Tudor received an interesting commission in the 1960s: design and build a rugged diver’s watch for the US Navy. They responded to the request by not only developing a model which the US Navy ultimately adopted as Reference 7016, but also by devising a special construction for a prototype. Their brainchild was registered for patent protection, but never included in Tudor’s collection. Instead, the prototype found its way into the brand’s archives – where it languished for half a century. 

Fifty years later, this construction is now duly honoured in the new Black Bay P01. The alphanumeric suffix ‘P01’ in the model’s name stands for ‘prototype’. The new watch adopts the winding crown at 4 o’clock and prominent end-links from the 1960s model. Originally covering a system for locking and dismantling the bezel, the hinged links were a safety feature preventing the bezel from turning unintentionally during a dive. 

The Black Bay P01’s 42-mm stainless steel case remains watertight to 200 metres and surrounds a domed, matte black dial with hands in the angular shape that collectors describe as ‘snowflake’. The new model encases manufacture Calibre MT5612, which animates displays for the hours, minutes, seconds and date. It offers a 70-hour power reserve and is certified as a chronometer by the Official Swiss Chronometer Testing Institute (COSC). The strap developed for the Black Bay P01 model relies on a rubber base finished with brown leather trim.