Everything You Need to Know About the Tudor Black Bay GMT

When it comes to watch brands that have really shown their customers true value in their offerings with impeccable timepieces, it’s hard to deny Tudor the crown. For years they were considered Rolex’s lesser sibling and for those who simply either couldn't afford or not offered a Rolex from your AD. However, this could not be any further from the truth, the level of craftsmanship, movements and finishings Tudor offer in their watches is ridiculously high and then for the price they charge, no one can beat them.

They have been so well known for their Black Bay divers and for good reason too but Tudor offers more than time only dive watches. The Tudor Black Bay GMT range is one worth exploring as their models and choice are plenty, not to mention they look incredible! So today, we are going over everything you need to know about the Tudor Black Bay GMT range and their other GMT’s as well so you can see what they are all about.

History of the Tudor Black Bay GMT

Tudor was founded in 1926 by Hans Wilsdorf (the founder of Rolex), and was created to offer high-quality watches at a more accessible price point than its sister brand, Rolex. Over the decades, Tudor built a reputation for producing durable and reliable tool watches, particularly those used by professional divers and military personnel. Some even argue Tudor has become what Rolex was all those years ago. Discover our article on the history of the Tudor brand.

The Black Bay line, introduced in 2012 which drew heavily on Tudor’s historical dive watches, such as the Submariner references used by the French Navy (Marine Nationale) and other organizations.

The collection revived Tudor’s iconic aesthetic, including the "snowflake" hands and domed crystals, while incorporating modern watchmaking advancements.

This blend of vintage-inspired design but with modern technology is what Tudor have become so well known for as they are one of the few brands that do it so well.

Tudor Black Bay GMT Pepsi black dial on metal strap - EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE TUDOR BLACK BAY GMT

Tudor Black Bay GMT on metal strap - EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE TUDOR BLACK BAY GMT

The Black Bay GMT was unveiled at Baselworld in 2018, marking a significant milestone for Tudor as it was their first GMT they produced. This model was the first in the Black Bay series to feature a GMT complication, which allows the wearer to track multiple time zones simultaneously.

This function has become one of the most popular ones across the watch industry so it comes as no surprise that Tudor wanted to develop their own model. Not only is it very useful for pilots or professionals working in different time zones, it’s also a feature many of us watch enthusiasts enjoy. Not to mention when heading away on holiday, it makes it nice and easy to track your home country’s time zone too.

The watch’s design was a nod to the aviation heritage of GMT watches, which was essentially popularized by the Rolex GMT-Master in the mid-20th century. However, the Tudor Black Bay GMT offered a distinct identity with its 41mm stainless steel case, signature snowflake hands, and a striking bi-directional bezel with a two-tone red and blue aluminium insert, reminiscent of the classic "Pepsi" colour scheme.

The bright bold steel Black Bay case with the pop of colour from the bezel made it a very striking piece and for those who enjoyed the regular Black Bay diver but wanted more wrist presence, this was the one. Tudor really does exactly what people assume, offer Rolex quality build at a cheaper price point with a more vintage design and you can clearly see that here with this Black Bay GMT. You can also reed our article "Why choose a Tudor".

Features of the Tudor Black Bay GMT

At the heart of the Black Bay GMT is the in-house built calibre MT5652, a heck of a movement and beats all of its competitors in terms of performance. This self-winding movement was specifically developed to integrate the GMT function, demonstrating Tudor’s ability to innovate new movements for their watches. The MT5652 boasts a robust 70-hour power reserve, which when it was released was about 30 hours more power reserve than your average Rolex.

The movement doesn’t stop there though, it has chronometer certification, and an anti-magnetic silicon balance spring, making it a reliable companion for demanding environments. Tudor really wanted their Black Bay GMT to be a do-it-all watch and it really is just that.

The Black Bay GMT combines vintage charm with modern practicality. Its bold, legible dial features a matte black finish and large, luminous hour markers, ensuring excellent visibility in low-light conditions. The two-tone bezel not only serves as a practical tool for tracking a third time zone but also adds a vibrant pop of colour that enhances the watch’s overall appeal. Many people dream of the classic Rolex ‘Pepsi’ colour scheme which gained a lot of fame during the 1970s and 1980s so it’s no shock that this Tudor was a hit with everyone from its debut in 2018.

Additionally, Tudor offers the Black Bay GMT on three strap options: a riveted steel bracelet, a brown leather strap, and a black fabric strap with a red accent. Each option gives everyone the ability to wear it how they prefer however the bracelet offered on this model is like that on the Black Bay 58, a fold over clasp with three micro pin holes so with a tool you can adjust the bracelet.

Unfortunately, on this model there is no on the-go adjustment available. Over the years, the watch has gained a lot of popularity, that’s why Tudor developed a few more GMT offerings. You can now opt for the same Black Bay GMT but with a crisp white dial offering a striking contrast between the dial and bezel. Additionally, you can opt for a true vintage looking two-tone model with a black and brown bezel to really bring out that gold colour in the watch.

