Editor’s note: Like you, we are also excited for the Watches & Wonders 2022 novelties. Before we get to dive deep into them, here’s our preview & Gut Reaction Review (Grr…) of the new Tudor Black Bay Chrono S&G. For our detailed hands-on reviews, please head to our dedicated reviews section here. This is NOT a sponsored post.
The New Tudor Black Bay Chrono S&G In A Nutshell
Perhaps positioned as a direct competition to Omega’s Asian popularity with two-tone watches, the steel and gold combination seems to be the main calling card of Tudor’s 2022 novelties. First they surprise us with the definitely-about-to-be-in-high-demand and frankly quite stunning new Tudor Black Bay GMT S&G ‘Root Beer’, and now it’s this champagne-dialled beauty.
I was a bit confused when I first saw the nomenclature, given the brand already has Tudor Black Bay Chrono S&G models in the catalogue. Perhaps an error? Then I clicked on the photos, and saw the differences. The new Tudor Black Bay Chrono S&G M79363N essentially is the golden panda version of the existing BB Chrono S&G.
The new Tudor Black Bay Chrono S&G Golden Panda retains all the specifications of its predecessors, featuring a 200m water-resistant 41mm diameter sans crown — and 44.6mm with crown/pushers — and 14.4mm thick — or 16.4mm with the bund strap — steel case with 50.7mm lug-to-lug spacing and 22mm lug interhorn spacing.
Inside ticks the Manufacture Chronograph Calibre MT5813 featuring a free-sprung balance, adjustable mass balance wheel and a silicon hairspring. This 30.4mm diameter and 7.23mm thick self-winding mechanical chronograph movement with bidirectional rotor system features a variable inertia balance, a non-magnetic silicon balance spring, an open-worked (with satin-brushed and sand-blasted details) tungsten monobloc rotor, and bridges and mainplate with alternate sand-blasted, polished surfaces and laser decorations. It beats at the frequency of 4Hz (28’800 A/h), comprises 41 jewels, and offers an impressive 70-hour power reserve.
Retailing for 8’150 AUD on strap or 9’860 AUD on two-tone bracelet, these non-limited edition new Tudor Black Bay Chrono S&G Golden Panda are announced today on 30 March 2022 as part of the Watches & Wonders 2022 March 30 to April 5 (both online and at the Salon).
They are suited for those who wanted a bit more variety within the Tudor Chrono collection, and will work on the wrist of those who love to flash a bit of bling. Not gaudy, but the just the right amount. A champagne-colour dial and premium fixed yellow gold bezel — with matt black anodised aluminium disc with tachymetric scale — and yellow gold markings along with a yellow gold screw-down winding crown increase the price compared to the 7’220 AUD retail of the regular panda and reverse-panda models.
We have gone in-depth with how the Tudor Black Bay Chrono fits on a slim ~16cm wrist, and while you can check that out, simply put, despite the 50.7mm lug-to-lug spacing, these watches end up sitting quite alright. There is that Tudor magic at play, that with the Black Bay family ensures that whether you have slim or large wrists, the watches will fit you. Of course everyone like me with slim wrists will prefer a BB58 version of everything, whether be it the GMT model or the Chrono. But as they stand, the Tudor Black Bay Chrono S&G Golden Panda on my ~16cm wrist will like the other previous versions feature a minimal overhang thanks to the lugs curving a fair bit, and that ensures a comfortable and not awkward feel.
I have said the before and I will say that again: these Tudor watches are a rugged tool, that can pretty much take anything life throws at them, and when the dust settles, simply shrugs their shoulders, flick the dust off, and carry on.
To find out more about the new Tudor Black Bay Chrono S&G and their other watches, please head to their website here. All images unless otherwise stated are courtesy are ©TUDOR. All Rights Reserved. Make sure to check out our reviews of other Watches & Wonders 2022 novelties here.
