Tudor Black Bay Ceramic
Going dark with a new look
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The Black Bay Ceramic is a prime example of TUDOR’s expert command of one of the industry’s most demanding standards in terms of chronometry and resistance to magnetic fields, as well as its mastery of technical material engineering. Tested by the Federal Institute of Metrology or METAS, this Black Bay model is the epitome of high-tech aesthetic language. Its matt black ceramic elements, charcoal dial and black hands, including lume, accentuate the Black Bay Ceramic’s outstanding performance. Ceramic is a difficult material to work with, but now TUDOR has developed a matching ceramic bracelet with ergonomic qualities that serve as testament to the brand’s mastery of technical innovation, as well as a new aesthetic in line with TUDOR’s tradition of
“going dark”.![]()
- Ceramic three-link bracelet, newly engineered and designed by TUDOR, with a double folding clasp
- 41mm diameter case in matt black ceramic
- Subtly domed sunray satin finish black dial with applied hour markers
- “Snowflake” hands, one of the hallmarks of TUDOR introduced in 1969, with Grade A Swiss Super-LumiNova® luminescent material
- Manufacture Calibre MT5602-U, certified by the Official Swiss Chronometer Testing Institute (COSC), with a silicon hairspring and a 70-hour power reserve
- Master Chronometer certification
TUDOR has successfully submitted its Black Bay Ceramic model for tests to obtain a Master Chronometer certification as part of a constant bid to improve the quality of its products. This certification, which requires a substantial number of changes to the TUDOR Manufacture Calibre, means that TUDOR is able to offer accreditation by an independent body, confirming the exceptional quality of its watches.
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Comprehensive independent certification
The METAS Master Chronometer certification is comprehensive and covers the main functional characteristics of a watch including precision, resistance to magnetic fields, waterproofness and power reserve. Its standards are incredibly high, starting with precision. In order to qualify, a watch must be able to function within a 5-second range of variation each day (0/+5), that is to say 5 seconds less than the Official Swiss Chronometer Testing Institute (COSC) (-4/+6) carried out on a single movement and a second less than TUDOR’s internal standard (-2/+4), which is applied to the brand’s models with a Manufacture Calibre. The certification also guarantees the timekeeping accuracy of a watch subjected to magnetic fields of 15,000 gauss. Finally, it also guarantees the waterproofness claimed by the manufacturer as well as the power reserve. It should also be noted that two prerequisites are necessary before the certification can be obtained: Swiss manufacturing must conform with the criteria of Swiss Made, and the movement must be certified by the Official Swiss Chronometer Testing Institute (COSC).
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All the tests and prerequisites leading to the Master Chronometer certification, which the Black Bay Ceramic has achieved, are summarised below:
- Swiss Made
- Certification by the Official Swiss Chronometer Testing Institute (COSC)
- Precision at two temperatures, in six different positions and at two different levels of power reserve: 100% and 33%
- Smooth functioning when exposed to a magnetic field of 15,000 gauss and precision following exposure
- Waterproof to 200m (660 ft) in accordance with ISO standard 22810:2010
- 70-hour power reserve
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Aesthetically, the TUDOR Black Bay Ceramic combines contemporary, high-tech details with a bold, blacked-out theme. Its matt black monobloc ceramic case has sand-blasted surfaces with bevelled edges, mirror-polished for a striking contrast, and is finished with very pronounced lines. The all-ceramic bracelet is light on the wrist and makes the watch easy to wear. The insert of its rotatable bezel is also in black ceramic with a sunray satin finish. The engraved graduations in matching tones offer an additional complementary matt detail, which responds subtly to changes in light. Its dial is also black-on-black (actually black-on-charcoal, but you get the idea), including its applied hour markers with
“dark” luminescent material. In other words, this watch is all black. It’s a totem to technical mastery and for that, TUDOR continued the tradition of "going dark" with a blacked-out aesthetic.
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The Manufacture Calibre MT5602-U, which powers the Black Bay Ceramic, displays hour, minute and seconds functions. It offers the general look and feel of TUDOR Manufacture Calibres with a dedicated sun laser design and bears the Master Chronometer mention on its bridges, emphasising its distinctive performance. Its rotor is fashioned in tungsten monobloc and is openworked. It also features the distinctive laser radial grooving with sand-blasted details. Its bridges and mainplate have alternate sand-blasted and polished surfaces and laser decorations.
