TUDOR BLACK BAY P01
In 2019, TUDOR expanded its Black Bay line by presenting the Black Bay P01 Ref. 70150, a watch based on a covert prototype that was developed in the late 1960s and proposed to the US Navy. In 1967, TUDOR, who had been supplying the US Navy with dive watches since the late 1950s, commenced development of a new reference to replace the Oyster Prince Submariner 7928, which was standard-issue at that time. This new watch needed to meet a prescribed specification that was set by the American government and incorporated the results of the latest research into functionality and ergonomics carried out by the brand’s engineers. A development phase was launched which resulted in the production of prototypes, as well as a patent for a hitherto unseen function. This ambitious project, which carried the code name “Commando”, never came to fruition and the regular TUDOR diver’s watch, reference 7016 that replaced reference 7928 in the TUDOR catalogue, was eventually adopted by the US Navy.
In 2019, the TUDOR Black Bay P01 model – which stands for Prototype 01 – was unveiled. Inspired by the prototypes developed as part of this project, which were kept in the TUDOR’s archives, its unique aesthetic has been brought to life and mass-produced 50 years later.
It was this unique aesthetic that led to a significant amount of attention during its presentation at Baselworld 2019. Equipped with a high-performance Manufacture MT5612 calibre, certified by the COSC, it has a 70-hour power reserve and a silicon spiral. Its bidirectional rotating bezel graduated over 12 hours has a locking system with a unique and patented movable handle cover.
Inspired by the prototypes kept in the TUDOR’s archives, unique aesthetic of TUDOR Black Bay P01 has been brought to life and mass-produced 50 years later.
