A bronze version of Tudor's iconic Black Bay Fifty-Eight model has finally been added. Featuring a new clasp with an adjusting system, this first-ever bronze bracelet model will be available exclusively in boutiques from June 24, 2021.
Black Bay Fifty-Eight Bronze Boutique Edition 490,600 yen (tax included)
Bronze is a symbolic material for Tudor. Drawing on their accumulated know-how and continuing quest for the finest patina, they have boldly arrived at this full-bronze model. A new color palette based on a rich "bronze-brown" adorns the dial and bezel of this diver's watch, which is imbued with naval inspiration down to the last detail. Available exclusively in approximately 50 TUDOR boutiques worldwide, the Black Bay Fifty-Eight Bronze exudes undeniable prestige thanks to the high performance of the Manufacture Calibre MT5400 and its uncompromising design.
KEY POINTS
・39mm bronze case with a satin finish that changes color to match the wearer's lifestyle
・Matte gradient "bronze-brown" dial with applied hour markers and Arabic numerals
・COSC-certified Manufacture Calibre MT5400 with a non-magnetic silicon balance spring, delivering a power reserve of approximately 70 hours
・Snowflake hands, the iconic design of TUDOR's diver's watches, introduced in 1969, coated with Swiss Super-LumiNova®
・Bronze bracelet with a clasp and TUDOR's exclusive "T-fit" adjusting system. A "bronze-brown" fabric strap is also available.
A CASE THAT "CHANGE"
The new Black Bay The defining feature of the Fifty-Eight is its bronze case, inspired by historic ships and diving equipment. Its 39mm case size echoes the iconic proportions of Tudor diver's watches from the late 1950s, particularly the legendary Reference 7924 (commonly known as the "Big Crown"), the first Tudor watch to achieve 200m water resistance.
The high-quality aluminum and bronze alloy used in this watch is truly a "living" material, formerly used in naval shipbuilding for components requiring high corrosion resistance, such as propellers. Bronze develops a unique and beautiful patina that responds to the wearer's lifestyle. In addition to its high functionality, consistent with the Black Bay philosophy, this model features a satin-finished bronze, resulting in a uniform and beautiful patina over time.
The domed dial, with a matte "bronze-brown" gradation from the outer edge to the center, and the bezel, featuring gold accents that match the hands and hour markers, enhance this model's beauty, evoking the presence of a timepiece that once adorned the wrists of adventurers venturing out into the open seas.
THE ORIGINS OF TUDOR BRONZE
Bronze is an alloy with properties distinct from stainless steel, and the unique craftsmanship used to craft its watch cases is remarkable. The bronze and aluminum alloy produced for Tudor is formed into bars and then cut into slugs, cylinders several centimeters high. The slugs are then heated to high temperatures and, while still hot, are subjected to several tons of pressure in a friction press, which individually stamps each case. This is the moment when the cylindrical raw material is transformed into the rough, yet shaped, form of the watch's middle case.
From this point, at least 40 operations must be carried out before the bronze case is ready for casing. A series of machining processes gives it its final shape, and then processes such as threading and drilling required for the case's functionality, as well as various finishing and polishing operations are carried out by machine or by hand to create its lustrous exterior. However, the unique characteristics of bronze, such as its appearance changing rapidly depending on the environment, make these manufacturing and assembly steps even more complex. Naturally, a series of quality tests are carried out, always wearing gloves, following procedures specifically designed for bronze watches. The water-resistance test, in particular, requires the entire watch to be dried between tests to prevent the material's patina from progressing.
NEW BRONZE BRACELET
The Black Bay Fifty-Eight Bronze Boutique Edition is Tudor's first foray into the world of bronze watchmaking, featuring a completely bronze bracelet. Reminiscent of Tudor's riveted bracelets from the 1950s and 1960s, the satin-brushed bracelet slowly develops a patina at the same pace as the case. The new, satin-brushed clasp features a new cover and a "T-fit" adjustment system, allowing the wearer to adjust the length by 8 mm in five positions, with no tools required.
COMPLIMENTARY FABRIC STRAP
The fabric strap is an essential part of Tudor's deep connection with the Navy. Its unique use, born from the history of both companies, continues to this day in modern models. Tudor previously delivered watches to the French Navy without bracelets, with the navy's members fitting them with handmade straps or whatever suited them best. Among Tudor's diver's watch archives is a watch fitted with a parachute strap woven with supple gold thread. This proved extremely practical and inspired the complementary jacquard fabric strap that accompanies the Black Bay Fifty-Eight Bronze Boutique Edition.
Tudor pioneered the use of fabric straps in 2010 and continues to do so today. Julien Faure, a family-run company in Saint-Étienne, France, has been producing fabric straps on 19th-century looms for over 150 years, offering a unique combination of quality and comfort. The partnership, which began in 2010 when the Heritage Chrono was first introduced with a fabric strap, has cultivated exceptional expertise and celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2020.
