The Manual Wind: Tudor Black Bay Bronze

By Ian Schwam August 17, 2016

Tudor Heritage Black Bay Bronze

If you frequent The Manual Wind, it is apparent that I am a Tudor fan. The Tudor Pelagos and the Black Bay are two of the best watches on the market. Quality, attention to detail, classic design, and, of course, value brings it home for me. Tudor’s obvious bread winner, the Black Bay, has slowly progressed from an individual watch to an entire lineup. This year Tudor really fertilized this Black Bay family tree. Two new additions and an update were introduced, one being their new Tudor Heritage Black Bay Bronze that I was fortunate enough to get my hands on. They are still quite hard to find, barely hitting the dealer showcases, and with good reason. This timepiece is awesome.

Related: Tudor Black Bay ‘Black’ Watch

16tudbron1

Jumping on the bronze band wagon, the Tudor Heritage Black Bay Bronze offers a whole new look. To start, the case is cast in bronze. Pictures do not do the proportions of this piece justice. At a larger 43mm in diameter, the wrist presence of this piece is profound. I have roughly a 7in wrist and this piece is on the larger side, but not overpowering. Not oversized, but larger than the previous Black Bay, this hunk of bronze makes a subtle statement. Matched with a chocolate brown bezel and dial, this is an all new color scheme for Tudor. The detail lies in the dial. Arabic 3,6,9 markers bring back design cues from old and rare Rolex submariners. Even the strap design, Nato with a stripe and a thick brown distressed calf, takes cues from the history books referring back to Tudors worn by the French Navy.

This all new look for the Black Bay gets even better. Bronze will patina with time and wear to make this your very own personalized Tudor. The brown color scheme is sporty yet classic and there is no detracted wearability. I would not characterize this as a brown timepiece. Yes the dial and bezel are the color of milk chocolate shavings, but the entire package on the wrist does not say, wear me with brown. Once again, at an awesome value, this in-house automatic timepiece will only set you back $3,975. A great unique addition to any collection, I am happy to say this has finally made mine. Check out more of my collection on Instagram: @thehairywrist.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Watches

Contributing writer and watch enthusiast Ian Schwam dons an expert knowledge of all things watches. Having spent a decade in…

Fashion & Style

The Manual Wind: Bell & Ross Goes Blue & Gold with the Aeronavale

Bell & Ross Aeronavale, br aeronavale, watch, luxury watch

Certain color combinations in watches are a no brainer. With the high quality materials used to produce the dials and hands, great contrast can be well executed. One of these combinations is blue and gold. There is something eye-catching about this casual combination that draws you in on sight. Whether in their square BR case with different finishes and colors, or in their latest introduction with a more classic feel, Bell & Ross is a master of contrast. Their latest example, the BR Aeronavale makes blue and gold look good once again.

At a large but not too large 43mm in diameter, this steel case is from their round BR line of timepieces. Offered in both time and date, and a chronograph complication, the color scheme looks good. A radiant blue dial is matched with gold appliqués to make the hours along the perimeter. Gold hands with superluminova for added legibility match as well. The bezel is blue and gold as well; made of blue anodized aluminum. Under the all the aesthetics lies a BR swiss automatic movement. The piece is matched with either blue alligator or blue calf with deployment buckle to complete the color scheme.

Fashion & Style

The Manual Wind: Ulysse Nardin Makes a Colorful Black Sea Diver

the manual wind ulysse nardin makes a colorful black sea diver undiver

In the watch world, it is very common for a brand to exploit a single watch blueprint. Watches like the Hublot Big Bang, Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore, and the Ulysse Nardin Marine Diver have all seen many variations and limited editions over the years. While it is tough to ruin a classic timepiece design, sometimes a brand can go a little overboard. The Ulysse Nardin Maxi Marine Diver is the staple sport piece in UN’s large line of timepieces. Over the years it has increased to its current size of nearly 46mm. It’s latest production model, the Diver Black Sea, takes this classic sport piece over the top.

Vulcanized rubber coats this 45.8mm stainless steel case to give this UN a black textured finish. The instant focus of the piece is the bezel. Raising an eyebrow, what is in the bezel? At first glance I thought black diamond baguettes until I saw all the color variations. The bezel is set with ceramic baguettes keeping the price reasonable while offering this very unique look. Offered in black, white, yellow, and blue, each color piece has a matching dial and strap. Giving it a skeletonized appearance, waves of the matching color break across the dial keeping the Ulysse Nardin’s nautical theme. Below the dial lies a UN automatic in-house caliber movement with 48 hour power reserve and power indicator. More vulcanized rubber and ceramic attach this piece to the wrist with a folding buckle and ceramic elements with the Ulysse Nardin logo.

Fashion & Style

The Manual Wind: The Fabergé Visionnaire Double Timezone for your Wrist

Faberge Visionnaire, Double Timezone

What is in a name? Watch conglomerates are experts at rejuvenation by digging in the files of watchmaking’s past, choosing a brand with history and resurrecting it with present technology. Many current brands have taken this path. Years dormant and suddenly revived. Fabergé is a name known very well. Perhaps its fame is not from watchmaking, but why not create a watch? Fabergé is known for its priceless and collectible eggs, clocks and object d’art. Almost synonymous with royalty, why shouldn't this brand be utilized today for luxury?

The latest creation out of the house of Fabergé is the Fabergé Visionnaire Double Timezone. Offered in DLC titanium or rose gold, this 43mm timepiece is a standout. A domed sapphire crystal encapsulates the futuristic design of the dial. The hands can be seen protruding from a center ring to tell the time, while in the center of this ring lies a wheel displaying a second timezone digitally. Great texture and detail give this piece a very futuristic look. Under the dial lies a well dressed 50 hour power reserve in-house caliber movement. This can also be seen from the underside of the watch. This piece is attached to the wrist with either a black or brown crocodile strap.