A Modern GMT Watch You Can Depend On - Tudor Black Bay GMT Your Next Watch: WatchGecko Review

WatchGecko Review
Your Next Watch - Episode TWO

Tudor Black Bay GMT - M79830RB-0001

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Just as I thought my time with the Black Bay range was over for the immediate future, I came back to my desk here at WatchGecko HQ to find the new Tudor Black Bay GMT M79830RB-0001 (BB GMT) waiting for me. One of many Tudor releases from this year's Baselworld, the BB GMT on the surface offers an incredibly well built, in-house GMT watch from an increasingly reputable brand at a very accessible price point.

It was released at the same time as another steel, Pepsi bezeled GMT (ahem, Rolex GMT Master II) where the price starts well over double the Tudor and the second-hand prices are selling for even double that; Tudor's offering on the surface looks like a fantastic option. However, after spending some hands-on time with the watch, is it really as good as it looks on paper? Are stats everything?

Let's start with what we already know...
For the BB GMT, Tudor has avoided going down the path of the smaller BB58 and stuck with their full-size, standard Black Bay 41mm case. As I have mentioned previously, I (among many others) find the 41mm size to be a remarkable and wearable, modern size. Despite this, having the standard Black Bay case does mean that the one pitfall is still present, the thickness of 14.5mm. Considering this Black Bay has a GMT function, it is hard to knock points off Tudor here.

It's not like Tudor is unaware of the thickness, they have taken steps with this 2018 case to try and counter the size, such as some slight chamfering to the lower sides of the case which in practice, does actually help the watch wear thinner.

The Black Bay Diver (top) and new Black Bay GMT (bottom) - notice the subtle chamfering on the bottom of the BB GMT case, making it wear a touch thinner. (You can also see the changes to the crown here, with the newer GMT going for the embossed Tudor rose)

The GMT comes fitted on their oyster style metal strap which has the old school rivet design on the edge of each link. I love these bracelet designs as they combine the best of modern and vintage together into a very wearable strap. The bracelet feels very solid, modern and features some nice subtle polishing around the buckle. On the surface, this old-school styling might not look correct on this modern release, but its worth noting how the rivets are actually extremely slight and only noticeable when the watch is viewed at an angle.

The 22mm lug width is not a size preference of mine but it does act as a welcomed modern reminder for the piece.

An appreciated return to this new Black Bay is Tudor's almost signature anodised aluminium bezel insert. This bezel has such a warm, soft look to it which expertly allows the BB GMT to stay true to not just the watches tool watch DNA, but also Tudor as a brand. This understated matte finish allows the bezel to shift in colour tones from royal blue and dark metallic red to an almost black and deep burgundy colour. After unboxing the BB GMT, I instantly felt the bezel reminded me of those stunning Bakelite Rolex GMT Masters from the 50's, not a bad thing at all.

The Calibre MT5652 is yet again another in-house movement from Tudor boasting a gratifying 70 hours of power reserve. For anyone like us, who regularly swaps watches out, they will be able to appreciate the nearly 3 days of power this watch can hold. In terms of functionality as a GMT, this new movement means the first position of the crown moves the hour hand independently, which can then be used to change the date as well.

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