Tudor prove size doesn’t matter

The watchmaker’s new ‘Black Bay’ is a tiny 36mm

There have been many iterations of Tudor’s Heritage Black Bay across the years, but the latest timepiece in the series is bucking the trend of growth – and has shrunk back to just 36mm.

In a world where 40mm watches are considered small, this is a bold move by Tudor. But, by harking back to the smaller timepieces of the mid-20th century, the timepiece hopes to use retro charm and current vintage tastes to attract the consumer.

The Black Bay 36 is recognisably part of the same family as its predecessors, with the general lines of the case remaining the same despite the proportions being reduced. As such, this is both a brilliant introduction to the Black Bay aesthetic, whilst also serving as a worthy addition to the collection of aficionados.

A smaller diameter also lends the 36 to smaller wrists, or more formal occasions. With a choice of a steel bracelet or a lightly distressed beige-coloured leather strap with steel folding clasp, each Heritage Black Bay 36 is also supplied with an additional strap in urban camouflage fabric – aesthetic choices and decisions which recall some of Tudors most iconic past timepieces.

A similar feature is the dial, which seemingly takes its inspiration by the TUDOR divers’ watches of the 1950s. It borrows the characteristic angular hands known to collectors as “snowflake” from models that appeared in the brand’s catalogues up until 1969 – with a fixed smooth steel bezel and a shiny black polished dial adding to the legacy feel.

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