For Heritage Black Bay timepiece lovers, 2014 will be a good year as an almost black, blue bezel version known as the ref. 79220B watch has been announced. Baselworld news comes a day early this year as we’ve just left a dinner hosted by Tudor and the fine folks at Watchonista where we got see the follow up to the massively successful Heritage Black Bay.
The new 2014 Black Bay is actually uses only slightly more black than the previous model, having swapped its distinctive burgundy bezel for one that is a very dark shade of blue. After adding a blue version of the Heritage Chrono last year, this blue variant of the Black Bay seems like a natural choice and the shade is so dark that it appears quite black in subdued or indirect lighting.
Still measuring 41 mm wide, the new blue Black Bay further differentiates itself from the 2012 model with a dial design that drops the gold for silver-style white metal surrounds and matte black base (see photo below). As much as we were fans of the gilt markers and slightly brownish hue of the dial for the 2012 model, the 2014 model looks great and actually steps a bit into to Pelagos territory, despite the much more classic aesthetic of the heritage models.
The midnight blue coloring is completed by a matched crown tube that is also a dark shade of blue. In the light of the restaurant where we shot these live photos, I had initially accepted that the bezel was black and it was not until more light was applied that we could easily see the cool blue tone carried by the bezel. The color is meant to suggest the look of some vintage military Tudor divers that had black dials and blue bezels.
Pricing is the same as the 2012 model at $3,100 USD on the leather strap and $3,425 with the stainless steel bracelet and, much like the previous model, this new Black Bay has a massive range of appeal. Technologically identical to the 2012 version, the new Black Bay really completes the look and leverages all of the strengths of the original design. Tudor really knows how to please and we’re excited to see what else they announce tomorrow with the official start of Baselworld 2014. Stay tuned for so much more. tudorwatch.com
TUDOR HERITAGE BLACK BAY
REFERENCE 79220B
– 41 mm steel case with polished and satin finish
– Unidirectional rotatable steel bezel, matt blue disc
– Self-winding mechanical movement, TUDOR calibre 2824
– Power reserve of approximately 38 hours
– Screw-down winding crown in steel engraved with the TUDOR rose, with blue anodized aluminium crown tube
– Domed sapphire crystal
– Waterproof to 200 m (660 ft)
– Steel bracelet or aged leather strap with folding clasp and safety catch
Additional fabric strap with buckle supplied with watch
