Why is the Tudor Black Bay Ceramic not one of the most desireable watches out there?

Just my own questionable taste and opinion.

First, the blacked out aesthetic isn't for everyone. I'm not a huge fan myself.

Second, it's quite large even for a dive watch. 41 mm x 14.4 mm high is a somewhat specific aesthetic.

Third , no bracelet. Not a deal breaker for me, but also not the most popular choice. Doesn't do great things for value retention.  The choice of a leather strap was puzzling.

Fourth , there were some rumors of  movement QC issues right out of the factory. Uptick Watch Reviews who had an early model (and notably loved the watch) had to send his in for servicing maybe a month after purchasing. I have no idea how widespread these problems are (and I wouldn't overstate them, it is a mass produced watch after all and just a single example) but it does impact perception.

As with most things, if you like it, get it! It might be your jam! 

Who cares what morons like me think? 😉

Thanks! I wasn't aware of these issues; I will try to learn more..

I suppose that's the point and power of the watch community.

It feels like they needed a vessel to put this kind of watch into the market as a manifestation of their capabilities and let's be honest go on an offensive towards Omega.

As such they went with the Black Bay as a "flagship" model. 

But it feels like this watch with its looks is being kinda "honest" about being used into the water. Nobody will do so, and that's why the hybrid leather strap doesn't bother me on this.

But yeah, I see the average disappointment for the bracelet choice.

💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯

Absolutely brilliant response!

My $0.02...

• Spec-wise, it's obviously one of the best watches out there at that price point
• But, based on specs, FC Barcelona should have won the Champions League at least 8 times this past decade, with Messi on the team, and yet they only pulled off 3 wins!
• Personally, specs really aren't my jam - all I really care about is design and finishing, and the blacked out tool watch aesthetic just isn't for me.  Tudor is an amazing brand and manufacturer, but the whole tool watch thing just doesn't appeal to me!

I’ve come close to buying this. Because of the materials it is a watch that truly doesn’t photograph well, but looks great in person. Similar size to the original Black Bay, which I don’t mind. My hold back has been the strap, which is a little too long for me. it’s a little thing, but when I’m spending $4k+ and it has a strap, the strap has to work. As is, I’d have to immediately replace it, which sucks, because it is a great strap otherwise.

The same arguments mentioned could be used for the murdered out Seamaster. It is a look one likes or avoids. Neither of these models have been hot sellers.

I totally see where you are coming from. And I wouldn't have this in a 1 watch collection.

I do care about the bitting heart of a watch. That's the whole point over a world with only smart or quartz watches (I do have a beater quartz btw).

The parallel with Barca is interesting, let's leave it there. :)

As for your taste on tool watches, I get it. But don't forget that most icons were born with a tool watch mission and many companies became legendary for their tool watches. Even cartier built the santos for Santos Dumont's aviation endeavours.

Why? Because purpose drives design, engineering solutions - innovation, efficiency. At the end this is the beauty of craftsmanship and engineering.

Being an engineer by training myself, I cannot but appreciate what the Master Chronometer stands for.

Look, Tudor is a great company, but personally I dislike any Tudor that resembles a rolex too much. I know this may sound funny for a company built by Wilsdorf to serve the audience that wanted a more affordable rolex. This Tudor is quite uniquely Tudor and that's what I really like about it.

Anyway, preferences :)

Right! 

I suppose I would be fine with a 17cm wrist. But I feel the frustration. And I get why you didn't pull the trigger.

I do agree that this is a love or hate watch.

I haven't managed to find it somewhere and try it on. But I think the murdered-out look does make it appear a bit smaller.

Yeah I'm not a fan either, much prefer the Omega.

I'd guess two things. This is not a look associated with Tudor or Rolex so their fans aren't too interested and fans of this look from other brands don't know it exists. Second is that I'm not sure ceramic cases have convinced the world, sometimes they can even be fragile.

Maybe I prefer the Omega too when you look at the details but it's double the price..

I love my Black Bay Ceramic and my wife loves her Black Bay 925. Both were our first "nice" watches. I definitely get how these may not be for everyone - but isn't the beauty in this hobby?

