NEW Watches & Wonders 2024 – TUDOR Redesigns the Iconic Black Bay

A T-Fit clasp, subtly redesigned crown, and a “monochromatic” look define the new, redesigned neo-vintage Black Bay collectable. Pre-order yours here. 

This year at the Watches & Wonders 2024 event, TUDOR has revealed the eagerly anticipated redesigned Black Bay 41 watch. Fans were wondering whether it would happen. It happened. The watch, which was released in 2012, has undergone three generations of evolution – this latest one of which is clad in a monochrome silhouette and comes in a choice of three strap options. This new TUDOR watch release for 2024, which sees the Black Bay collection expand further to accommodate a style similar to the brand’s earliest offerings - is sure to please fans all over the world. Some of the evolved elements seen in this new design include the company’s ergonomically developed “T-Fit” clasp and a METAS-certified engine. An inky black dial featuring plenty of luminous material, carries the archetypal neo-vintage look of the Black Bay watch through to 2024, complete with faithful proportions of 41mm (diameter) and 13.6mm (height).

Where It All Began

When the founder of Rolex, Hans Wilsdorf began setting up the TUDOR watch brand in 1926, the Black Bay design was merely a twinkle in his eye, yet the brand’s first dive watch, incorporating the famous Oyster case would serve as inspiration behind the Black Bay model. The Oyster Prince Submariner was released in 1954, not long after the brand had formed a partnership with the French Navy. Whilst this original 100-meter water-resistant model that went by the reference 7922 featured the classic Mercedes hands seen on Rolex watches, it was soon followed by an improved 200-meter water-resistant version with a large crown. Over the following years, the Oyster Prince Submariner watch would undergo very subtle changes until the most substantial redesign entered in 1969, complete with the “Snowflake” hands which the TUDOR Black Bay line now adopts.

Building The Black Bay DNA

The launch of the Black Bay by TUDOR coincided with a period when the Swiss brand was busy developing an identity of its own. It stepped out from underneath Rolex’s shadow with a watch that tastefully combined elements from earlier TUDOR dive watches. The same can still be said for the brand’s modern-day offerings. The “Snowflake” hands that defined the collection were not seen on TUDOR dive watches until the late 1960s and were thought to have been introduced following the needs of the French Navy, who benefitted from distinctly different hands whilst trying to reference them in a hurry. The large screw-down crown is another defining feature of the line, which was introduced by the brand in 1958, whilst the geometric hour markers, treated with lashings of luminous material to assist with readability in dark conditions were brought into TUDOR dive watches of the 1960s and 1970s. Together, this eclectic mix of emblematic features denoting different chapters within the brand’s story in creating dive watches is what makes the Black Bay so hugely appealing amongst watch fans today.

Changing the Black Bay DNA

Over recent years, enthusiasts have expressed they felt the dial of the TUDOR Black Day was overcluttered with lots of unnecessary text and details. In this case, those collectors will be pleased to see that the inky black dial of this new watch remains clean and simplified. First, let’s look at what’s the same. The new Black Bay 41 watch from TUDOR features the classic black dial with “Snowflake” hands, treated with generous amounts of luminous material. It also features a unidirectional rotating bezel in black, with a clear 60-minute scale upon its surface. The dial is subtly domed and radially brushed to add a touch of depth to the display.

In what has been a gradual vision for TUDOR, the brand moves closer to its task of eventually making all TUDOR watches Master Chronometer certified. To pass the test, the Calibre MT5602-U must function within a 5-second range of variation each day (0/+5). It must also guarantee the timekeeping accuracy of a watch subjected to magnetic fields of 15,000 gauss. To carry the METAS-certified name, a watch must also be Swiss-made, be COSC-certified, operate within certain temperatures, and have a power reserve of at least 70 hours. It must also be protected within a case integrated with at least 200-meter water resistance – all qualities of which the new TUDOR Black Bay 41 watch guarantees. The new Black Bay watch from TUDOR is outfitted with the Calibre MT5602-U, which bears a sun laser design and mentions its Master Chronometer certification on its bridges. If you look closely, you’ll appreciate the rotor, fashioned in tungsten monobloc and openworked with radial grooving and sandblasted finishes.

The new TUDOR Black Bay 41 Watch is a redesign that is sure to be welcomed by devoted fans of the vintage diver watch. Although the differences are incredibly subtle, what is important is that the brand has preserved all the signature hallmarks that make the watch so collectable and well-loved. The lollipop second hand against a radial brushed black dial is a nice feature, as is the subtle redesigning of the crown, curvaceous and set into the middle of the case (so as not to expose the crown tube). The choice to offer the new 2024 Black Bay Watch on a range of three different straps certainly makes this option a versatile and accessible one.

You can opt for the brand’s 3-link stainless steel bracelet, which points to the riveted bracelets originally developed by TUDOR in the 1950s. Or you could choose the five-link bracelet, with oval-shaped links - a nice choice if you want to use the watch for dressier occasions too. Both options come with the brand’s “T-Fit” clasp, enabling you to make quick adjustments whenever necessary. The fine adjustment allows for five different measurements and proves easy to carry out with no need to acquire any additional tools. Alternatively, for something a little sportier and more relaxed, TUDOR offers its cut-to-size black rubber band. The inside of the strap is adorned with the iconic Snowflake pattern and also comes equipped with the handy T-FIT clasp.

If you’d like more information on the newly released 2024 TUDOR Black Bay 41 watch, you can call and speak to a member of our Jura Watches sales team today at 01335 453453 or email us at help@jurawatches.co.uk