Black Bay Ceramic ‘Blue’… How it all started?
WRIST ROLL! It all started with exuberant Aussie Formula One driver Daniel Ricciardo wrist rolling it in February 2024. It definitely looked like a Black Bay ceramic, but in a blue dial. Considering that Tudor had recently announced its come back to motorsports by partnering with Formula 1 Racing Bulls team (read Visa Cash App Racing Bull Formula One Team, it’s quite a mouth full) and my first thoughts were that it was just a crew model with their matching livery. Until JULY, when Tudor announced that it is a production model and available now.
The Black & The Blue:
Take the Black Bay Ceramic ‘Black’, released in 2021, give it a gorgeous ‘striking’ blue dial and matching stripes on the strap. While the case, bezel insert, and crown are pretty much the same in black. If the ‘Black” Black Bay was a bit muted for some, this striking blue dial is sure to make an impression.
The blue here is beautiful, truly gorgeous and flashy bright blue, while it is primarily the color that matches the VISA cash app RB livery. Tudor has previously done such Smurf blue in Pelagos, so while it is unique and special, this is also consistent with how Tudor make their watches with a splash of color, in a beautiful way.
The Ceramics:
Watches with ceramic cases hold a special place amongst collectors and enthusiasts. It is where you can wear and enjoy your watch without having to worry about scratching or marking them. When Rolex started ceramic bezels in their watches, they were a significant upgrade due to the rugged and sturdiness of ceramic bezels, making it almost impossible to put hairlines or scratches on them from scuffs or minor rubs. Tudor is making a whole watch case out of ceramics & are a step ahead.
The Looks:
The Tudor Black Bay Ceramic ‘Blue’ offers the same signature and iconic Black way
- No date window, so you get an unobstructed and symmetrical dial in its full glory
- Dial in a beautiful blue color with a matte finished texture and white text and markers.
- A black ceramic case in brushed finish
- Beautifully polished finish at the edges of the case giving it clean character lines
- A Ceramic insert with radial brushed treatment at the bezel to complete the looks.
- Complemented by hybrid leather and rubber strap in black with blue stitching to match the dial, and a deployant (folding) clasp in PVD coated steel.
- Also included in the Box is a Nato strap in black with blue racing stripe.
The Calibre – Black Gold
It has a beautiful exhibition case back with some very interesting characteristics. I would like to mention that typically any stainless-steel Black Bay as of now doesn’t come with an open case back like this. For Tudor to simply open it up to enhance the experience is indeed something special. The movement maintains the architecture of Black Bay watches. What’s interesting here is that the movement retains the matt black theme of the watch and offers a very interesting display as opposed to how we typically see silver and golden hints on the display case back
It is Tudor Calibre MT56.2-1U, which is COSC Certified, and also gets Master Certification from METAS. METAS is elite level in fine watch making, the COSC for example, a staple in horology is just one of many pre-requisites which are needed just for the watch to be considered for METAS certification.
The Measurements:
Watch Diameter:
Measured at the outer extremity of the bezel, it is true 41mm and returns the reading of 41.1mm on my caliper
Dial Size:
Measured by the diameter of the crystal on top is 31.6mm
Case Thickness:
The thickness of the case, along with the glass is 14.5mm, which sounds bulky, but since the watch has a beautiful characteristic domed crystal which itself is about 2-3mm it doesn’t look bulky or thick. The thickness without the crystal included is only 11.2mm
Lug to Lug:
From lug to lug the distance is 49.7mm, so it is a relatively tall watch and would suit a wrist span of at least 50mm to pull it off.
Strap width:
The strap width is 22mm making the watch overall very balanced where a larger cased watch has a relatively wider strap.
Weight:
Its CERAMIC, a space age material, and is a lighter watch. Weighing only 108gms with the strap and buckle included.
Why the Black Bay, Why Tudor?
Originally considered to be a cheaper alternative to a Rolex & for some the first step towards a Rolex, Tudor has produced some very interesting watches ever since the release of Black Bay range. They have offered some watches with experience, looks and materials that are simply not possible or available in the Rolex world. They’ve pushed the brand to a space where it is arguably no longer a cheaper alternative to Rolex, rather it may be the only one with watches that can be had for this price point. If you only wanted a black ceramic diving watch, with a stunning bright blue Smurf dial and a rotating ceramic bezel, and on a cool NATO or rubber strap, which is also COSC certified and offers some of the finest attributes of fine watchmaking, tell me what are you looking at, without the Tudor Black Bay Ceramic Blue in sight?
Check out our listing of Tudor Black Bay Ceramic Blue, as follows:
Tudor 2024 Black Bay Ceramic Blue Dial Formula 1
Enjoy our 4K video review on this new release for additional details, as follows:
