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STYLE Edit: Tudor makes some of the best blue dial watches in the business, not least because they’ve been creating them since the 1960s – these are 5 of our to-die-for favourites

STORYSCMP Style Reporter
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Blue watches may be bang on trend right now, but it should be noted that Tudor’s history with blue dials and details harks all the way back to the 1960s, well before the collectors of today began to go gaga for the cool-toned hue. We hand-pick our favourite blue watches from the brand, including the latest releases as well as some classics, from its catalogue.


Tudor Royal

The Tudor Royal’s blue 41mm watch is an instant blue-faced classic. Photo: Tudor
Debuted in 2020, the Tudor Royal line is a completely new collection that nonetheless capitalises on the vintage aesthetic that has become popular in recent years. Its crenellated textured bezel with alternating finishes, satin-sunray dial, and integrated bracelet and watch construction are all features Tudor watches have had since the 1960s and 70s.

We are particularly fond of the blue version of the 41mm, which has a day function at 12 o’clock in addition to the date window available on the other models.


Black Bay Fifty-Eight Navy Blue

There’s a reason it’s called Navy Blue … Tudor’s Black Bay Fifty-Eight Navy Blue watch. Photo: Tudor

Tudor fans will be familiar with the brand’s famous divers’ watches, which it produced for the French navy for several decades. In the mid-1970s, its Navy watches – which had typically been offered in black – turned blue for the first time. That Navy hue is what Tudor referenced in creating the newest version of its Black Bay Fifty-Eight.

Named Navy Blue, the watch measures 39mm in diameter – ideal for those who prefer their diving watches on the narrower side – and has a matt blue dial and bezel, as well as all the design hallmarks of the Black Bay Fifty-Eight. It is available on a navy blue fabric strap, hand woven in France using time-honoured techniques and giving a nod to the fact that watches made for the French navy were originally delivered without Tudor bracelets, with sailors instead being fitted with woven fabric straps.

Pelagos 

Tudor has been creating dive watches since the 1950s and the Pelagos incorporates the watch house’s cutting edge technology. Photo: Tudor
With its helium escape valve, rotating bezel and phosphorescent hour markers, the Pelagos is by far Tudor’s most technical dive watch and is emblematic of the brand’s cutting-edge tool timepieces.

Crafted from titanium and steel, it comes equipped with a special bracelet whose length will automatically adjust on the wrist during a dive, adapting to the differences in dive suit thickness caused by pressure changes when descending into the deep.

Black Bay 32

Tudor’s Black Bay 32 is perfect for women looking for a smaller and more elegant blue-faced watch. Photo: Tudor

The Black Bay 32 is perfect for narrower wrists or those who prefer a petite piece of wrist candy. Waterproof to 150 metres, the watch presents an automatic movement housed in a steel case, with an electric-blue lacquered dial that is versatile enough for the office or a weekend jaunt. Its versatility is emphasised by the accessories – it is available on a steel bracelet or a strap in leather or black fabric.

Heritage Chrono Blue

The Heritage Chrono Blue evokes the Mediterranean and has been dubbed the Monte Carlo by collectors. Photo: Tudor

The most aesthetically flamboyant of all of the watches on this list, the Heritage Chrono Blue characterises the flair of the 1970s – no surprise, since the watch is modelled after the reference 7169, Tudor’s first blue chronograph dating back to 1971.

Its dial, affectionately named the “Monte Carlo” by collectors because it’s reminiscent of the roulette wheels found in Monaco’s casinos, might be described as a sparkling Mediterranean blue. The watch is available on a steel bracelet as well as a fabric strap handcrafted in France using traditional jacquard weaving techniques.

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Fashion
  • Blue dial watches are in the midst of a renaissance, but Tudor was creating them for divers and French navy sailors long before they were cool
  • Blue watches not only add a pop of colour to your wrist, but evoke everything from the glittering Mediterranean to daring deep sea adventures