All of them still have the same strap options available to them, either their classic riveted three link bracelet, a leather strap or a nato strap. The bracelet and nato would likely be your best options since the watch still has 200m of water resistance so you can wear this everywhere. Whether you plan to have an active or relaxing holiday, the Tudor Black Bay GMT can stay on your wrist throughout it all thanks to its water resistance.

Now at this point you're probably wondering why we haven't already talked about and gushed over potentially Tudor’s new most popular watch, their GMT coke bezel? Don’t worry we will, but it’s not under Tudor’s Black Bay GMT line, it comes under the Black Bay 58 line which was a very interesting decision to keep it there. It would look as if Tudor prefer to keep all their watches in categories based on the case shape and size rather than the functionality or complication their watches have. Regardless of what category or line up Tudor classify their new GMT as, it’s undeniably a beautiful watch so let's dive into it and take a look at what it’s all about.

Tudor deployant buckle on black rubber strap - EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE TUDOR BLACK BAY GMT

Watches and Wonders 2024 had everyone betting Rolex was going to steal the show with the release of a new GMT, in other words a new bezel colour change. Most people thought Rolex would finally bring back their classic vintage black and red bezel colour scheme but instead they offered us a new black and grey option.

However, everyone suddenly became aware that it was Rolex’s sister brand Tudor that stole the show with the release of a perfectly sized cock GMT. So many watch enthusiasts have been waiting for a brand to release a modern take of a coke GMT and not only did Tudor do it perfectly, they did it in a smaller than normal case size.

Focus on Tudor Black Bay 58 GMT

Adding a GMT complication to the Black Bay 58 could further elevate its versatility and appeal to customers, so a good strategic choice by Tudor. The combination of the Black Bay 58’s compact dimensions and the practicality of a GMT would cater to more wrist sizes, something Tudors Black Bay GMT couldn’t offer with its bigger dimensions. The Black Bay GMT sits at 14.6mm thick which for any watch is quite large so when their new one came in at just under 3 mm thinner everyone loved it.

It is important to look after your luxury watch and care for it/them too, try and keep them clean and never exceed their water resistance limit. If the strap is leather then try to make sure you don’t get it wet or wear it whilst doing sports to avoid sweat damaging it faster. A luxury watch is built to be worn so do not be afraid to wear them but just make sure you know where and when to wear them. If you owned a Ferrari 458 Pista and a Range Rover and you were going to go camping in the woods, you’d probably choose the Range Rover as it is better suited to that particular scenario. The same logic can be applied to watches, you get the idea!

Tudor Black Bay GMT black dial on metal strap - EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE TUDOR BLACK BAY GMT

Tudor Black Bay 58 black dial on black rubber strap - EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE TUDOR BLACK BAY GMT

If we take a look at the design language we can immediately see a vintage style watch with a GMT function, and that’s thanks to Tudor's Black Bay 58 case being a more vintage size at 39 mm. Small enough to make it feel elegant on the wrist and closer to a vintage watch size, but not so small it feels dainty or not like a tool watch. The deep rich red colour paired with eh stark contrasting black bezel gives a sharp contrast and really draws the eye in.

This colour scheme on the bezel also allows Tudor to use what could quite possibly be their favourite thing in the world…Gilt!! The use of Gilt on the Tudor Black Bay 58 GMT really rounds it off as a true vintage inspired watch and gives it closer ties to vintage GMTs from the 1980s. The dial is a flat matte black one making the classic snowflake hands pop when you look down at it. However, they use the lollipop style for the seconds hand now and the now flack hands designed is reserved for both the local and GMT hour hands.

Customize your Tudor watch

Now, the strap options Tudor offer have really come a long way, you can choose between either their classic three-link bracelet or a rubber strap. What makes both of these options special is that the bracelet is the new and improved one using Tudors brilliant T-fit clasp. This is essentially a mini glidelock system giving you 5 mm of extra adjustment and it really feels and looks like a Rolex clasp, which is not a bad thing !

It still has the faux rivets on the side of it but it’s just like the helium escape valve on the Omega Seamaster, some love it and some hate it but it’s part of the original design and makes the watch what it is so Tudors rivets are unlikely to go anywhere anytime soon! The second option is a rubber strap which uses the same clasp as the three-link bracelet and has solid metal end links so you still get that premium tool watch look.

And there you have it, everything you need to know about Tudors Black Bay GMT line-up and their new star watch, the coke GMT. These watches can really go anywhere and do anything and to take that look and feel to the next level why not use a universal or curved end ZEALANDE strap? ZEALANDE design their straps to reflect the quality of your luxury watches and it also gives you a chance to save your Tudor bracelet from scratches and wear and tear whilst enjoying a whole new look. Tudor is a brand ZEALANDE specialise in and you can be sure they will have the perfect strap for you in a colour you’ll love wearing.