Review: Tudor Black Bay GMT M79830RB
This watch is no longer in my collection, as I have given it to my son as a gift for his high school graduation this summer. He borrowed the watch for a design project at school and really liked it. So, it is a perfect gift wishing him a lot of fun travels in the future with this GMT watch.
Tudor is a brand created by Rolex founder to be the more affordable sister brand. It is a different product line but essentially part of the same company. In 2018, Tudor released the brand new Black Bay GMT at the same time Rolex launched a new GMT Master II “Pepsi”, which generated a lot of media coverage and comparison. Today, the secondary market price for Rolex Pepsi is around $21,200, while Tudor BB GMT is around $4,400, based on Chrono24 data. Could the Rolex GMT be 5 times better or more prestigious than Tudor GMT? To me, Tudor BB GMT is simply a smarter buy and an excellent alternative to the Rolex GMT.
After the exciting product announcement, what happens next is usually the long wait before the watches arrive in the store. There was no exception for the Tudor GMT and the interest was very high. I went to a local Tudor AD to be put on the waiting list. What they suggested was to pay it in full ($3900), then I could be guaranteed to get it soon. I did just that but it took a long 11 months before I was able to finally pick it up in the store.
The Tudor GMT is a tool watch that does its job well! The dial layout is very clear and I especially appreciate the long GMT hand which ensures the accurate read out of the 2nd time zone. The bezel moves very smoothly with a nice sound and it can rotate in either direction, a main difference compared to the bezel on diver watches. There are three snowflake hands and it is just fun to look at. The screw down crown is big and winds with a crunchy sound. The lume is very bright and long lasting.
This Tudor BB GMT comes with a COSC certified in-house movement that offers an impressive 70 hour power reserve. I tested it once and I got 71 hours and 41 minutes. The accuracy is +1.0 seconds measured over 31 days. The case size of 41mm is all right for my 7.8in (20cm) wrist and may be fine for a lot of folks.
I took this GMT watch with me when I travelled to Asia for business and went on a cruise to the Eastern Carribean during the 2019 Christmas holiday. The 200meter water resistance was perfect when I went snorkeling and swimming during the cruise vacation. I wore it to the “semi-formal dining” days on the cruise as well and it is just so versatile.
There are many choices for GMT watches, but at the sub-$5000 price range, there is nothing beating the Tudor BB GMT. It is the only Tudor watch that consistently sells at above retail price in the secondary market. Will Tudor expand the GMT offering with additional color schemes or different metal choices, just like the Rolex GMT Master 2 line? I certainly hope so. As I have given away my Tudor “Pepsi” GMT, any new releases like new bezel color combinations would sound awesome to me!
Additional information and reviews:
The Tudor product page
The WatchBase product page
A review by A Blog to Watch
A review by Worn & Wound
A video/text review by Hodinkee
A video review by The Chap’s Guide