Presented for the first time in 2012, and one of the winners at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève in 2013, this new Heritage Black Bay watch is an emblematic representation of over 60 years of expertise in divers’ watches by Tudor, with a refreshingly modern feel.

Every brand has an established line of watches by which it is largely recognized. The bread and butter if you will. Think Rolex’s Oyster Perpetual, or Omega’s Seamaster collections. For Tudor – a subsidiary of Rolex – that line might just well be the Tudor Heritage.

Since its 2010 presentation of the Tudor Heritage Chrono, the Heritage line has represented the balanced stylistic mix of past, present and future aesthetic codes of the brand’s history. The attention to detail evident in this line even resulted in winning the ‘Revival’ prize at the 2013 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève for the first version of the Tudor Heritage Black Bay model.

The model derived its overall lines and its domed crystal from the brand’s first divers’ watch, the Tudor Submariner reference 7922, which was launched in 1954. This approach has become one of Tudor’s defining characteristics; rather than simply releasing re-editions of old models, it reinterprets them to fit contemporary trends.

This new Heritage Black Bay divers’ watch evokes many historical trends by Tudor. The dome-shaped dial is a detail shared with the first Submariner model. The imposing winding crown is a nod to a model presented in 1958, affectionately known as the “Big Crown” by collectors. Its characteristic angular hands, known by connoisseurs as “snowflakes”, were seen on models from 1969 to the early 1980s. It also adopts the famous red triangle of the unidirectional bezel from the Tudor divers’ models of the late 1950s.

These multiple references to the brand’s aesthetic past are combined with contemporary design elements that speak to the brand’s renewal process. They include the refined and robust 41 mm steel case, a coloured and anodized aluminium crown tube, as well as the well-crafted interchangeable bracelets. Mounted either on a brushed steel bracelet with folding clasp or on aged leather strap, the Black Bay truly goes “Black” when it is accompanied by a second strap in black fabric.

The original Tudor Heritage Black Bay still managed to have the feel of a vintage piece. The effect was helped by the patina-like look of its black dial, complemented by pink-gold hands and hour markers, and burgundy red bezel.

But this new model has a markedly different feel. It has an icy face and sharp contrasts, giving the watch the appearance of a professional, technical instrument, rather than a delicate antique piece.

While the new Black Bay “Black” certainly comes close to the pioneering spirit of Tudor’s first divers’ watches, it manages to combine that historic patina feel with a modern and high-tech look.

Technical information

• CASE: Steel case, 41 mm, polished and satin finish
• BEZEL: Unidirectional rotatable steel bezel with matt black disc
• MOVEMENT: Self-winding mechanical movement, Tudor calibre 2824
• POWER RESERVE: Approximately 38 hours
• WINDING CROWN: Screw-down winding crown in steel engraved with the Tudor rose, with black anodized aluminium crown tube
• DIAL: Black
• CRYSTAL: Domed sapphire crystal
• WATERPROOFNESS: 200 metres
• BRACELET: Steel bracelet or aged leather strap with folding clasp and safety catch. Additional fabric strap with buckle supplied with watch