Tudor relaunches the Black Bay Chrono in steel with an updated case and two dial options
Tudor relaunches the Black Bay Chrono in steel with an updated case and two dial options with contrasting sub-counters to the mark 50 years of its chronographs
SINCE THE LAUNCH of the Oysterdate model, Tudor’s first chronograph, in 1970, the watchmaker has always produced watches that are closely tied to the world of motor sport. Tudor has likewise been constantly improving its professional diving watches since 1954. The Black Bay Chrono combines these traditions in a sports chronograph for purists, with contrasting sub-counters and a high-performance automatic Manufacture Calibre, with column wheel and vertical clutch.
Remaining faithful to the Black Bay aesthetic, the new Black Bay Chrono model has made the famous “Snowflake” hands ‒ a brand signature for diving watches since
1969 ‒ its own, in a version honed to ensure optimum readability on its domed dial. Available in two versions, matt black or opaline, the dial includes two hollowed sub-counters in contrasting colours, matt black and white opaline respectively, for optimum readability.
Inspired by the first generation of Tudor chronographs, there is a 45-minute counter and a date aperture positioned at 6 o’clock. The recognizable characteristics of the
Black Bay are preserved in a steel case with a 41mm diameter refined by the ingenious cut of the lower part of the sapphire crystal and a repositioned movement. Typical of the scrupulous attention to detail that is characteristic of the brand, the design of the stainless steel pushers has been inspired by the very first generation of Tudor chronographs. A fixed bezel in stainless steel with a tachymetric scale insert in black anodised aluminium completes the distinguished appearance of this sporty new chronograph.
The fabric strap is one of the hallmarks of Tudor, which, in 2010, became one of the first watchmaking brands to offer it with its products. Woven in France on 19th-century Jacquard looms by the Julien Faure company in the St-Etienne region, its manufacturing quality and comfort on the wrist are unique. In 2020, Tudor and Julien Faure, a 150-year old family company, celebrated ten years of partnership that began with the Heritage Chrono ‒ the first model to be equipped with a fabric strap created by the craftsmen ‒ that was launched at Baselworld 2010.
The 2021 Black Bay Chrono model features a black strap with a motif chosen by Tudor and woven by the craftsmen. The model is
also available mounted on a stainless steel bracelet inspired by the folding riveted bracelets made by TUDOR in the 1950s and 1960s. These were famous for having rivet heads for attaching the links, shown on the side of the bracelet. The links also had a distinct stepped construction. These two aesthetic details appear on today’s model, which still integrates modern manufacturing methods with solid links. Finally, entirely in keeping with the spirit of “1970s racing”, the Black Bay Chrono is offering another choice of bracelet: a bund in aged black leather with ecru topstitching and folding clasp.
Powered by the Manufacture Chronograph Calibre MT5813, the Black Bay Chrono displays hour, minute, second, chronograph and date functions. Its rotor in tungsten monobloc is open-worked and satin-brushed with sand-blasted details, and its bridges and main-plate have alternate sand-blasted, polished surfaces and laser decorations. Boasting a 70-hour power reserve and a silicon balance spring, the movement is certified by the Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute (COSC), with its performance exceeding the standards set by this independent institute (-2 +4 seconds’ variation in the daily running of a watch compared to the standard variation between -4 and +6 seconds).
THE MAGIC TOUCH OF JAY CHOU
Celebrating Tudor’s #BornToDare spirit, Jay Chou now stars in a new commercial for the brand, the second he entirely directed, in which he makes use of his incredible magic skills. The tongue-in-cheek short film opens with the singer entering a busy Tudor boutique. He finds the Black Bay Chrono in a showcase but is unable to get any of the sales associates to attend to him. That’s when the magic happens. Jay Chou’s hand literally goes through the glass of the display where he grabs the watch and pulls it out, leaving the display seemingly absolutely untouched. This magic hand finally gets him the full attention of the staff who now all rush to him when in another jaw-dropping magic move from Jay Chou, the watch ends up on the wrist of a bewildered sales associate.
Well taken care of, Jay Chou now leaves the boutique, his purchase made and with one last goodbye trick leaving the Tudor boutique staff speechless… This last trick just like all the others in this film have been performed on set, live by Jay Chou who in addition to being an accomplished musician, singer-songwriter, actor and director is also a talented magician. Not wanting to reveal his secrets, in true magician fashion, Jay Chou asked the entire production crew to leave the set when he performed the counter display trick, keeping only the cameraman with him.
Inspired by the playful worlds Jay Chou is known to create with his art and highlighting his long-lasting love of magic, this film exemplifies his daring nature, never shying away from another creative project in a true #BornToDare spirit, the very spirit that gave birth to Tudor.