N/Review: Tudor Black-Bay 41 / by Noah Williams

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Having been a huge Rolex fan for the last few years, I finally decided to give their sister brand, Tudor, a try. I picked out the Tudor Black-Bay 41, which is the Rolex equivalent in my opinion of somewhere between the Rolex Explorer and Oyster Perpetual. For those of you who aren't watch geeks, Tudor is a brand that was created by Rolex's founder Hans Wilsdorf in 1926. Vintage Tudors used the same components as Rolex, going even so far as to boast the same cases and bracelets, but different movements.

This modern Tudor is an homage to Tudor models of the past, featuring a clean dial and their iconic "snowflake" hands. The case has a diameter of 41mm, as described by the name, and is also available in 36mm and 34mm sizes. In addition to the leather band pictured, the watch is also available with a steal oyster bracelet and up until this year has come with a complementary cloth strap. 

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Having worn this watch everyday for the past month, it has proved versatile. While I think the metal bracelet is what I would personally opt for, the leather is a rich brown color that goes with just about anything. At 41mm, it wears a bit small in my opinion due to the slightly thicker bezel. In general if you dress business causal and above this would be a great daily watch. The dial is incredibly easy to read, and the lume shines brightly in the dark for a reasonable amount of time. While I'm not sure how it would have been executed I would love to have seen a date window with the classic Rolex cyclops. Aside from this however, the watch wears handsomly on the wrist. 

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The overall quality of materials and finish used is nothing short of impeccable. I love that Tudor used a clasp closure on the leather version, and the Tudor shield design of that clasp, while a bit large, is a very nice touch. While most modern watches sit around the same thickness, I would love to see a slightly thinner case. The vintage design paired with a slim case would have made this the perfect watch in my opinion. 

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So who is this watch for? While it is a fantastic watch for just about any guy, this watch to me is a either a great first, or second watch. I could easily see someone who is either getting into watches, or wants an upgrade from the $800-1,200 watch category. This watches strength are the clean dial design you could wear on the leather or metal bracelet to the office, then throw on a nato strap for a weekend at the beach or lake. It is a field watch that can be dressed up and still worn with pride. 

Another huge thanks to Ben at Windsor Jewelers for providing this watch. This exact watch will be available for sale at their Charlotte location, along with a wide variety of other Tudors.