In the mind of every seafarer, bronze is the metal of the ocean, used in myriad objects housed on vintage yachts and ships. While for many watch lovers, gold, platinum and steel will remain the metals of choice in high-end horology, that hasn’t stopped the likes of Panerai, Anonimo, U-Boat and Hublot from experimenting with bronze. And, whereas once the alloy could be dismissed as a popular novelty, the fact that one of the watch industry’s biggest players has now joined the Bronze Age suggests that demand is, in fact, stronger than ever.
The new Heritage Black Bay Bronze ref. 79250BM is the latest addition to Tudor’s lauded Black Bay diving watch collection, bringing the total number of models up to four. It features a 43mm warm pink-gold-coloured case made of a blend of aluminium and bronze, which, over time, acquires an aged appearance as a result of reactions to air, humidity and wear. The patina is unique to each owner and adds a customisation that money cannot buy. And, for the first time, Tudor has incorporated a chocolate-brown colour for the dial and bidirectional bezel, which, together with the creamy numerals and gold accents give a feeling of a nicely aged “tropical” dial – but without the associated cost of the natural variety.
Eschewing the polished surfaces of the three previous stainless steel models, the entire case is brushed, ensuring a subtle and even ageing and patination process. The case back has been treated to a bronze-coloured PVD finish and, while the model may lack the deliciously retro look of 2015’s 41mm Black Bay Black – which is much closer in look to the original Tudor dive watch, ref. 7922 from 1954 – it still retains the historical Big Crown, domed sapphire and snowflake hands that are signatures throughout the collection.
Whatever one’s personal feelings towards the latest BB aesthetic, something that won’t escape attention is the fact that for the first time in a Black Bay, there is a COSC-certified, in-house movement – MT5601. Beating at 4 Hz and featuring a variable inertia oscillator with silicon balance spring, the movement provides 70 hours of power reserve.