It’s a good day for the Tudor Black Bay lineup today at Watches & Wonders 2023. From subtle dial changes to new case sizes, the collection continues to serve as Tudor’s most widely-appealing flagship lineup. Now the watch that started it all—the Black Bay in 41mm—is getting an overhaul inside and out. Debuting in the original colorway Tudor chose for its release in 2012, this third-generation Tudor Black Bay is now available with METAS Master Chronometer certification and a few visual adjustments to help with the refresh.
It’s a slight relief, really, to see that the larger Tudor Black Bay in 41mm will not be discontinued. That was a concern of mine when we recorded our pre-show predictions episode this past weekend. Instead, Tudor has given new life to the model and marks their intent to transition the entirety of their range to METAS certification. While it retains its 41mm case size, the slab sides have been slightly rounded and the thickness reduced down to 13.6mm. Not exactly the most vintage-y dimensions. But hey, Tudor basically has you covered now at every size with the Tudor Black Bay 58 and Black Bay 54. We also get subtle changes to the minute hand and the Black Bay now comes with a lollipop seconds hand.
I love that they went full circle with the burgundy bezel here. And I’m guessing that later this year might be a good time to roll out blue and black versions. But that’s just me speculating. You also get some new strap and bracelet options along with the new and very popular T-Fit quick adjusting clasp. The watch is available on rubber with a fitted end link, or the three-link or five-link stainless steel bracelet. These are all handsome options that’ll help distinguish the watch from previous generations.
And let’s not forget that METAS certification is no small accomplishment. That means this MT5602-U movement should be operating at 0 to +5 seconds per day (COSC tolerance is -4 to +6 seconds a day). It’s a fitting transition to greatness for a watch that has done so much for the brand. I might even like this more than the white dial GMT. It’ll be a tough watch to get but you can learn more about picking one up at the brand’s official site.