Rolex

The Black Bay GMT was and still is 41 mm big, and... 14, 6 mm high, which, objectively, is quite thick. Not a deal breaker for me, but, since 2018, I was hoping, each year, to see a new version in a smaller AND thinner case. 

We had to wait till this year to see it. 

So, are we disappointed or happy with this one? 

I will immediately kill the suspense and tell you that I am very happy with this smaller version. I am the happy owner of last year's version, the Black Bay GMT Opaline, which I like a lot and I feel that there is some place for this new smaller version. 

The good point is the case proportions, with its 39 mm diameter and its 12, 8 mm height, versus 41 mm / 14, 6 mm for the former version. To be compared to the Black Bay 58 " Submariner " which is... 11, 9 mm high. I guess that the difference is justified by the addition of a GMT module. But one millimeter thinner would have been even better, for sure. To be complete, the distance between the lugs is 20 mm, which will welcome narrower straps and bracelets, a good thing for elegance.

Like the former versions, the new one is water resistant to 200 meters which will allow you to wear it everywhere, as a good toolwatch should be. 

The other good point is about the aesthetics. It is clearly very subjective, indeed, but I really like the cosmetic treatment of the Black Bay 58 GMT, with its gilt dial and hour markers on the bezel. Now we are getting even closer to the 6542 than the former ones. Some will like that, others will prefer the former ones, I must say that I like both of them. 

On the Black Bay 58 GMT, the bezel is burgundy and black, which is another change from the former one which was red and blue. 

Tudor introduces something new for this watch... It is still a Chronometer, but they changed the name... Not just " Chronometer " anymore but " Master Chronometer ". It is much more than just a new name... It is the announcement of a new movement, the 5450 ( the former is the Cal 5652 ), with a slightly lower power reserve ( 65 hours, instead 70 hours ) BUT... The former is chronometer certified by the COSC when the new one is certified by the COSC and METAS, so with the movement outside the watch AND once encased. 

The other great thing is that the new Black Bay 58 GMT is resistant to 15, 000 Gauss! A detail which has its importance if you spend quite some time on a laptop or computer or in other magnetic fields. 

I wondered why the new Black Bay 58 GMT was 200 hundred euros more expensive than the Black Bay GMT Opaline... Now I understand why ( the new movement ). 

So, all in all, I am very happy and convinced by this new iteration. Ok, I would have preferred a one millimeter slimmer case, but they take the good direction, and they also mechanically improved their product. 

Well done, Tudor. 

Looking forward to reading your comments and thoughts,

Best.

Nicolas