One of the strongest value propositions at Watches & Wonders is from an unsurprising contender, Tudor. Not entirely new but still compelling, the Black Bay GMT is a new version of the brand’s travel staple, now facelifted with a silver dial that brings to mind the mythical Rolex GMT-Master “Pan Am”.

Initial thoughts 

Since its release in 2018, the Black Bay GMT has been a crowd pleaser, and the newest variant will be as well. Its tangible features like the in-house calibre are obvious, and less apparent is the subtle historical connection.

While a silver dial on a sport watch isn’t novel, this is particularly notable for the unspoken reference to the historical Rolex GMT-Master with a white dial reputedly made for Pan American Airways.

The fact that the GMT-Master “Pan Am” is so famous yet controversial in terms of provenance  gives this Black Bay GMT an amusing and interesting historical angle.

Apart from the dial, there is no difference between this and the version with a black dial that came before. The price remains unchanged, and it still offers great value for money. 

The only criticism that I have is the same as for the earlier version: the case is chunky at 41 mm in diameter; the case is thick as well. I’m certain a more compact Tudor GMT model will arrive one day, especially with the just-launched Black Bay 54 that is 37 mm.

Opaline dial

The dial on the new Black Bay GMT retains the same dial layout with “snowflake” hands, including its lozenge-shaped seconds and time zone hands, save for the new colourway in an off-white offering (officially termed by the brand as opaline). This colour scheme is created thanks to a special galvanic finish, producing a matted white-grey look for the watch.

The new version share the same case of 41 mm in diameter and 14.6 mm high as with base models in the Black Bay divers. As standard for the Black Bay GMT lineup, the case has a bidirectional rotating bezel with an anodised aluminium insert composed of a matte blue and burgundy.

The original Black Bay GMT and its latest off-white successor.

Wearers can choose between its matching integrated bracelet or one of Tudor’s jacquard fabric straps for a stylish look. As a true GMT, the new Black Bay is powered by the in-house MT5652, an automatic movement that has integrated the second time zone hand unto to the base plate with a longer power reserve of 70 hours.

Key facts and price

Tudor Black Bay GMT “Opaline”
Ref. M79830RB-0010

Diameter: 41 mm
Height: 14.6 mm
Material: Steel
Crystal: Sapphire
Water resistance: 200 mm

Movement: Cal. MT5652
Features: Hours, minutes, seconds, date, and second time zone
Frequency: 28,800 beats per hour (4 Hz)
Winding: Automatic
Power reserve: 70 hours

Strap: Steel bracelet or fabric strap

Limited edition: Regular production
Availability: Now at Tudor boutiques and retailers
Price: Steel and fabric strap – CHF3,800; Steel and bracelet – CHF4,100

For more information, visit Tudorwatch.com.