While this is not the first two-tone Black Bay, nor is it the first Black Bay Chrono, it is the first two-tone Black Bay Chrono to join Tudor's catalog. Fresh from the halls of Baselworld 2019 is this brand new Tudor Black Bay Chrono S&G, available with three band options.
The Tudor Black Bay Chronograph Gets Dressed UpWhat we essentially have here are the bones of the steel Tudor Black Bay Chrono from 2017 dressed up in a two-tone color-way. The new model retains the 41mm steel case, a black dial with two counters and a date window, the Snowflake hands, a domed sapphire crystal, and the in-house Caliber MT5813 automatic chronograph movement of the steel edition.
Yet, style-wise, this Black Bay Chrono S&G (Steel & Gold, in case you were wondering) looks like a very different watch thanks to a generous amount of gold and champagne details. Sitting on top of the case is a fixed yellow gold bezel with a matte black anodized aluminum insert marked with a yellow gold tachymeter scale. Plus, a pair of yellow gold screw-down pushers flanks the yellow gold "capped?screw-down winding crown (decorated with a relief of the Tudor rose).
The black domed dial is also home to plenty of gilded accents including champagne registers, yellow gold surrounds on the luminous indexes, yellow gold hands (also coated with luminescence), and a gilt minute track around the periphery.
Like most of their other models, Tudor offers a few bracelet and strap options with the Black Bay Chrono S&G. You can take on the two-tone trend with gusto by pairing the watch with a riveted steel and yellow gold bracelet. Alternatively, there's also a cool convertible brown leather strap with a removable bund, which is fitted with a folding clasp and safety catch. Lastly, there's also the black jacquard fabric strap with a buckle.
Vintage InspirationTudor is no stranger to vintage inspirations. In fact, the entire modern Black Bay collection draws its design cues from 1950's Tudor dive watches and the Snowflake hands are taken directly from vintage Tudors made for the French Navy in the sixties and seventies.
However, those of you that are familiar with vintage Rolex Daytona watches will no doubt note that the new Tudor Black Bay Chrono S&G bears more than a passing resemblance to the yellow gold Daytona ref. 6241 "John Player Special?nicknamed after the iconic black and gold JPS Formula 1 livery.
All in all, the Black Bay Chrono S&G may not be the most talked-about Tudor release from Baselworld 2019 (I'm looking at you Black Bay P01) but I do think it will easily become the fan-favorite among the brand's new models presented at the show.
Tudor Black Bay Chrono S&G Specifications: Reference: 79363N Diameter: 41 mm Case Material: Stainless steel, yellow gold Dial: Black, domed Strap/Bracelet: Riveted steel and yellow gold bracelet; brown leather with removable bund; black jacquard fabric strap Movement: Caliber MT5813 self-winding Functions: Central hour and minute hands; center chronograph seconds; chronograph 45-minute counter at 3 o'clock; small seconds at 9 o'clock; instantaneous date at 6 o'clock with rapid adjustment; stop seconds for precise time setting Precision: COSC-certified Power Reserve: 70 hours Water Resistance: 200m Baselworld 2019 TAG Heuer Autavia Collection 2550