Apr
Tudor always brings out the goods for Watches and Wonders, and the 2022 event was no exception. The company toted out several great new products, including an update to an existing model with an interesting color scheme. The Tudor Black Bay GMT S&G (steel & gold), reference M79833MN-0004, features a two-tone, “root beer” color scheme that expands on Tudor’s popular GMT model.
This is basically the same watch we’ve known and loved for years now. It runs on Tudor’s MT5652 movement, which features a 70-hour power reserve, 26 jewels, and a COSC certification. The movement offers a quickset date and a true GMT function. The whole thing runs beautifully under the watch’s nicely domed crystal.
Where things differ most between this root beer “flavor” and the original Pepsi is styling. Instead of a solid stainless steel case, Tudor opted for a two-tone look here. The main material is still steel, but the bezel, crown, bracelet center links, and other components are yellow gold. One downside here is that the watch is available with Tudor’s faux rivet bracelet, which isn’t for everyone.
The Black Bay GMT in either color is a great value and a wonderful watch. The true GMT movement with the ability to quickly move hours, both ways, across the date mark and the watch’s impressive 200m water resistance make it one of the most useful and robust products in its price point. Initially, some felt that Tudor’s design played too closely to that of the Rolex GMT-Master, but the look and feel of the Black Bay GMT is its own thing entirely, especially in the root beer color scheme.