Tudor Looks to (Rolex's) Past with New Black Bay Pro GMT
Rolex isn’t the only brand making headlines at Watches and Wonders 2022. This morning Rolex’s little brother, Tudor, released the Black Bay Pro, which to tell you the truth, is choc full of vintage nostalgia (in a good way). Tudor has never been afraid to pay homage to its parent-brand Rolex’s heritage when releasing new pieces, and the new Black Bay Pro clearly does this. The watch offers a new take on the discontinued Rolex Explorer II Ref. 1655, which was in production from 1971 through 1985.
THE BASICS:
Brand: Tudor
Model: Black Bay Pro
Case Material: Stainless Steel
Crystal: Sapphire
Case Size: 39mm
Water Resistance: 20 Bar
Movement: Tudor Manufacture MT5652
Strap Options: Stainless Steel Bracelet, Fabric, or Hybrid Rubber/Fabric Strap.
The Juice:
Like Tudor has done with the Black Bay 58 in the past, the release of the Black Bay Pro is taking cues from its big brother, Rolex. Tudor appears to have gone mostly all in with the retro style of the Black Bay Pro. While the dial is undeniably Tudor, the rest of the watch screams vintage Rolex Explorer. From the 24-hour bezel to the rivet bracelet to it’s 39mm size, this watch hits all its marks as a homage to a beloved Rolex. The Black Bay Pro has a domed matte black dial with vintage lume hand and printed indices. This pre-patina-ed look can appear tacky on some watches, but definitely works here.
The watch is powered by Tudor’s “Manufacture” MT5652 automatic GMT movement. This movement has powered all of Tudor’s GMTs since the original Black Bay GMT. The MT5652 has a robust 70-hour power reserve and a retrograde date function. If you adjust the time backward, the date will actually go back to the previous date when passing midnight in reverse.
I love this watch. It has just enough mix of Rolex heritage with Tudor distinctiveness to appeal to everyone. While it is offered on fabric, rubber hybrid or steel bracelet, it just seems to me that steel is the way to go. Tudor did'n’t just put it on a standard bracelet, but created a rivet style bracelet (like the Black Bay GMT) that adds an additional pop of uniqueness and vintage flair.
The Black Bay Pro is clearly a case of less is more. The watch is not flashy, but hits all the marks. At 39mm, like the Black Bay 58, Tudor clearly recognizes that under 40mm watches can still be quite popular. The 14.6mm thickness, however, does seem a little thick for a 39mm watch. With that being said, however, I would not be surprised to see the Black Bay Pro become one of the most popular Tudors in the years to come.
How Much is the Tudor Black Bay Pro?
The new Tudor Black Bay Pro comes in at an affordable $3,675 USD (either strap) or $4,000 USD on stainless steel bracelet.