Legibility on the Ceramic is better than I would have thought. The lumed bits make telling the time fast at a glance. Sure you can't read the bezel, but I'm not really using this for diving anyway.

The leather/rubber hybrid strap didn't work super great for me, but the included Nato looks and wears perfect. I'd love to figure out a bracelet option. I'll probably give the leather/rubber strap another go this winter.

Accuracy of my ceramic is about the same as my wife's 925 - basically flawless.

The more I look at watches the more I'm becoming a Tudor fan-girl. Tons of respect with what they are doing. But that's just me. :)

True but if you prefer the Omega the Tudor won't quench that thirst.

1. Black is not for everyone...
2.  Most people who might want one, probably already have a Black Bay of one type or another
3.  It takes the AD so long to get one for you that the urge usually passes 😀

Very nice to look at but a watch case made out of ceramic in my clumsy hands? 

https://youtu.be/9o19CaOSuD8 

Hence killing my feelings for this and other all ceramic body watch. Heck no I'm not going to have a broken lug or some such **** on my hands. Sorry.

All black isn’t for everyone. 
 

One good drop or knock and the case shatters. 

Where is it double the price? Tudor BB Ceramic is, on a strap, $4825.  Omega Seamaster 300M, on a strap, is $5100. Edit:  I'm sorry, did you mean the Omega Diver Ceramic? If so, yeah, double the price, but I don't see too many people raving at Omega's version either.

And you can get a discount on Omega. And it's a famous watch. And, IMO, a better watch.

And not everyone likes blacked out watches and/or all ceramic.

And SOME (not me) people look at Tudor as what they get when they can't get big brother.

I want to eventually buy a Moonwatch so I can get that taken care of in that way..

Thanks for sharing! 

I know we can be rigid when it comes to combining a certain type of watch with the "wrong" type of strap. For some reason I feel like this was never meant to be a dive watch but to push the envelope of what Tudor can do in a format they know is loved and liked by many, i.e. the BB.

Sorry watchfam but I would totally throw a "proper" calf leather strap on the BB Ceramic :)

I love this watch too. A bit more sporty than the BB I would say (due to the yellow details).

You know the detail that amazed me on the Tudor BB Ceramic was that they went to the extent of DLPing the movement as well (or however way Tudor calls that decoration process). 

So through the case back display you still look at a murdered-out piece of engineering.

btw how has the ageing of the silver case of the 925 been?

Yes I know how that would work 👍 I would love a MoonSwatch to one day.

Am I alone in thinking ceramic is probably a poor choice for a case material?  I think it looks cool as hell, and it would probably never bee an issue, but now you've got the whole watch that can shatter, not just the crystal.

I think a jet black black claf strap would look great on the BB Ceramic! In fact.. that's a great idea! I'm going to give that a shot!

Been great! It develops this soft matte finish that's subtle. The silver scratches easy, but the oxidation covers those scratches up pretty quick meaning you don't notice the dings and scratches. I suspect the internet shots of the silver going yellow are from people exposing it to chemicals.

Don't sweat it. This watch is killer..

Effing hot!

feel free to share a photo or two from your and your partner's watches! 

Let's see how the 925 has turned out to be!

I think that kind of thought was engulfed in our brains even more by the release of the MoonSwatch. Have you thought about it in that way.? 

From oh cool new material innovation, to damn a version of this is used in a 250eur watch.

I hadn’t considered the Moonswatch. I always just saw that as a novelty item, so long term performance wasn’t on my radar. I guess that’s odd as I wouldn’t normally spend $200+ on a watch without taking that into account. What I saw with the MS was a change to (sort of) get a Speedy in a weird color that Omega wouldn’t make or would charge so much I’d never be able to afford it. Looking at it that way, it’s a steal and I can live with a short lifespan. 

I forgot to ask: has the ceramic case been resilient enough? scratches, bangs etc?

The ceramic is flawless. No scratches, no nothing. I did manage to scratch one of the only places on the bezel that is metal so I'm certainly not babying it 😂

As an owner of BB Ceramic I will describe this watch as being the Snowflake Sub being created today with modern materials and specs.

The romance of modernity and the past is what makes this watch so special to me personally.

This isn't about convincing people, if the watch means something to you perhaps that's reason enough.