Out in the wild: Tudor Black Bay Ceramic “Blue”

In what’s probably been the worst-kept secret since the outcome of the United Kingdom general election, Tudor has finally released the new Black Bay that was first pictured on the wrists of the – deep breath – Visa Cash App Racing Bulls team Formula 1 drivers at the start of the year.

At the start of this season, drivers Daniel Ricciardo and Yuki Tsunoda were pictured wearing what appeared to be an intriguing bright blue version of the Black Bay, to match the team colours. But up until recently, there’s been no official word about what it is, and it’s been impossible to buy one.

Now, the wait is over. What Ricciardo and Tsunoda have been sporting since the beginning of the year is in fact a Tudor Black Bay Ceramic Blue, which is Master Chronometer certified by METAS (the Swiss federal institute of metrology – just to throw another snappy acronym into the mix).

The mighty Red Bull energy drink empire has not one, but two Formula 1 teams, in its collection – which just goes to show something we’ve always thought: watches are not, in fact, quite the most expensive things you can collect as a hobby. Red Bull’s junior team, popularly known as V-CARB, signed a historic sponsorship deal with Tudor at the start of the season to bring the watch brand into Formula 1 for the first time, following a long history in endurance racing.

Inside the ceramic 41mm case, there’s the well-known and impeccably engineered Manufacture Calibre MT5602-1U movement from Tudor, complete with a silicon hairspring. which gives you 70 hours of power reserve – more than the total time needed to race all 24 grands prix that make up the 2024 F1 season. Just in case you end up in the harbour at Monaco (or get thrown into a swimming pool to celebrate a race win – this happens…) there’s also 200 metres of water resistance.

Leaving aside the striking blue dial (with matching strap stitching) there are no big surprises here – but one of Tudor’s biggest strengths as a brand is its ability to produce several desirable declinations of a familiar theme.

This latest watch is no exception, delivering a high-tech vibe thanks to its black ceramic sand-blasted PVD finish. You’ll also find the signature snowflake hands, which first appeared on a Tudor watch in 1969, while the watch is guaranteed for five years: a symbol of the emphasis on quality that has gone hand in hand with Tudor moving into its state-of-the-art new headquarters at Le Locle in Switzerland three years ago.

There’s a choice of straps – hybrid leather and rubber, or fabric – and a domed sapphire crystal that allows you to get a good look at that dial, which is undoubtedly the star of the show.

VCARB blue (which admittedly sounds like some sort of dietary supplement) is a brilliant foil for the blacked-out yet classical form of the Black Bay, and this is luckily the sort of watch that you would happily wear whether you’re a racing fan or not.

The sheer contemporary versatility of Tudor has always been one of the most admirable aspects of the brand, and that’s very much in evidence here. Note that the official team name isn’t even incorporated in the watch nomenclature – they just call it a Tudor Black Bay Ceramic “Blue’.

Unlike many watches of Formula 1, it’s also at the relatively affordable end of the spectrum, on sale for around £4,200. The Red Bull junior team – let’s just call it that, for ease – has always been about promoting the next generation of young drivers, with an irreverent and bold image that suits Tudor’s ‘Born to Dare’ messaging perfectly.

This watch ticks all those boxes and is sure to be a big hit – but there and again, we’ve known that for a while already.