Tudor Black Bay Bronze

With an aluminum bronze case, the Black Bay Bronze is one of the most eye-catching watches in the Black Bay collection. Tudor first introduced this 43-mm diving watch in 2016. At the time, it was only available with a brown dial and bezel. A blue version debuted a year later in 2017, followed by a slate gray edition in 2019. The Swiss manufacturer and Rolex sister company produces the blue model exclusively for luxury watch and jewelry retailer Bucherer.

Tudor created the series' top model, the Black Bay Bronze One, for the 2017 Only Watch charity auction. This event takes place every two years and only features one-off timepieces. All proceeds go to the Monegasque Association Against Muscular Dystrophy. If that weren't enough, the Black Bay Bronze One is the only left-handed (i.e., with its crown on the left side of the case) Black Bay model to date. It ended up selling for an impressive 350,000 CHF (approx. 350,000 USD), making it about 100 times more expensive than the standard editions.

When it comes to the movement, Tudor equips the Black Bay Bronze with the in-house caliber MT5601. This certified chronometer features an anti-magnetic silicon balance spring and a power reserve of 70 hours. Its satin-brushed rotor is partially skeletonized, and most of the plates and bridges have been sand blasted, lending them a matte finish. However, due to the solid PVD-coated stainless steel case back, you can only view this movement by opening the case.

The 2019 Tudor Black Bay Bronze has an official list price of 4,050 USD; however, you can purchase a never-worn timepiece for about 3,800 USD on Chrono24. Pre-owned pieces cost roughly 220 USD less. This model has a slate gray gradient dial that gets lighter toward the center and a matching slate gray aluminum bezel inlay.

The original Black Bay Bronze comes with a brown dial and bezel. With prices between 3,100 USD and 3,400 USD, the brown version is the most affordable.

If you're on the market for a bronze watch with a blue dial and bezel, look no further than the Blue Special Edition for Bucherer. Many other renowned Swiss watch manufacturers have crafted blue watches exclusively for Bucherer, including IWC, Panerai, and Oris. Tudor officially lists the Black Bay Bronze Blue for 4,050 USD, the same price as the standard slate gray edition. However, due to high demand and low supply, this model demands around 4,800 USD on Chrono24. Pre-owned pieces in very good condition change hands for only a few hundred dollars less. In short, of all the Bronze models, the Black Bay Bronze Blue has the highest chance of appreciating in value.

The Black Bay Bronze's dial design is modeled after historic Tudor watches from the 1950s. Another defining feature of the Black Bay collection are the so-called "snowflake" hands, which first appeared in 1969. Unlike most Black Bay models, the Bronze editions have Arabic numerals rather than bar indices at 3, 6, and 9 o'clock. Luminous material fills the hands and indices for optimal readability, even in the dark. Golden accents on the hands and hour markers complete the look.

A large screw-down crown with no guard is another hallmark of Black Bay watches. This detail was also inspired by vintage diving watches and further enhances the retro feel of these timepieces. A Tudor rose adorns each crown.

Tudor mounts the Black Bay Bronze on your choice of a distressed leather or textile strap. A practical feature of this watch includes its drilled lugs, which make it easier to change the band while also avoiding scratching the lugs. If you're someone who likes to mix up your looks, there's no better timepiece than the Black Bay Bronze. As for the stainless steel editions, changing the band is a bit more complicated since the lugs are not drilled.

Bronze cases, particularly those made from an aluminum-bronze alloy, are especially corrosion-resistant. This explains why so many exterior ship components that go below the water's surface are built from this material. What's more, bronze develops a unique patina over time, so no two watches will ever be the same. That being said, most manufacturers craft the case backs from a different metal like titanium or stainless steel since bronze can cause skin reactions. In the case of the Black Bay Bronze, Tudor has gone with PVD-coated stainless steel that matches that rest of the case. However, the case back will not develop a patina. Finally, domed scratch-resistant sapphire crystal protects the dial from the elements.