Being bold can take many forms. Originally made together with Jay Chou and now released to the public this new version of the Black Bay Chrono celebrates the daring spirit of the TUDOR ambassadors. A pink dial might seem unexpected at first, but going against the grain is part of TUDOR’s core DNA. That’s exactly what earned this daring design a place in the TUDOR range.
Jay Chou owns the colour pink, so much so that it’s become his signature, recognized by anyone who follows him. When the leader of the Giro d’Italia puts on the pink jersey, there is no hesitation. The distinction is earned and the rider is proud to wear pink. When David Beckham dreamed up Inter Miami CF, pink was incorporated into the team’s aesthetic because they had to stand out. These TUDOR ambassadors wear pink with intention.
They know that being daring means going against the status quo. To them, there are no rules. The Black Bay Chrono “Pink” might not be for everyone, and that’s OK because few of them will ever be made. The Black Bay Chrono was already quite a bold watch even before this new dial colour was introduced. Since the launch in 1970 of the Oysterdate model, TUDOR’s first chronograph, the brand has always produced watches that are closely tied to the world of motorsport. Since 1954, TUDOR has likewise been constantly improving its professional divers’ watches. The Black Bay Chrono model seamlessly fuses these traditions in a sports chronograph, with contrasting sub-counters and a high-performance automatic Manufacture Calibre, with column wheel construction and vertical clutch. The Black Bay Chrono “Pink” isn’t for the mainstream. Only a small number of examples will be produced.
THE MANUFACTURE CHRONOGRAPH CALIBRE MT5813
The Manufacture Chronograph Calibre MT5813, which powers the Black Bay Chrono model, displays hour, minute, second, chronograph and date functions. It has the finish typical of TUDOR Manufacture Calibres. Its rotor in tungsten monobloc is openwork and satin-brushed with sand-blasted details, and its bridges and mainplate have alternate sand-blasted and polished surfaces with laser decorations.
Boasting a 70-hour power reserve and a silicon balance spring, the Manufacture MT5813 Chronograph Calibre is certified by the Official Swiss Chronometer Testing Institute (COSC), with its performance exceeding the standards set by this independent institute.
THE ESSENCE OF BLACK BAY
Like other models in the Black Bay range, the Black Bay Chrono has adopted TUDOR's characteristic angular hands known as “Snowflake” that first appeared in the brand’s 1969 catalogue. The result of a subtle blend of traditional aesthetics and contemporary watchmaking, the Black Bay line is far from simply being an identical rerelease of a classic. Resolutely anchored in the present, it brings together almost seven decades of TUDOR divers' watches. Whilst it is neo-vintage in conception, its manufacturing techniques and its robustness, reliability, durability and precision as well as the quality of its finish are above modern industry standards.
DECADES OF TUDOR CHRONOGRAPHS
In 1970, TUDOR introduced its first chronograph, the Oysterdate. A watch that was both robust and functional, its unique design was characterised by its bright colours, its pentagonal hour markers shaped like a baseball home plate, its 45-minute counter and its date function at 6 o'clock. Immediately adopted by the world of motorsport, it paved the way for more than 50 years of technical chronographs that TUDOR has never stopped improving.