Baselworld 2017: Tudor Heritage Black Bay Steel

This authentic steel look enriches the Heritage Black Bay collection! The overall shape, as well as the domed dial and crystal, come from the first Tudor divers’ watches. The prominent winding crown and the red triangle of the bezel are features of the famous reference 7924 from 1958, the first Tudor watch to be waterproof to 200 metres, dubbed the Big Crown.

Be authentic was the goal: The line of red text on the dial, highlighting the maximum guaranteed water resistance, is a rarity seen on certain 7923 references from 1955. Finally, the characteristic angular hands known as snowflake are typical of the watches delivered to the French Navy in the 1970s. It seems that the Tudor Heritage Black Bay Steel could become the long desired cult-piece by the collectors. Honestly speaking, when I saw the pictures first I was thrilled and expressed a loud WOW!

The steel bracelet of the Heritage Black Bay Steel model is inspired by the folding riveted bracelets of the Tudor watches produced in the 1950s and 1960s. These were famous for having rivet heads for attaching the links, shown on the side of the bracelet. The links also had a distinct stepped construction. These two aesthetic details are incorporated into the bracelet of the Heritage Black Bay Steel model, integrating modern manufacturing methods using solid links.

The Heritage Black Bay Steel is available in two designs, it also comes on a black aged leather strap with folding clasp.

Good to know: Both versions come with an additional khaki green fabric strap. Made using the Jacquard technique, a traditional method achieved by a hundred-year-old family business from the St-Etienne region of France.  

The steel case houses the Manufacture Calibre MT5612. With a 70-hour power reserve, a wearer can take off the watch on Friday evening and put it back on again on Monday morning without having to reset and wind it. The variable inertia oscillator with silicon balance spring oscillates at a frequency of 28,800 A/h or 4Hz. This is held in place by a traversing bridge guaranteeing its robustness. Furthermore, the Calibre MT561 is certified by the Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute (COSC).

 Reference 79730

CASE

41 mm steel case with polished and satin finish

BEZEL

Unidirectional rotating bezel in steel with 60-minute graduated steel disc, black engraved markings

MOVEMENT

Manufacture Calibre MT5612 (COSC)

Self-winding mechanical movement with bidirectional rotor system

POWER RESERVE

Approximately 70 hours

WINDING CROWN

Steel screw-down winding crown, with the Tudor rose engraved and lacquered in black, with black anodised aluminium winding crown tube

DIAL

Black, domed

CRYSTAL

Domed sapphire crystal

WATERPROOFNESS

Waterproof to 200 m (660 ft)

BRACELET

Steel bracelet or aged leather strap with folding clasp and safety catch

Additional fabric strap with buckle included in the box

MANUFACTURE CALIBRE MT5612

Manufacture Calibre MT5612 (COSC), self-winding mechanical movement with bidirectional rotor system

PRECISION

Swiss Chronometer officially certified by the COSC (Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute)

FUNCTIONS

Centre hour, minute and seconds hands

Instantaneous date with rapid adjustment without non-correction range

Stop seconds for precise time setting

OSCILLATOR

Variable inertia balance, micro-adjustment screw

Non-magnetic silicon balance spring

Frequency: 28,800 A/h (= 4Hz)

TOTAL DIAMETER

31.8 mm

THICKNESS

6.5 mm

JEWELS

26 jewels

POWER RESERVE

Approximately 70 hours

Find official showrooms on my.watchadvisor.com to try and have a look at the TUDOR Heritage Black Bay Steel