The Boutique-Only Tudor Black Bay Chrono Blue

First presented in 2017, the Tudor Black Bay Chrono surprised a bit the brand’s fans with its mix of classic dive watch elements (solid water-resistance and snowflake hands) and racing cues, with the chronograph function and external tachymeter bezel. Multiple editions of this watch will follow, all powered by a Breitling-derived automatic movement, including the Black Bay Chrono Dark, the Panda versions and the highly-collectable Pink edition – all gradually adding appeal to this competent chrono. This year, this watch comes back as a boutique-only edition with a new colour scheme. Meet the Tudor Black Bay Chrono Blue.

Here what we know… It is a Tudor Black Bay Chrono… and it’s blue. And it looks good. Right, there are a few more things to know. First, this Black Bay Chrono Blue Boutique Edition retains the classic case of the collection, measuring 41mm in diameter, 14.2mm in height and about 50mm in length. It’s fair to say that it’s not a small watch, but it’s not overly large either and in line with identical watches from the competition. The water-resistant is, however, above average as rated at 200m, thanks to the solid screwed back and screwed pushers. The dial is protected by a domed sapphire crystal, framed by an external bezel with tachymeter scale.

What’s new is all about the colour, as the Black Bay Chrono Blue inaugurates a new blue satin sun-brushed dial with contrasting silver circular sub-counters – somehow a bit ironically, the brand calls this “the spirit of asphalt and sea.” The same colour is used for the blue anodised aluminium insert on the bezel. Matching the silvered sub-counters, the oversized Snowflake hands are polished metal and largely filled with Super-LumiNova. The date is retained at 6 o’clock and touches of red are found on the central seconds hand and the depth rate.

Another important element, and just like the pink edition, this new Black Bay Chrono Blue is worn on a 5-link Jubilee bracelet (no other option available), which is fitted with a folding clasp and the brand’s T-Fit micro-adjustment device (requiring no tools and offering five positions).

Inside the brushed and polished case is the calibre MT5813. Based on a Breitling B01 architecture, with some minor technical updates, it has an integrated architecture, it features a column-wheel and vertical clutch, but also a variable inertia balance, an anti-magnetic silicon balance spring and it boasts a comfortable power reserve of 70 hours. Finally, its precision is chronometer-certified by COSC.

Available exclusively from the brand’s official boutiques, the Tudor Black Bay Chrono Blue reference 79360B is priced at CHF 5,300 or EUR 5,720. For more details and to locate the nearest Tudor boutique, please visit www.tudorwatch.com.