GMT it is certainly for you.
Defects? Maybe the size is a bit massive. But today, as we know, 41 millimeters are no longer considered by many to be an excessive diameter ...
