Everyone should have a blue-dial watch in their collection, even if it’s a collection of one. A black dial watch is perhaps more classic in appearance; a white dial more overtly sporting. But a blue dial – especially a Tudor blue which can bounce between a deep navy or bright cobalt depending on the light – really splits the difference between the board room and board shorts.
Which is why we were over the moon when Tudor announced the arrival of its Black Bay Chrono with a blue dial and bezel combination, carrying the reference number M79360B-002, as a boutique exclusive. Here you’ve got a dive-ready chronograph – blending the most rugged style of watch with the most useful complication – with an extremely attractive blue-over-sliver dial, from one the the most well-respected Swiss makers in the world.
And, at a retail price of $5,675, the Black Bay Chrono represents somewhat of a staggering value in the world of luxury watches, too. Don’t get us wrong, if you’ve only ever worn an Apple Watch or a G-Shock, five grand is going to feel like an insane amount of money to wear on your wrist. But in the weird world of Swiss watch values, it actually represents a bargain.
Consider first the landscape. Tudor’s parent brand is Rolex, of course, which produces one of the undisputed OGs of sports chronograph watches, the poetically named Daytona Cosmograph. In the unlikely event that you could walk into a Rolex dealer today and buy the most inexpensive Daytona (with a steel case and bracelet), you’d be on the hook for over $15,000. Omega sells the legendary Speedmaster “Moonwatch” Professional for $7,000 on a steel bracelet, or a dive-ready Seamaster Diver 300M Chronograph for $8,600.
Now that Seamaster is tough as hell, with a water resistance of up to 300 meters, and super hard ceramic bezel and sapphire crystal that should prove difficult to dent/scratch. But the Tudor is still pretty bombproof, can dive to 200 meters (a depth most of us will never come close to reaching), has an in-house automatic movement to nearly match Omega’s timekeeping accuracy, and keeps $3,000 in your pocket.
Like high-end sports cars or hyper-efficient EVs, with cool chronographs, we say the more the better. But if you’re looking for a chronograph that looks great, is utterly unfussy, and adds a little gravitas to its wearer, this new Black Bay should be in your consideration set.
Of course, a little like the big brother Daytona, getting your hands on this boutique edition blue dial might be slightly challenging (or expensive). As of this writing we see new-in-box listings of the watch asking over retail pricing – typically an indicator that demand is outstripping supply. That’s great news for the long-term value of the watch (watches, unlike cars, are often appreciating assets), but bad news if you’re trying to purchase one today. Call your AD immediately, chief.
(Or, if you’re feeling a little spicy, go for the pink dial instead.)
