Reply With QuoteNice overview and photos
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Tudor Heritage Black Bay GMT - a personal review - model number: M79830RB-0001
(if you are viewing on a computer screen - do expand sideways for the maximum picture size)
I have owned this watch for about a week now (5 days to be exact). It is a brand I have not paid too much attention to until Baselworld 2018 with the release of this watch and also the BB58. This review is of the GMT. It appeared at the same time as the Rolex GMT with similar colours on the bezel and jubilee bracelet which may be one I would want to look out for if they ever appeared at retail in a shop. But let us continue with this review shall we?
The black bay has a few standard characteristics
- the trade mark 'snowflake' hands which this model has in spades - not one, not two but THREE hands have the snowflake end - hour, seconds and also the GMT hand all have it.
- the rather slab like profile - though I can only say I don't really notice this with my relatively flat wrist profile
- Tudor crown marking
What makes this one different is
- no coloured crown gasket - much less obtrusive
- GMT anodised metal bezel with 'Pepsi' style colouring
What is a differentiator for me
- classic contoured lugs with nicely chamfered polished edges with brushed top and polished sides
- domed glass - almost like a plexiglass in look - but in modern material
- no cyclops for the date window - which is black numbers on white background for visibility
- simple face - with minute markers
- GMT has 48 - yes 48 clicks, so that 1/2h time zones can be read off from the GMT hand - particularly useful for India's time zone which I interact with daily - the bezel feels like ball-bearing tech which has a very positive movement, aligning with the illuminated hour indexes. There is not illuminated bezel pip as this is not strictly a dive watch.
- 200m wrt but with the Rolex heritage I trust this watch beyond that point as it is tested passed value
- Very accurate movement
What is interesting for me, personally, is Tudor being more 'traditional' than Rolex - with somewhat smaller case size - at least the appearance of that - with not the 'broad shoulders' of the most current Rolex sport watches which I don't really like. Being steel bezels that cost perhaps £40 to replace not £500 for a cracked ceramic - also the anodized steel I think looks better - less shiny than ceramic.
The packaging is slightly less austere than its more costly brother - you can take a Tudor into any Rolex service center for work if you like - it shows the closeness of the two brands.
It comes double boxed in white cardboard with a back inner (cardboard) box and an inner padded box shown here padded with slim layer of white padding
Tudor sign on the inner back padded box
Comes with instruction book, Guarantee book, Guarantee card
The marketing video:
Here is the riveted bracelet which does seem to pull a couple of wrist hairs but the bracelet is very comfortable over all with 3 adjustments on the folder over clasp. The clasp is well done with a ball bearing locked folder over safety clasp - nice and secure feeling.
A close up of the Tudor crown - nicely done:
And the anodised bezel and showing the crystal with a lovely depth to it
Here is the watch face - and check the crown has a satin finished winding crown
So - the watch came to me complete with stickers in many places - will I take them off now??? What do you think!
Martyn
Last edited by MartynJC (UK); 18th November 2018 at 00:24.
Nice overview and photos
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Superb photography.
I've a hankering for one of these, but waiting for the brouhaha (and QC issues) to settle so I can try one on and decide if I can live with those slab sides. Part of me thinks by that time Tudor might have responded to the clamour for a GMT Fifty-Eight which would eliminate this issue at a stroke and instantly open my wallet. Basel 2019?
Nice watch and review, wear in good health
Great review of what is surely a very nice watch. Snowflake hands are beginning to grow on me. Sounds like it might be a keeper for you.
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I really like this watch. I read elsewhere that it felt too heavy and having girlie wrists myself what wrist size and can we have a watch in place shot please ?
Lovely, especially the domed glass. If only not for those snowflake hands ...
I'm assuming the marks on the bracelet (first link at 12 o'clock and end link at 6 o'clock) are marks on the stickers not the metal.
Useful review of a very nice watch ...... as for stickers, to remove or not to remove is something that also challenges me, with a new timepiece.
Interestingly, I recently picked up a BB Harrods (from Harrods) and they insisted on removing all of the stickers and retaining hangtag before handover.....
apparently "there is an active market in reselling the watch".....as we know.
Personally, I usually take stickers off and retain. In the past where I've left them in situ on bracelet they tended to just curl up and not look good after a while, although those on the case tended to look okay for longer and offered protection. Nice prob to have...enjoy your new watch.
Dirt - Shows in magnified imagesOriginally Posted by jukeboxs
Still liking those.... thanks for posting.
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A fantastic watch no doubt but I found lack of micro adjustment does annoy me a bit
The clasp does have 3 adjustment points that can be changed using sharp object like a paper-clip - like the old style Rolex bracelets.
It is a quite substantial watch with some 'heft'. With the bracelet more so, so I am trying it with a Nato as an alternative. The case does turn down at the edges so not a complete 'slab' -IAmATeafI really like this watch. I read elsewhere that it felt too heavy and having girlie wrists myself what wrist size and can we have a watch in place shot please ?
Hope these images help?
My local AD did reckon the 38mm would become more standard and to look out for future releases based on that case shape in Basel 2019. In my case I think the 41mm is just about right for me.
Martyn
Last edited by MartynJC (UK); 18th November 2018 at 18:10.
Great write up and some stunning photos.
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Thanks for another great and detailed review Martyn, the 41mm size does seem perfect and certainly a good alternative to those people getting frustrated trying to buy the Rolex equivalent. For me it would be fascinating to see a comparison test with this, the Rolex GMT and the Omega 8906 METAS GMT.
Good review Martyn, thank you for taking the time. Some of the clearest wrist shots I've seen too! Have to say, it's really whetted my appetite - I'm hoping to receive mine very soon.
I am intrigued to see what new variant might be release at next Baselworld - a lot of chatter of the BB58 having a GMT Pepsi version released. I'd like that, my wrists are a bit smaller than average so would probably fit better for me personally. Although happy with the 41mm, hopefully get hold of it before Xmas! Wear yours in good health, sir.
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Looks great. I still have reservations about the fake revits in the bracelet- but overall it seems to work really well.
It's just a matter of time...
I had a call from Rudells this morning saying that they've got one come in. Mine if I want it. I'm going to have a look on Wednesday
Martyn,
Congratulations on finally tracking one down. And thanks for taking the time to post your thoughts. Wear it in good health. It’s a lovely watch
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