THE MANUFACTURE CALIBRE MT5400
The Manufacture Caliber MT5400 powering the Black Bay Fifty-Eight Bronze Boutique Edition features hour, minute, and second hands. Like all TUDOR manufacture calibers, it boasts distinctive finishing. The one-piece tungsten rotor is openworked and sandblasted with a satin-brushed finish. The bridges and mainplate are sandblasted, polished, and laser-etched.
This robust, durable, reliable, and precise movement features a variable-inertia balance supported by two fixed traversing bridges. It also features a non-magnetic silicon balance spring. The MT5400 is also Swiss-certified as a chronometer. While the standard for this certification is a movement deviation of -4 to +6 seconds per day, TUDOR has gone even further, achieving a precision deviation of -2 to +4 seconds per day in assembled condition.
Another notable feature is the approximately 70-hour power reserve, meaning you can take your watch off on Friday night and put it back on Monday morning without having to rewind it.
THE ESSENCE OF BLACK BAY
Like other Black Bay models, the Black Bay Fifty-Eight Bronze Boutique Edition features the "snowflake" hour hand design, which was first seen in the 1969 catalog. The watch also features some of the distinctive features of Tudor's early diver's watches from the 1950s, such as the dial design, the unprotected crown, and the lug holes that run through the lugs.
The Black Bay was born from a blend of traditional aesthetics and modern mechanical watchmaking. It is not simply a "reissue of a past model." It embodies the 70-year history of Tudor diver's watches and brings them back to life in the modern era. Its neo-vintage concept, combined with manufacturing techniques, reliability, robustness, and precision, gives it a presence as a truly practical watch today.
THE TUDOR DIVERS' WATCH
The history of Tudor diver's watches began in 1954 with the introduction of the Reference 7922. At the time, this watch boasted a water resistance of 100 meters (330 feet), and can be considered the origin of Tudor diver's watches. Tudor's consistent philosophy of creating practical watches that combine robustness, reliability, and precision. In the nearly 70 years since the introduction of the Ref. 7922, Tudor's diver's watches have continued to evolve based on this philosophy, gaining support from professionals in various fields and navies around the world.
Model Details
BLACK BAY FIFTY-EIGHT BRONZE BOUTIQUE EDITION (REFERENCE 79012M)
・CASE
39mm bronze case
11.9mm thick, 48mm long
Satin-finished
Bronze-colored PVD-coated steel caseback
・BEZEL
Bronze unidirectional rotating bezel
Matte "bronze-brown" anodized aluminum disc with 60-minute graduations
・WINDING CROWN
Bronze screw-down crown
Tudor Rose in relief
/>・DIAL
“Bronze-brown”, domed
・CRYSTAL
Dome-shaped sapphire crystal
・WATERPROOFNESS
200 m (660 ft)
・BRACELET
Bronze rivet bracelet
Satin-finished
“Bronze-brown” fabric strap with gold-colored lines and bronze buckle included
・MOVEMENT
Manufacture Caliber MT5400
Mechanical self-winding movement with bidirectional rotor
・PRECISION
Swiss Official Chronometer certified by COSC
・POWER RESERVE
Approximately 70 hours
・FUNCTIONS
Hour, minute, and second hands
Second-stop function for accurate time setting
・OSCILLATOR
Screw-adjusted variable-inertia balance Non-magnetic silicon balance spring
Voltage rate: 28,800 per hour (4Hz)
・TOTAL DIAMETER
30.3mm
・THICKNESS
5mm
・JEWELS
27 jewels
Boutique exclusive model retailers
TUDOR BOUTIQUE GINZA
6-7-18 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo / 03-6263-8474 / Closed Wednesdays
TUDOR BOUTIQUE OSAKA
4-4-8 Minamisenba, Chuo-ku, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture / 06-6245-1926 / Closed Wednesdays
TUDOR BOUTIQUE HIROSHIMA
1-14 Hondori, Naka-ku, Hiroshima, Hiroshima Prefecture / 082-544-1313 / Closed Wednesdays
ABOUT TUDOR
Tudor is a Swiss watch brand offering mechanical timepieces that promise sophisticated style and unwavering reliability, along with unique value. Tudor's origins date back to 1926, when a Swiss watchmaker first registered the name "Tudor" on behalf of Rolex founder Hans Wilsdorf. In 1946, Hans Wilsdorf founded Montres Tudor SA and re-registered it under his own name to produce pioneering timepieces with Rolex quality and reliability. Throughout its history, Tudor watches have been the choice of the most adventurous adventurers and seasoned professionals. The brand's lineup includes iconic models such as the Black Bay, Pelagos, Heritage, and North Flag, and since 2015 has offered a wide range of functionally advanced mechanical manufacture movement models.
