True Blue: Tudor’s Chronos Over the Decades

Tudor's use of blue is a historical hue that is seemingly woven into the fabric of the brand's heritage.

Over the decades, Tudor has produced some iconic chronographs, many of which have featured distinctive blue elements, as well as the well-loved blue Snowlake Subs. The recent release of the Black Bay Chrono “Blue,” a boutique-exclusive model, is like a blast from the past yet served as a thoroughly modern dish for your wrist. To fully appreciate this new timepiece, let’s take a look at the rich history of Tudor’s blue chronographs, starting from the 1970s.

The Birth of Tudor’s Blue Chronographs

In 1971, Tudor introduced the second series of its chronographs, the 7100 series, which quickly grabbed the attention of collectors for its daring use of colour. Building on the success of the earlier “Homeplate” watches, the 7100 series continued to push the boundaries of design with bold blue hues. This series included three key models: the 7149, 7159, and 7169, each distinguished by their unique bezel types. Among them, the 7149 featured a blue acrylic tachymeter bezel, while the 7169 boasted a blue 12-hour bezel insert. These watches became known as the “Monte Carlo” models, a nickname inspired by the resemblance of their dials to the roulette tables of the famed Monte Carlo casinos. You can read a full in-depth history here.

The “Monte Carlo” models stood out not only for their colours but also for their sporty aesthetic, characterized by painted hour markers and bright orange accents on the chronograph registers and outer seconds markers. This design was a departure from the more subdued aesthetics of other chronographs of the time, making them a favourite among collectors. The use of blue in the tachymeter bezels and dial details marked the beginning of Tudor’s long-standing tradition of incorporating blue into its chronograph watches.

The Big Block Era

In 1976, Tudor released the third series of chronographs, known as the “Big Block.” You can read a more detailed article here. These watches were significant not only for their robust design but also for being the first self-winding chronographs from the Wilsdorf group, predating the Rolex Daytona’s automatic version by over a decade. The “Big Block” series were so named for their deeper cases to accommodate the automatic movement.

The “Big Block” chronographs also continued the use of blue in their design. The blue dials with matching blue tachymeter bezels became highly sought after, particularly the reference 9420, which featured a blue plastic tachymeter bezel. This model, along with others in the series, earned the “Exotic Big Block” nickname and were known for their durability, with modified Valjoux 7750 movements that were refined by Tudor to meet its exacting standards. The inclusion of blue elements in these watches reinforced the colour’s significance within Tudor’s design language.

Below is a rare prototype dial for the Big Block in blue. Look at the hour markers and date window, that are characteristic of the later Big Block dials, but with the textured dial finish that did go into production with painted Arabic hours in later small block watches.

The Prince Chronograph

The evolution of Tudor’s chronographs took another turn in 1995 with the introduction of the Prince Chronograph series. This fourth series marked a departure from the previous “Big Block” models with a sleeker case design and the addition of a sapphire crystal, enhancing the watch’s profile on the wrist. The Prince series continued to explore blue dial variants, a feature that had become a hallmark of Tudor’s chronographs.

The Prince Chronograph watches came on steel bracelets or leather straps with unique half-end links for a flush fit. While the cases became less angular and more refined, the use of blue dial variations remained prominent.

The Black Bay Chrono “Blue”

Fast forward to today, and the release of the Black Bay Chrono “Blue” serves as a modern homage to Tudor’s blue chronographs of the past. This new model, available exclusively through Tudor boutiques, is a testament to the brand’s dedication to preserving its heritage while embracing contemporary watchmaking techniques. The Black Bay Chrono “Blue” features a 41mm stainless steel case with a blue anodized aluminium tachymetric bezel and a domed blue satin sun-brushed dial, drawing a direct line back to the blue elements that have featured in Tudor’s chronographs for decades.