TUDOR Black Bay Bronze & Slate Grey Fabric 43 mm Automatic Watch

Presented at Baselworld 2019 and selected by David Beckham who continues to be an ambassador for TUDOR, he represents the brand by exhibiting the Black Bay Bronze, a timepiece inspired by the TUDOR diver's watches produced in the 1950's. The most intriguing feature has to be its 43 mm satin-brushed bronze case, an aesthetic reference to the brass used in old ships and diving equipment which TUDOR continues to explore. This high performing aluminium-copper metal is used in navel engineering for submerged parts that need to be highly resistant to corrosion, hence using the same material for a diver's watch. The dial is a combination of slate grey which is shaded from the exterior to the centre and it's coupled by gold accents found on the hands and hour markers which are painted luminescent for high visibility in dark waters. Adopting the iconic TUDOR snowflake hands and mixed indexes, the dial is completed by a golden seconds tracker on the outer edge and the TUDOR logo and branding ensures the stamp of quality. The domed sapphire crystal glass protects the dial and is framed by the unidirectional rotating bezel in bronze, with a 60-minute graduated disc matching in slate grey. The historic strap is a tribute to the brand's naval heritage. TUDOR watches were delivered to the French Navy without straps and they then made their own out of recovered rescue parachutes. Made from slate-grey woven jacquard fabric, it's recognisable by its golden thread and fastens with a bronze tang buckle. The automatic Calibre MT5601 that drives the Black Bay Bronze model is certified as a chronometer by the Official Swiss Chronometer Testing Institute (COSC), it's a self-winding mechanical movement with a bidirectional rotor system and an impressive 70-hour power reserve. Waterproof up to 200 metres, its strong aesthetic and technical foundations make it an ideal diver's watch which evokes the idea of travel and adventure.