Click here for company press release details
Black Bay Fifty-Eight Bronze Boutique Edition 490,600 yen (tax included)Bronze is a symbolic material for Tudor. Drawing on their accumulated know-how and continuing quest for the finest patina, they have boldly arrived at this full-bronze model. A new color palette based on a rich "bronze-brown" adorns the dial and bezel of this diver's watch, which is imbued with naval inspiration down to the last detail. Available exclusively in approximately 50 TUDOR boutiques worldwide, the Black Bay Fifty-Eight Bronze exudes undeniable prestige thanks to the high performance of the Manufacture Calibre MT5400 and its uncompromising design.
KEY POINTS
・39mm bronze case with a satin finish that changes color to match the wearer's lifestyle
・Matte gradient "bronze-brown" dial with applied hour markers and Arabic numerals
・COSC-certified Manufacture Calibre MT5400 with a non-magnetic silicon balance spring, delivering a power reserve of approximately 70 hours
・Snowflake hands, the iconic design of TUDOR's diver's watches, introduced in 1969, coated with Swiss Super-LumiNova®
・Bronze bracelet with a clasp and TUDOR's exclusive "T-fit" adjusting system. A "bronze-brown" fabric strap is also available.
A CASE THAT "CHANGE"
The new Black Bay The defining feature of the Fifty-Eight is its bronze case, inspired by historic ships and diving equipment. Its 39mm case size echoes the iconic proportions of Tudor diver's watches from the late 1950s, particularly the legendary Reference 7924 (commonly known as the "Big Crown"), the first Tudor watch to achieve 200m water resistance.
The high-quality aluminum and bronze alloy used in this watch is truly a "living" material, formerly used in naval shipbuilding for components requiring high corrosion resistance, such as propellers. Bronze develops a unique and beautiful patina that responds to the wearer's lifestyle. In addition to its high functionality, consistent with the Black Bay philosophy, this model features a satin-finished bronze, resulting in a uniform and beautiful patina over time.
The domed dial, with a matte "bronze-brown" gradation from the outer edge to the center, and the bezel, featuring gold accents that match the hands and hour markers, enhance this model's beauty, evoking the presence of a timepiece that once adorned the wrists of adventurers venturing out into the open seas.
THE ORIGINS OF TUDOR BRONZE
Bronze is an alloy with properties distinct from stainless steel, and the unique craftsmanship used to craft its watch cases is remarkable. The bronze and aluminum alloy produced for Tudor is formed into bars and then cut into slugs, cylinders several centimeters high. The slugs are then heated to high temperatures and, while still hot, are subjected to several tons of pressure in a friction press, which individually stamps each case. This is the moment when the cylindrical raw material is transformed into the rough, yet shaped, form of the watch's middle case.
From this point, at least 40 operations must be carried out before the bronze case is ready for casing. A series of machining processes gives it its final shape, and then processes such as threading and drilling required for the case's functionality, as well as various finishing and polishing operations are carried out by machine or by hand to create its lustrous exterior. However, the unique characteristics of bronze, such as its appearance changing rapidly depending on the environment, make these manufacturing and assembly steps even more complex. Naturally, a series of quality tests are carried out, always wearing gloves, following procedures specifically designed for bronze watches. The water-resistance test, in particular, requires the entire watch to be dried between tests to prevent the material's patina from progressing.
NEW BRONZE BRACELET
The Black Bay Fifty-Eight Bronze Boutique Edition is Tudor's first foray into the world of bronze watchmaking, featuring a completely bronze bracelet. Reminiscent of Tudor's riveted bracelets from the 1950s and 1960s, the satin-brushed bracelet slowly develops a patina at the same pace as the case. The new, satin-brushed clasp features a new cover and a "T-fit" adjustment system, allowing the wearer to adjust the length by 8 mm in five positions, with no tools required.
COMPLIMENTARY FABRIC STRAP
The fabric strap is an essential part of Tudor's deep connection with the Navy. Its unique use, born from the history of both companies, continues to this day in modern models. Tudor previously delivered watches to the French Navy without bracelets, with the navy's members fitting them with handmade straps or whatever suited them best. Among Tudor's diver's watch archives is a watch fitted with a parachute strap woven with supple gold thread. This proved extremely practical and inspired the complementary jacquard fabric strap that accompanies the Black Bay Fifty-Eight Bronze Boutique Edition.
Tudor pioneered the use of fabric straps in 2010 and continues to do so today. Julien Faure, a family-run company in Saint-Étienne, France, has been producing fabric straps on 19th-century looms for over 150 years, offering a unique combination of quality and comfort. The partnership, which began in 2010 when the Heritage Chrono was first introduced with a fabric strap, has cultivated exceptional expertise and celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2020.
