UNVEILING THE ASCENSION OF THE BLACK BAY

A couple of days ago I was thinking about how Tudor changed the way that the community saw its placement regarding other brands and the market itself.

A brand that was born to be a more affordable option to the Rolex models that struggled to make a statement of its own personality.

Speaking from my own experience it's a brand that I only got to know by my interest on Rolex, a secondary option for those who had the means to buy a Rolex and a secondary choice for those who wanted a Rolex but didn't had the money.

Basically, this was the logic behind buying a Tudor a few years ago.

With the re-introduction of Tudor's most popular models, like the Heritage Chrono they (Tudor) began to attract some fans of its own and to better define it's target group.

Since 2011 Tudor has been releasing this re-introducing models with a fairly clear objective better placing the brand alongside its pairs.

But in 2012 Tudor released a model, the model I will be focused on writing about in this article, that revolutionized not only the brand but the way people see and understand the brand itself.

(I will be posting pics taken by @adutchwrist of his Rose dial Black Bay, a partnership between me Daily.DiogoCosta and him thru the article.)

In 2012, a short time before BaselWorld, there was leaked info and content about a Tudor Heritage Black Bay, and as usually the general watch community reacted with mix feelings about this supposed to be "Re-design".

But this release was far from being a "re-design" or re-introduction, it was the culmination of history and tradition.

But in those days the community acted strangely about this Heritage BlackBay visual characteristics, a gilt, rose dial and big crown with snowflake hands didn't seemed to be logical in this new release.

Its quite easy to nowadays be confused about if a watch is a remake or a combination of historical characteristics.

But Tudor made this clear when they explained all about where the inspiration for this watch creation has come.

The inspiration began with the Submariner 7922, released on 1954 that featured "Mercedes" hands and a big crown as most Rolex models did too at the time.

In 1967 Tudor released the 7021 with the nowadays used snowflake hands, and this feature was one of the characteristics that Tudor borrowed from the 7021 in this later 7922R, the burgundy color in the bezel was chosen based on Tudor watches that with time the bezel turned into this rich and now characteristically red color.

One of the things that make me prefer this watch to a Rolex Submariner is the colors chosen to be in the dial in combination with the bezel, chocolate dial with gilt lettering and pink gold hands, that ultimately make the watch look vintage or NOS (new old stock) and with a feeling of tradition and history although its a recent model.

In the end is one of the most versatile watches I've tried and found over the years.

It goes super well with almost all the bracelet/straps that cross your mind.

My choice? I can assure that the oyster bracelet wouldn't get much time ( it would be used of course) but instead I would certainly wear a dark brown leather strap all year long.

Hope you enjoyed reading the article.

My best regards to all,

Diogo

#tudor #horlogerie #Watches