Chasing My Doubts And Blues Away With The Tudor Black Bay Chrono “Blue” Boutique Edition

I am a big fan of the Tudor Pelagos FXD Chrono “Cycling Edition,” but the Black Bay Chrono? Not so much. Neither the black and white versions nor the steel and gold model ever struck a chord with me. And the pink version? Well, once I saw it on a wrist in Geneva, it made me think of a chronograph with a similarly colored dial I like, the Zenith Chronomaster Sport Pink, so appreciated it, but it also wasn’t love at first sight. You can imagine my skepticism, then, when the Tudor Black Bay Chrono “Blue” Boutique Edition was assigned to me.

Since my colleague Nacho already introduced the Tudor Black Bay Chrono “Blue” Boutique Edition when it debuted not too long ago, I will forego the watch’s technical specifications. The hard facts are in his story and the specifications section below. I will, however, share some key points before I write about my experiences with the watch. This automatic chronograph decked out in “Tudor Blue” has a 41mm stainless steel case with a 49.8mm lug-to-lug length and a 14.4mm thickness, including the domed sapphire crystal. The watch we received at HQ weighs 174 grams, and inside it beats the COSC-certified caliber MT5813. This Breitling B01-based chronograph movement features a silicon hairspring, a column wheel, a vertical clutch, and a 70-hour power reserve.

Tudor Black Bay Chrono “Blue” Boutique Edition: skepticism, be gone!

We’ll dive into the blue with the Tudor Black Bay Chrono “Blue” Boutique Edition (ref. M79360B-0002). Before we do, though, you might want to know how deep we can go with the €5,720 watch. That would be 200 meters, so no worries there. Now, my skepticism towards the Black Bay Chrono is not just due to dials of the initial references. The case shape always bothered me too. I’m all about soberness; form follows function, and less is more. But in the luxury realm in which this watch exists, the soberness and other things I mentioned need to be extremely refined. In that light, the watch’s 41 × 14.4mm case with brushed lugs and polished sides is a little too straightforward for me. It’s also a bit plump and bulky when you look at the watch’s profile.

Surprise, surprise. My wrist has precisely the right shape to accommodate the watch. The diameter is just right to look at — it doesn’t completely cover the wrist but also shows a bit of bracelet — and more importantly, the case back has a size and shape that fit my 18cm wrist like a glove, so to speak.

Don’t call it a Jubilee bracelet!

The snug and comfy fit of the Black Bay Chrono “Blue” Boutique Edition is partially thanks to the size and shape of the case, but the bracelet also plays a big role. Not many Fratelli will get upset when I say Rolex makes the best bracelets in the world. When I say Tudor comes very close, maybe a few more will argue, but I bet the vast majority will agree again. Historically, Tudor offers Rolex quality at a more affordable level. So, of course, the Jubilee-style — sorry, “five-link” — bracelet, which has brushed and polished finishes and uses a T-fit rapid-adjustment clasp, is top-notch. It’s supple, robust, and nicely finished, and it looks familiar, classic, and classy.

I also applaud Tudor for choosing a fixed 316L stainless steel bezel with a blue and silver anodized aluminum tachymeter insert instead of a shinier ceramic bezel. Yes, ceramic is more advanced and significantly more resistant to scratches. But an anodized aluminum bezel insert comes across as more dynamic and even organic. The colors look softer and more “alive,” and the metallic nature of aluminum brings greater depth to the bezel. Technically, a ceramic bezel insert might come close to perfection, but an aluminum one wins when it comes to aesthetics.

Silver clouds in a bright blue sky

There are quite a few blue dials in the different Tudor collections. For instance, the Black Bay for the F1 team has a different shade of blue than the dive instruments for the French Navy. This Boutique Edition chronograph uses “Tudor Blue” for the bezel and dial. Tudor Blue is bright and reminds me of summer’s late-afternoon sky over a Mediterranean island, like Ponza.

In the heavenly blue dial, Tudor put two silver “clouds.” Not only is a chronograph with two counters my favorite dial layout, but in the case of this Tudor, the silver sub-dials tie the case and bracelet together, making it look even better. The presence of a beveled date window at 6 o’clock doesn’t disturb but enhances the balanced look of the dial. Functionality doesn’t get in the way of a striking good look in this case.

Final words on the Tudor Black Bay Chrono “Blue” Boutique Edition

This blue-dial model is the first Black Bay Chrono that I like looking at and wearing. Its radiant blue bezel and dial, silver “clouds” under the domed sapphire crystal, and the good-looking, comfortable, and well-executed bracelet make for one great chronograph. Having said that, I still prefer the carbon Pelagos FXD Chrono “Cycling Edition” over the steel Black Bay Chrono, but it’s hard to compare these two watches. The Pelagos is a specialist, whereas the blue Black Bay Chrono is much more of an all-arounder. Plus, this striking blue iteration should resonate with self-proclaimed denim lovers. I am one, and it does with me. Does it resonate with you? Let me know in the comments.