This time, we'll be sharing our impressions of the Tudor Black Bay Ceramic "Blue," which features a black ceramic case. Equipped with a Master Chronometer-certified movement by METAS (Swiss Federal Institute of Metrology), this model boasts extremely high levels of magnetic resistance and precision. Not only does it offer excellent basic performance, but it's also incredibly comfortable to use, making it a truly satisfying watch, worthy of the reputation of Tudor.
Text and Photographs by Shin-ichi Sato
[Article published on January 16, 2025]
Overview of the Tudor Black Bay Ceramic "Blue"
This time, we'll be reviewing the Tudor Black Bay Ceramic "Blue." The design of this watch, like previous models, is based on the style of Tudor's classic diver's watches, and has an appealing mix of classic and modern elements.
Another highlight of this watch is the black ceramic case and bezel, paired with a vibrant blue dial. This color scheme commemorates Tudor's 2024 partnership with the Visa Cash App RB F1 team, and the texture of the ceramic enhances the watch's sporty appeal. The movement is the Cal. MT5602-1U, a Master Chronometer certified by METAS (Swiss Federal Institute of Metrology), ensuring exceptional performance.
This impression focuses on the details of each part.
Whenever I hold a Black Bay watch, not just this one, I always remember the saying, "Every good job is the steady accumulation of simple tasks." I'm always impressed by the attention paid to various details related to the exterior finish and usability, in addition to the highly acclaimed movement and its reliability, such as high magnetic resistance and a practical power reserve, and 200m water resistance, which are easy to understand in written terms.
So this time, I would like to give my impressions of the Black Bay Ceramic “Blue,” focusing on the details such as the feel and operability, as well as the shape and structure that create these.
The high quality of the ceramic case is palpable through your fingers
The first thing we should mention in our impressions is the black ceramic case and bezel, which are the hot topic of discussion. While sharing the classic design of the stainless steel model, the use of black ceramic adds a touch of modern, stoic tool watch flair.
Automatic movement (Cal. MT5602-1U). 25 jewels. 28,800 vph. Power reserve approximately 70 hours. Ceramic case (diameter 41mm, thickness 14.4mm). Water resistant to 200m. Price: 718,300 yen (tax included).
The finish of this ceramic case and bezel is excellent. The surfaces are smooth and free of distortion, with sharp edges. While the entire watch has a uniform matte finish, the edges are polished, giving the lustre unique to ceramic a special allure. The bezel features a semi-glossy bezel insert with a radial texture reminiscent of a sunray finish, which is incorporated as a separate part and contrasts with the case. This bezel insert features a shallow, sharp, and clearly engraved 60-minute scale. While this scale is difficult to see in dark surroundings, visibility was good otherwise.
Touching the refined surface of the case's side conveys the refinement of a meticulously crafted product to your fingertips. This feeling is rarely felt with mass-produced products that we come into contact with in our daily lives, and even with a wristwatch, you have to set aside a fair amount of money. For this reason, I believe that when you hold this watch in your hands, appreciate it, and actually use it, you easily get the feeling that you "own a fine watch." This directly leads to increased satisfaction.
The appearance is good and the operation is very good.
Despite the modern ceramic exterior, this watch exudes a classic feel, thanks in part to details such as the notched bezel and large crown.
The bezel is thin, with a finely serrated edge and no sagging. This creates a classic impression while tightening the overall look. The serrated edge provides a good grip while not hurting the fingers, making for a comfortable feel when operating the watch.
When you operate the bezel, you'll notice the high precision of the rotating mechanism. There's almost no play in the vertical direction, and it rotates smoothly without any snags, with a clear click. It also has just the right amount of weight to prevent unintentional rotation. This is a highly refined bezel, and we encourage owners to use it as much as possible.
The crown has sharp notches and a delicate rose emblem on the edge, which also adds a classical touch to the design. The screw-down crown fits well and can be operated smoothly, and when you loosen and release it, the crown pops out clearly, making it easy to understand.
The ceramic buckle is also extremely well-made.
The ceramic buckle that is paired with this watch is also extremely well-made. It has the same matte finish as the case, matching the overall style of the watch, and has a great look and feel. And like the bezel, there is little play that could lead to rattle, and the sense of unity when locked leads to a good look and a sense of security.
The locking mechanism is robust and will not come undone unexpectedly, and it locks and unlocks smoothly. This comfortable operation is due to the ceramic balls used in the locking mechanism, and the low friction of ceramic makes it smooth and reduces the risk of wear. It is a very small part, but its effect is enormous. During my impressions, I never felt any anxiety or dissatisfaction with the buckle. Since watches are put on and taken off more often than you might expect, a stress-free buckle, or one that feels well-made when operating it, will be a major factor in leading to satisfaction during regular use.
A design that suits a sporty style
The dial design is based on conservative diver's watches, and uses triangle, dot, and bar indexes to enhance legibility. This, combined with the flat "snowflake" hour hand and pencil-shaped minute hand, gives the entire dial design a modern, contemporary feel. In particular, the flat-finished hands create a pop impression, adding a "cute" feel, which I believe is a distinctive and appealing feature of the Black Bay.
The dial of this watch is finished in the vivid blue of the Visa Cash Up RB F1 team, giving it a strong sporty impression. The case is made of matte ceramic, creating a strong contrast, giving the illusion that the dial appears to float or glow when worn. This high contrast is rare even among the extensive Black Bay collection, and is a unique charm of this watch.
The watch is also very comfortable to wear. The lightweight ceramic and the lightness of the rubber strap are effective. The case diameter of 41mm is standard for a diver's watch, and the length and angle of the lugs are just right, so it fits comfortably on the wrist and will likely be a good fit for many people. The black case gives it a sleek look, making it appear more compact than its 41mm dimensions suggest.
High technology to consistently manufacture movements with incredible performance
The movement, Cal. MT5602-1U, is Master Chronometer-certified by METAS (Swiss Federal Institute of Metrology), and its basic performance is truly "certified." The Master Chronometer certification by the Official Swiss Chronometer Testing Institute (COSC) is the "entrance exam," and all movements are inspected for 10 days, both individually and after casing, to ensure accuracy is maintained even when exposed to a 15,000 gauss magnetic field, and that there is minimal fluctuation in accuracy due to the remaining power reserve.
Inspection is costly, and any failure during the inspection will incur additional costs. From this perspective, in addition to an excellent design that achieves magnetic resistance and high precision, a high level of manufacturing technology, including quality control, is essential to consistently achieve these. The fact that this watch is offered for 746,900 yen (tax included) despite being housed in a high-cost ceramic case is formidable and demonstrates Tudor's capabilities.
The movement is finished in black to match the color of the case, creating a stoic impression. The movement's bridge configuration, with its small opening, looks very rigid. This may also be the secret to its high precision.
In addition, the manual winding of the mainspring is smooth, and the time can be set precisely with little play, providing an excellent operational feel. Not only the performance but also the operational feel conveys that this is a "good movement." The power reserve of approximately 70 hours also provides a sense of security.
High level of perfection that makes you say "As expected from Tudor"
Even after examining and examining this watch in detail, I didn't have any negative impressions. The only thing that bothered me was that the display on the bezel insert was difficult to see in the dark, but as long as there was even a little light, visibility was sufficient. That was really the only thing that bothered me.
Even before I started reviewing it, I was confident in the high level of perfection of this watch, so I approached it with a sense of security. Even with such high expectations, I was deeply impressed by the high quality of its appearance, the ease of operation, and the ease of use. One word: "As expected from Tudor."