THE MANUFACTURE CALIBRE MT5400
The Manufacture Caliber MT5400 powering the Black Bay Fifty-Eight Bronze Boutique Edition features hour, minute, and second hands. Like all TUDOR manufacture calibers, it boasts distinctive finishing. The one-piece tungsten rotor is openworked and sandblasted with a satin-brushed finish. The bridges and mainplate are sandblasted, polished, and laser-etched.
This robust, durable, reliable, and precise movement features a variable-inertia balance supported by two fixed traversing bridges. It also features a non-magnetic silicon balance spring. The MT5400 is also Swiss-certified as a chronometer. While the standard for this certification is a movement deviation of -4 to +6 seconds per day, TUDOR has gone even further, achieving a precision deviation of -2 to +4 seconds per day in assembled condition.
Another notable feature is the approximately 70-hour power reserve, meaning you can take your watch off on Friday night and put it back on Monday morning without having to rewind it.
THE ESSENCE OF BLACK BAY
Like other Black Bay models, the Black Bay Fifty-Eight Bronze Boutique Edition features the "snowflake" hour hand design, which was first seen in the 1969 catalog. The watch also features some of the distinctive features of Tudor's early diver's watches from the 1950s, such as the dial design, the unprotected crown, and the lug holes that run through the lugs.
The Black Bay was born from a blend of traditional aesthetics and modern mechanical watchmaking. It is not simply a "reissue of a past model." It embodies the 70-year history of Tudor diver's watches and brings them back to life in the modern era. Its neo-vintage concept, combined with manufacturing techniques, reliability, robustness, and precision, gives it a presence as a truly practical watch today.
THE TUDOR DIVERS' WATCH
The history of Tudor diver's watches began in 1954 with the introduction of the Reference 7922. At the time, this watch boasted a water resistance of 100 meters (330 feet), and can be considered the origin of Tudor diver's watches. Tudor's consistent philosophy of creating practical watches that combine robustness, reliability, and precision. In the nearly 70 years since the introduction of the Ref. 7922, Tudor's diver's watches have continued to evolve based on this philosophy, gaining support from professionals in various fields and navies around the world.
Model Details
BLACK BAY FIFTY-EIGHT BRONZE BOUTIQUE EDITION (REFERENCE 79012M)
・CASE
39mm bronze case
11.9mm thick, 48mm long
Satin-finished
Bronze-colored PVD-coated steel caseback
・BEZEL
Bronze unidirectional rotating bezel
Matte "bronze-brown" anodized aluminum disc with 60-minute graduations
・WINDING CROWN
Bronze screw-down crown
Tudor Rose in relief
/>・DIAL
“Bronze-brown”, domed
・CRYSTAL
Dome-shaped sapphire crystal
・WATERPROOFNESS
200 m (660 ft)
・BRACELET
Bronze rivet bracelet
Satin-finished
“Bronze-brown” fabric strap with gold-colored lines and bronze buckle included
・MOVEMENT
Manufacture Caliber MT5400
Mechanical self-winding movement with bidirectional rotor
・PRECISION
Swiss Official Chronometer certified by COSC
・POWER RESERVE
Approximately 70 hours
・FUNCTIONS
Hour, minute, and second hands
Second-stop function for accurate time setting
・OSCILLATOR
Screw-adjusted variable-inertia balance Non-magnetic silicon balance spring
Voltage rate: 28,800 per hour (4Hz)
・TOTAL DIAMETER
30.3mm
・THICKNESS
5mm
・JEWELS
27 jewels
Boutique exclusive model retailers
TUDOR BOUTIQUE GINZA
6-7-18 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo / 03-6263-8474 / Closed Wednesdays
TUDOR BOUTIQUE OSAKA
4-4-8 Minamisenba, Chuo-ku, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture / 06-6245-1926 / Closed Wednesdays
TUDOR BOUTIQUE HIROSHIMA
1-14 Hondori, Naka-ku, Hiroshima, Hiroshima Prefecture / 082-544-1313 / Closed Wednesdays
ABOUT TUDOR
Tudor is a Swiss watch brand offering mechanical timepieces that promise sophisticated style and unwavering reliability, along with unique value. Tudor's origins date back to 1926, when a Swiss watchmaker first registered the name "Tudor" on behalf of Rolex founder Hans Wilsdorf. In 1946, Hans Wilsdorf founded Montres Tudor SA and re-registered it under his own name to produce pioneering timepieces with Rolex quality and reliability. Throughout its history, Tudor watches have been the choice of the most adventurous adventurers and seasoned professionals. The brand's lineup includes iconic models such as the Black Bay, Pelagos, Heritage, and North Flag, and since 2015 has offered a wide range of functionally advanced mechanical manufacture movement models.
Click here for company press release details
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