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The build of the Manufacture Calibre MT5602-U is designed to ensure robustness and precision. To do this, the variable inertia balance wheel is maintained by a sturdy traversing bridge with two-point anchoring. It is certified as a chronometer by the Official Swiss Chronometer Testing Institute (COSC), with its performance going beyond the standards set by this independent institute. In fact, where COSC allows an average variation in the daily rate of an uncased movement of between -4 and +6 seconds and TUDOR applies a 6-second (-2/+4) variation standard on its fully assembled watches, METAS requires a Master-Chronometer-certified watch to run within a tolerance range of 5 seconds (0/+5). Not only is the Manufacture Calibre MT5602-U certified to be more accurate, it is also rated as anti-magnetic, making it impervious to magnetic fields below 15,000 gauss.
Another notable feature is that the power reserve of the Manufacture Calibre MT5602-U is “weekend-proof”; that is to say, it has been certified for 70 hours by METAS, which enables the wearer to take the watch off on a Friday evening and put it back on again on Monday morning without having to wind it. Even if you need a weekend away, your watch does not.
Like other models in the Black Bay range, the Ceramic adopts TUDOR’s characteristic angular hands known as
“Snowflake” that appeared in the brand’s 1969 catalogue. The result of a subtle blend of traditional aesthetics and contemporary watchmaking, the Black Bay line is far from simply being an identical rerelease of a classic. Resolutely anchored in the present, it brings together over seven decades of TUDOR diving watches. Whilst it is neo-vintage in conception, its manufacturing techniques and its robustness, reliability, durability and precision as well as the quality of its finish are above modern industry standards.
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Every TUDOR watch is assembled and fully tested to TUDOR’s superior standards at the new TUDOR Manufacture located in Le Locle, Switzerland. This new state-of-the-art facility, bringing together the know-how of watchmakers with the best in production management and automated testing systems, was completed in 2021 after three years of construction. All decked out in TUDOR red, the Manufacture spans over four levels totalling 5,500 square meters and is physically and visually connected to the neighbouring Kenissi Manufacture, the TUDOR movement production facility founded in 2016. With Kenissi and a network of TUDOR-owned affiliates, the brand has been able to integrate the development and production of high-performance mechanical calibres. As a consequence, TUDOR now fully masters the manufacturing of strategic components and can guarantee their quality.
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Since its creation by Hans Wilsdorf in 1926, and in line with his vision of an ideal watchmaking product, TUDOR has never stopped producing the most robust, durable, reliable and precise watches in existence today. Bolstered by this experience, and confident in the knowledge of the superior quality of its watches, TUDOR offers a five-year guarantee on all its products. This guarantee does not require the watch to be registered or any periodic maintenance checks to be performed and is transferable should the watch change ownership during coverage. TUDOR also recommends that its watches should be serviced approximately every 10 years depending on the model and the extent of its use on a day-to-day basis.
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A decade ago, TUDOR launched a new campaign with the
“Born To Dare” signature. It reflects both the history of the brand and what it stands for today. It speaks of the adventures of individuals who have achieved the extraordinary on land, on ice, in the air, and underwater, with a TUDOR watch on their wrists. It also refers to the vision of Hans Wilsdorf, the founder of TUDOR, who manufactured TUDOR watches to withstand the most extreme conditions, watches made for the most daring lifestyles. It is testimony to TUDOR’s singular approach to watchmaking, which has made it what it is today. At the cutting edge of the watchmaking industry, its innovations are now essential benchmarks. The TUDOR
“Born To Dare” spirit is supported throughout the world by first class partnerships, like the Japan Sumo Association, and ambassadors, whose achievements result directly from a daring approach to life.
TUDOR is an award-winning Swiss-made watch brand, offering mechanical watches with sophisticated style, proven reliability and unmatched value for money. The origins of TUDOR date back to 1926, when
“The Tudor” was first registered as a brand on behalf of the founder of Rolex, Hans Wilsdorf. He officially set up the Montres TUDOR SA company in 1946 to produce watches that respect the traditional Rolex philosophy of quality at a more affordable price point. Throughout their history, thanks to their robustness and affordability, TUDOR watches have been chosen by some of the boldest adventurers, on land, in the air, underwater and on ice. Today, the TUDOR collection includes iconic lines such as Black Bay, Pelagos, 1926 and TUDOR Royal. Since 2015, TUDOR has also offered models with mechanical Manufacture Calibres with multiple functions and superior performance.
Black Bay Chrono 
