Black Bay Chrono 2021 - Owners Thread

[bp1000]

I haven't seen one of these threads posted before and having just picked up a the new 2021 Black Bay Chrono I wanted to do it some justice with a mini review.

I don't normally do these, nor incomings but I've been particularly impressed with this watch.

It also bothers me that some people call Tudor the poor mans Rolex. I think they are still very underrated and I've been a huge Tudor fan for a number of years so would like to give this latest release some credit. For me, the joy of watches is not just about the brand prestige, its about great watches, which I feel this is.

A popular topic is thickness, slab sided, the Tudor way. I do not think it wears like a 14.4mm watch. In fact I've read a few reviews where it has measured 14.2mm on the callipers. Some of that is the domed sapphire crystal which somehow manages to distort the seconds track hash markers very close to how an old school acrylic crystal would do.

That feeling extends into the watch overall. It feels more like something from the past, than the present. One of my favourite watches that at some point I would like to own is the 6263, non Paul Newman black dial Daytona. I saw the similarities but its far enough to departed from the 6263 as to not look like an embarrassing copy.

Regarding the thickness, if you own a Black Back 41mm diver, an ETA or in-house, all you have to do is flip that watch and this chrono upside down and view it from the back and side to see how they have reshaped the case-back and curved / tapered the lugs so this watch, despite it's 14.4mm spec thickness, sits very flat, at least on my wrist. It therefore hides its on sheet thickness quite well. I own a few Daytonas, whilst they have a case profile more like a Datejust than a sub, I don't feel there is an awful lot of difference in profile between the them and the BB chrono. Clearly the Daytona is thinner, but it isn't night and day.

It sits very comfortable on the wrist, although the only slight criticism is it is slightly top heavy.

I had the opportunity to see both the panda and the reverse panda.

As you can see, I picked the reverse panda. I preferred the continuity between the black dial and black bezel. I'm also a fan of Tudors subtle matte black finish. It makes the sub registers stand out, especially as the white/silver is stepped and to me that adds depth, and as a chronograph collector, I use these watches, for their intended function, regularly. A long with slightly better contrast on the black dial version between the hands and hour lume plots, the reverse panda just made more sense to me, but neither choice is a bad choice.

Now that I own it, added to a collection of other chronographs, I don't wish it was thinner. I wouldn't change anything about it apart from perhaps slightly more bracelet taper. The faux rivets don't bother me but on balance I'd prefer a bracelet without them.

If this is where Tudor are starting from regarding their new chrono line, I think its got a great future ahead.