The Tudor Black Bay Bronze Turns Blue… For Bucherer Only

Please welcome the BBBBB… Yes, 5 B’s for a new model that will definitely create some buzz (again). Three of these B’s are already known, they refer to the Black Bay Bronze. Add to that a fourth B, for Blue, the color used by a certain Maison for its special editions, plus a fifth a final B for another Maison, Bucherer. So there you have it, following the tradition of special editions dressed in blue, Bucherer and Tudor have unveiled the new – and exclusive to the retailer’s stores – Tudor Heritage Black Bay Bronze Blue.

Bucherer is one of the oldest and largest watch retailers in the world, founded in 1888 and now counts 16 stores in Switzerland, 10 stores in Germany, and 1 store in each of Vienna and Copenhagen, as well as the world’s largest watch and jewelry store in Paris. You can imagine then, that watch brands are quite respectful of such a client and are more than happy to create special editions for them. And they did… In the run-up to its 130th birthday, Bucherer launched an original and exclusive collection of watches focusing on the color blue – Bucherer’s corporate color – models that are called the Blue Editions. Today, the collection is again enlarged by a stunning addition that will certainly become an instant hit; the Tudor Black Bay Bronze Blue Bucherer edition.

The Tudor Black Bay Bronze Turns Blue is based on the 2016 model introduced by the “Shield” but with a brown dial and bezel. While this watch found great success with collectors, I also know a few that remarked on the certain lack of contrast in the choice of colors (brown on bronze), which made the watch a bit too monochromatic. As everyone has different tastes, there is now a new offer on the BB Bronze, with a more traditional color and more contrast, thanks to the blue dial and the matching bezel – certainly giving the watch a bit less of the vintage / patinated appeal that was part of the success of the official BB Bronze in brown. This blue color is also found on the fabric strap (a distressed leather strap is also included in the box).

For the rest, the Tudor Black Bay Bronze Blue Bucherer edition is 100% the same as the brown version, meaning a 43mm case, entirely brushed (no polished parts, impossible with bronze), in the same aluminum / bronze alloy and with a 200m water resistance. Vintage elements are still present, such as the bevels on the lugs and the oversized crown. The dial, apart from the blue color applied, remains identical too, with its slightly domed profile, the 3-6-9 indexes specific to the bronze version, the gilded hands, tracks and inscriptions and of course, the signature snowflake hands. A good point: no mention of the special edition or of Bucherer on the dial.

Inside the case is Tudor’s manufacture movement, the calibre MT5601, with automatic winding, bidirectional rotor (approx. 70 hours power reserve), 4Hz frequency, COSC certification, amagnetic silicon balance spring, variable inertia balance wheel and transversal bridge. As we’ve said in previous articles, it’s a great 3-hand movement with modern technologies, robust solutions and real added-value for the final user, compared to previous outsourced movements.

The Tudor Heritage Black Bay Bronze Blue Bucherer is a special edition (no mention of a limited production) which will be only available at Bucherer Stores (see here for the list). Price is the same as the brown version, meaning CHF 3,800 / EUR 3,750. More details on Tudor watches at Bucherer and www.tudorwatch.com.

Technical Specifications – Tudor Heritage Black Bay Bronze Blue Bucherer

• Case: 43mm diameter – bronze / aluminum alloy – full brushed finish – domed sapphire crystal on the dial side – bronze-coloured PVD-treated steel caseback – 200m water resistant
• Dial: Blue dial with matte finish, gilded applied indexes, gilded hands – bronze uni-directional bezel, blue bezel insert with 60-minute diving scale
• Movement: Calibre MT5601, in-house, COSC certified – automatic – 70h power reserve – 4Hz frequency – hours, minutes, seconds
• Strap: blue fabric strap and distressed brown leather strap