Tudor finally introduces a more compact GMT watch with the Black Bay Pro, which is 39 mm and equipped with a fixed bezel.

With slightly retro styling, the Black Bay Pro nonetheless has all the features that characterise Tudor, including a proprietary movement with a silicon hairspring as well as the newly-developed T-Fit micro-adjustment clasp.

Initial thoughts

The Black Bay Pro is what I have been hoping for, a more compact Tudor GMT. It has a 39 mm case just like the Black Bay Fifty-Eight, the perfect size in my estimation. And it has a true GMT function thanks to the MT5652 inside.

It also sports a useful upgrade: the T-Fit clasp that allows for micro-adjustment on the fly, giving this a feature usually found on pricier watches.

The aesthetic certainly beings to mind the Rolex Explorer II ref. 1655, which is a good thing (and it was probably designed with a knowing wink).

Arguably the only downside is the case thickness. At 14.6 mm high the watch is thick, though not excessively so. It does not feel ungainly on the wrist, although the flat, vertical case sides do accentuate the height.

Another only potential downside is the fixed bezel, which means the watch cannot track the third time zone that’s possible on the standard GMT. It’s not a dealbreaker for me since the third time zone functionality is something I never use on a GMT watch.

Still, the Black Bay Pro is an impressive value proposition all things considered, and certainly one of the best buys of the fair.

Fixed and brushed

The Black Bay Pro has a conventional Black Bay dial with “snowflake” hands, including a “snowflake” GMT hand in yellow. And like several other Tudor watches, the luminous hands and markers have a beige tone.

But the “lume” is a first for Tudor – the hour markers are actually pieces of ceramic impregnated with Super-Luminova applied to the dial. As a result, they lack the borders traditionally found on the hour markers of Tudor dials.

The 39 mm steel case has a fixed bezel that’s been engraved and filled with black lacquer to create the 24-hour second time zone scale. This works in tandem with the yellow hand to indicate two time zones, home and local times.

The Black Bay Pro is powered by the MT5652, which is made by Kenissi, like Tudor’s other proprietary movements. It has a silicon hairspring and 70-hour power reserve.

Lastly, the watch is also equipped with a T-Fit clasp. First found on last year’s Black Bay Fifty-Eight Bronze, the T-Fit clasp has a micro-adjustment mechanism that allows an adjustment of up to 8 mm either way.

Key facts and price

Tudor Black Bay Pro
Ref. 79470

Diameter: 39 mm
Height: 14.6 mm
Material: Stainless steel
Crystal: Sapphire
Water resistance: 200 m

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

Strap: Bronze bracelet, and additional fabric strap

Availability: At Tudor retailers
Price: CHF3,500 on strap, CHF3,800 on bracelet

For more, visit Tudorwatch.com.