Tudor Black Bay GMT
Introduction to the Tudor Black Bay GMT
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The Black Bay GMT is a watch I have really loved the look of since its first release back in 2018. It immediately struck a tone with me for the more vintage style Tudor had gone with. The lack of crown guards and the still aluminium bezel insert were all things that made the Tudor GMT a real hit in my eyes. I couldn’t get my hands on one for some time and fast forward to 2022, I was lucky enough to have one gifted to me by my wife to mark the birth of our second child. Having spent what is now the best part of a year and a lot of wrist time with the GMT, it felt like a good time to write down my thoughts on this one!
Tudor Black Bay GMT: Key Features
Let’s start with the basic details, as the Black Bay GMT has several key features that have made it a popular choice for watch enthusiasts and collectors since its first release.
Firstly, The Black Bay GMT has a stainless steel case that is water-resistant to 200 meters (656 feet). With a screw-down crown featuring the Tudor rose logo. This makes it perfect for any activity where water resistance is essential. At 41mm in diameter, I find for a sports/divers watch, this is a good size on my just over 7” wrist. The thickness is approaching 15mm, and although, for the most part, I can’t say I’ve noticed this to be an issue, I will say if you're looking for a very slim watch, this may be worth noting and trying it on your wrist to check your comfortable with how it sits.
Time Zone Display & Design Aesthetic
What sets the GMT version apart from the rest of the Black Bay lineup is the all-important 24-hour second-time zone display. The Black Bay GMT has that fourth hand with a distinctive red arrow tip that can be set to show the time in a second-time zone. This is useful for travellers who want to keep track of the time back home or for anyone who needs to keep track of multiple time zones. Couple that with those very traditional and vibrant Pepsi colours featured on the bezel insert, and it’s quite the striking look. I love how Tudor stuck with the aluminium insert on their Black Bay line, as it really does speak to the more vintage design aesthetic of these watches. This will also lend itself to ageing as the years pass, much like the vintage GMTs from its big brother brand Rolex.
The Dial & the Movement
Looking at the black dial of The Black Bay GMT, it has its date display at the 3 o'clock position and very legible applied markers, as you would expect with what is, after all, a divers watch. Those traditional Tudor snowflake hands offer fantastic legibility and are such a distinctive look for Tudor.
Writing is kept reasonably simple on the dial, featuring three lines of text at the bottom of the dial to denote that this is a certified chronometer and a GMT. The top of the dial features the Tudor shield emblem and Tudor Geneve just below. All in all, it’s a simple affair but with nicely applied markers and crisp printing for the wording. I wish that maybe Tudor has stuck with its more traditional Rose logo, but this is featured on the crown, as I said before, so it isn’t entirely absent.
The movement beating inside the Black Bay GMT is the calibre MT5652, developed in-house by Tudor. This movement has a power reserve of approximately 70 hours, which I have found to be more than enough for my use. This realistically allows me to wear the watch all week if I want, but then choose something different at the weekend and pick the GMT back up on a Monday morning and have it still running and on time.
In terms of accuracy, the Black Bay GMT’s MT5652 is rated to have an accuracy of +/- 12 seconds per day, which is pretty standard for a mechanical watch at this level. However, it is important to note that the accuracy of any automatic watch can be affected by factors such as the position in which it is worn and the wearer's level of movement. In everyday usage, I’ve never found accuracy to be an issue. Over the months I’ve spent with the Black Bay GMT, it’s always been well within the rated tolerance for accuracy.
Tudor Black Bay GMT: The Bracelet
The Black Bay GMT is available on a leather strap, a material strap, or a Stainless Steel Bracelet. Like most of my watches, I always opt for the bracelet version and then look to accessorise with other straps later. In honesty, at the release of the Black Bay line, the one thing I was not a fan of was the Bracelet. The faux rivets, I thought, were ghastly and as they served no real purpose, that made it even worse! Having spent many months wearing the GMT, I haven’t changed the bracelet. That, I think, is a testament to how nicely it wears! At 22mm with a taper down to a very well-machined clasp, the bracelet really is quite a joy to wear. I found after a short time on my wrist that I didn’t even notice the rivets on the bracelet anymore. I will try it on straps and potentially other bracelet options, but I certainly can’t fault the fit and finish of the factory bracelet.
Concluding Thoughts on the Tudor Black Bay GMT
The Black Bay GMT, for me then, has thankfully lived up to everything I hoped it would be! It wears fantastically on the wrist with enough heft to remind you of its sports watch style but is never overbearing. My concern around certain bracelet design choices, like the rivets, has thankfully not been that big of an issue. And although, in reality, I have had little need for the GMT functionality, it is an excellent look on the wrist.
As a sports watch, it’s hard to think of much else I would really ask for. And the GMT version of the Black Bay, although not what I would consider a cheap watch, is undoubtedly keenly priced, considering the fit and finish overall.
I have spent many happy hours with the GMT on my wrist, from family days out to dinner dates. It’s also a versatile piece that would suit many people who want to keep a watch collection on the smaller side or want to own just one quality watch they could wear in most situations. With the expanded line from Tudor now featuring the GMT Pro without the Pepsi colours, I think that could be a perfect daily for most people as it’s slightly more understated.
Whatever your choice, I think it’s a challenging task to beat the Tudor GMT at this price point!
Tudor Black Bay GMT Specifications:
Movement: Manufacture Calibre MT5652 (COSC)
Power reserve: 70 hours
Case: Steel, 41mm diameter, 200m water resistance
Bezel: Rotatable, bidirectional, 24-hour graduated
Crystal: Domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating
Dial: Black, with luminous hour markers and hands
Bracelet: Steel, with folding clasp and safety catch
Functions: Hour, minute, second, date, second-time zone
Certification: Swiss chronometer tested and certified by the COSC
Warranty: 5 years
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