A noteworthy release for W&W 2026, the new Tudor Black Bay Ceramic delivers on the promise of a full ceramic bracelet. The stealthy model distills from Tudor’s expertise working with industrial ceramics and completes the fully black look for the beloved diver’s watch. 

Initial thoughts

Although I’m not too partial of ceramic watches in general, this latest edition of the Black Bay might be among the best offerings on the market. With a full ceramic construction (save from some strategic steel components) the timepiece captures the “black-out” theme perfectly. There is a strong market for all-black timepieces and Tudor’s latest Black Bay Ceramic is a solid proposition. 

Tudor’s quality is generally unmatched in their price category and the Black Bay Ceramic is one of the more affordable ceramic-cased timepieces. The new bracelet and clasp also add considerably to the value of the watch and complete the look. 

Having handled the piece personally I can confidently say the bracelet wears light and comfortable. The clasp action is sturdy, but somehow doesn’t covey the sense of security the heftier T-Fit clasp does. It’s not that the lock isn’t reliable — it really is — but a butterfly-style clasp just feels off on a diver watch. 

This new Black Bay Ceramic follows the newer Black Bay design language, with the slimmer crown and slimmer profile. Since it remains part of the Black Bay line, this can be considered a tool watch, but the ceramic casing might make it more susceptible to certain types of powerful shocks. Although brittle in nature, the ceramic material used pretty much guarantees the timepiece won’t get any surface scratches under realistic conditions of real world wear. 

Full ceramic

The construction of the ceramic bracelet is sleek and quite smart. The bulk of an individual link is milled out of industrial ceramic but the screw slots are metal. The execution guarantees the precision and security of traditional screw linkages while preserving the general ceramic construction. 

The trick of using black-coated steel parts for sensitive pieces is actually carried over from the case construction. The caseback, bezel and crown are all made from steel, while the case is a 41 mm solid block of industrial ceramic. 

The reasoning behind these elements being executed from steel is probably the fact that threaded components need to have a certain elasticity for achieving a tight seal. Brittle ceramic doesn’t fit the bill, so screw-down parts like the caseback and crown assembly are made from steel. 

Interestingly, the clasp is fully crafted out of ceramic. There is a small island bearing the Tudor coat of arms in the middle, so that the logo is discreetly showing with the clasp closed. Taking the risk and making a ceramic clasp is a brave and commendable choice from Tudor.  

The ceramic material used is finished with a soft matte texture, which is pleasant to the touch. Since the dark theme is continued on the dial, legibility can be an issue in certain lighting conditions.

The dial, indices and hands are all blacked out, although the luminous filling is a lighter hue of grey, but much darker compared to the previous edition. Overall the watch itself is virtually the same as the original Black Bay Ceramic (save for the slimmer crown), with the real novelty of this launch being the ceramic bracelet. 

Inside the watch ticks the sturdy and reliable MT5602-U, which is theoretically among the most accurate calibers in Tudor’s stable. The movement is both chronometer certified by COSC and Master Chronometer certified by METAS. 

The latter certification is based on more stringent criteria, like validating the claimed power reserve, checking the accuracy of the movement at both full wind and at 33% remaining power and anti-magnetism up to 15,000 Gauss. The cased movement needs to keep an accuracy of +0/+5 seconds per day.

Compared to the more sophisticated movement inside the newly launched Tudor Monarch, the MT5602-U feels truly industrial. This shouldn’t be much of a problem for this timepiece, since the movement is concealed behind a closed caseback. 

Key facts and price

Tudor Black Bay Ceramic
Ref. 7941A1ACNU

Diameter: 41 mm
Height: 13.55 mm
Material: Black ceramic
Crystal: Sapphire
Water resistance: 200 m

Movement: Cal. MT5602-U
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds
Winding: Automatic
Frequency: 28,800 beats per hour (4 Hz)
Power reserve: 70 hours

Strap: Ceramic bracelet and clasp

Availability: Now available at Tudor boutiques and retailers
Price: CHF6,300, VAT included

For more, visit tudorwatch.com.