If you’re a fan of the popular painted black sports watch style, then the recently discontinued Tudor Black Bay Dark may be just the watch for you. Much less expensive than an all-black ceramic watch, this black PVD-coated stainless steel Tudor Heritage Black Bay is a modern twist on the brand’s vintage-inspired replica Rolex watch collection.
TUDOR first introduced the Heritage Black Bay in 2012, taking the vintage TUDOR Submariner as its inspiration. In creating the Black Bay, in addition to reinterpreting the general design and silhouette of its famous vintage diver, TUDOR borrowed the geometric “snowflake” hands from Ref. 7924, as well as the submarine designed for the French Navy in the 1970s.
Incorporating some of the best and most iconic design elements from the TUDOR archives, the Heritage Black Bay was an immediate success among collectors and became the poster child for the relaunch of the TUDOR master brand. Just four years after launching the Black Bay collection, TUDOR unveiled a fresh range of models at Baselworld 2016, including a new version of the stainless steel Black Bay and the never-before-seen Black Bay Dark.
The top of the case has a unidirectional rotating bezel with a black anodized aluminum insert. The bezel includes a red inverted triangle with a luminous pearl at 12 o’clock and a 60-minute chronograph scale for divers to keep track of how long they’ve been underwater. The first 15 minutes of the insert’s scale include markers for each minute, and then there is a marker every five minutes on the rest of the watch.
As expected, the winding crown of the TUDOR Black Bay Dark is screwed onto the middle case to create a water-resistant barrier. A closer look at the crown reveals an engraved rose crest, which you’ll recognize as the brand’s earliest logo if you’re familiar with TUDOR’s history. The only colors used on the Black Bay Dark are the red text of the depth rating on the dial and an inverted red triangle on the bezel.
One of the signature design details of all Rolex replica watches is the angular snowflake hands, and the Black Bay Dark is no exception. The white luminescence of the hands and hour markers shine against the black elements, while the absence of a date window keeps the dial layout uncluttered and symmetrically appealing.
Tudor offers the Black Bay Dark with a choice of a matching black PVD-coated stainless steel strap or an old-fashioned black leather strap – both of which are equipped with a steel folding clasp with a black PVD finish. In addition, the Tudor Heritage Black Bay Dark comes with an additional jacquard fabric strap, whether the watch is worn with a strap or a bracelet.