Tudor Blackbay GMT

[Ped22]

So I just picked up my BB GMT, the first to arrive at the Bristol Cribbs Fraser Hart.
Sales guy was nice, and knowledgable.
He stated that the BB58 is the FH group buyer's favourite watch, but would only be available from July at earliest, and that he anticipated they woult not have "stock" GMTs for a long time yet, the waiting list is getting added to daily, with no more deliveries scheduled, so getting longer. It is currently twice as long as the schedule of deliveries currently planned (whatever than meant).

So, the watch, and a few observations. I have been able to compare it to a BB Blue (in shop), a 76100 (my own) and also my own Pelagos.

Firstly, some absolute observations, having got it home and immediately put it on a BB Blue Nato..

• For me, the colours are a home run. The blue is delightfully dark and understated, the red similarly restrained and non-shouty. They look rich and traditional.
• The satin bezel is a good look, as is the satin dial.
• I like the non-coloured crown tube, I have always found this feature on the standard BBs a little bit gimmicky for me.
• On the bracelet it is heavier than I thought it would be. But most of the weight is in that, so on Nato it is very comfy.
• The bracelet has 3 adjustment positions, and the links are screwed for adjustment. It is well made and free from slack, but with the link lengths it may lack sufficient adjustment for perfect fit. I am not sure, as I elected not to size the bracelet at all.
• The lume is excellent, with the proviso that there is less area of it than you may think (see later)
• The hands are just as long as they should be on the dial, with mins and secs touching the outer track, and the GMT extending beyond that towards the bezel scale
• The 48-click bezel is positive in movement, and stiff enough to avoid accidental knocking. The grip edge is quite slim compared to the Pelagos.
• I like the case chamfers, but perhaps would have prefered them to be the only part of the case to be polished, but the sides are too. The case finishing between the lugs is lovely, and the inside angle of the lugs is not as sharp as it is on my Pelagos (which is dangerously so).
• I do like the absence of cyclops on the date.
• The dial print detail is excellent, and very crisp.
• It sits perfectly on the BB Blue Nato
• Interestingly, the rose logo on the crown is raised, but on all the other BBs it is recessed and colour-filled.

Some comparative note for those that have a BB - I was comparing it to my preferred colour, the blue.

• This is a BB. The case is, as far as the eye can tell, exactly the same as the other BBs, in terms of overal size, but there are some interesting differences that I noted inside that case.
• The edge of the crystal on the GMT is totally different, looking like it has an old-fashoned polished tension ring on the inside of the crystal edge, whereas the BB Blue has a very straight brushed rehaut like you see in all sapphire modern divers. The GMT's detail serves to add a very subtle vintage feel by complicating this edge.
• The dial indices are smaller. You have to look hard, but the triangles are shorter, and the circular indices smaller than a normal BB.
• And also the hands are thinner, with thinner lume centre sections, for all hands except the second hand.
• The "slab" side on this is indeed exactly the same depth as the pelagos, 8,0mm
• The overall watch depth is 0,3mm thicker at 14,2mm than the Pelagos, but the crystal edge extends 1.3mm more than the Ti cousin, making the case and bezel depth thinner on the BB.

So, after 3 hours of ownership, would I change anything?

Yes.
I would have brushed the case sides, and I would have drilled the lugs, but I understand why neither have been done.

Me and this watch are going to be firm friends.

With an older uncle



First moments on the wrist, sorry about the camera shake



Note how the bezel blue is darker than the BB Blue, less glossy and less metallic. Look at the crystal edge too around 1-2 o'clock. Steps on the left, slab on the right. Slenderness of hands, smaller indices.



And finally on the dark blue Nato that I think suits it perfectly



Dave

So you’re the guy the first Pepsi went to! Congrats!

[sweets]

Yep

Still wearing it on this



Crafter Blue 2 colour rubber for Black Bay (the red underneath is mostly not visible in this shot).
I have to say the downward angle of this rubber is a little too much for me, meaning the strap is either loose or digs into the inside edge of my wrist a little.
The endfit is good (only took me 10mins, ), but I think it is more likely to remain on the blue Tudor Nato that I already own (see above).

Dave