Tudor Black Bay Chrono Guide to References and Movements

Published October 14, 2026 · Last updated October 17, 2026 · By Lume Wrist Watches Editorial Team

The Tudor Black Bay Chrono is a 41mm automatic chronograph powered by the MT5813, a COSC-certified movement with a column wheel, vertical clutch and approximately 70 hours of power reserve. When buying pre-owned, the main decisions are reference, dial, bezel material, bracelet configuration and condition, not a different movement hidden behind each dial color.

The reference tells you which watch you are considering. The complete configuration and inspection record tell you whether a particular example is worth buying.

Tudor Black Bay Chrono References at a Glance

The collection began in 2017. Its core identity has remained consistent: a two-register chronograph, a date at 6 o’clock, screw-down pushers and a fixed tachymeter bezel.

These are the principal reference families to recognize. The dates identify introductions, not the production year of an individual watch.

The Tudor Black Bay Chrono reference 79360N requires particular attention because the family includes more than the familiar black and white dials. Pink and light-blue versions also use that reference root. A short reference alone does not establish the exact dial or bracelet supplied with the watch.

Reference root, complete reference and production year

Tudor’s complete model references typically add an “M” prefix and a configuration suffix. That fuller identifier helps distinguish the original dial and bracelet or strap combination. It is separate from the serial number identifying the individual watch.

Ask for the complete reference and photographs of the actual example. A warranty-card date generally records the original sale or warranty activation, not necessarily manufacture.

Also separate the Chrono from the broader Black Bay family. Our Black Bay and Rolex Submariner comparison covers dive-watch differences. The Chrono adds elapsed-time measurement and uses a fixed tachymeter bezel rather than a rotating dive bezel.

Understanding the MT5813 Movement

The MT5813 is an automatic, integrated chronograph developed from Breitling’s B01 architecture, with Tudor-specific changes including its regulating system and silicon balance spring. It is not the same movement used in a three-hand Black Bay.

For a Tudor Black Bay Chrono buyer, the practical benefits are a substantial power reserve, a modern chronograph mechanism and consistent functionality across the principal references above. Dial color does not indicate a different caliber or accuracy certification.

Column wheel and vertical clutch, explained

The column wheel coordinates the chronograph’s start, stop and reset functions. The vertical clutch engages the stopwatch mechanism with the movement’s running gear. This arrangement is designed to provide clean engagement and limit the jump that a chronograph seconds hand can exhibit when starting.

These features describe the mechanism, not the condition of an individual example. A pre-owned watch still needs a functional test. The central chronograph hand should start, stop and reset correctly. Reset the chronograph only after stopping it, following the operating instructions.

What the counters and certification mean

The subdial at 9 o’clock displays running seconds. The counter at 3 o’clock records up to 45 elapsed minutes. The central seconds hand measures chronograph seconds, while the date appears at 6 o’clock.

That 45-minute counter matters. This is not a chronograph with a separate 12-hour totalizer, so it is less convenient for timing long events.

Tudor’s published Black Bay Chrono specifications identify the MT5813’s approximately 70-hour power reserve and COSC certification. COSC’s precision criteria include an average daily rate of -4 to +6 seconds for mechanical movements of this size under its testing conditions. Certification is not a guarantee that a used watch will maintain that rate indefinitely without servicing.

Case Size, Bracelet and Everyday Fit

Every reference in the comparison table has a nominal 41mm case diameter. That measurement alone does not establish how comfortably it will sit on your wrist.

The Tudor Black Bay Chrono has more wrist presence than its diameter suggests because of its thickness, chronograph pushers and broad dial. Ask for the exact example’s thickness and lug-to-lug measurement, particularly when comparing different generations.

Earlier examples commonly appear on rivet-style bracelets. Later configurations include five-link bracelets and T-fit-equipped clasps. Confirm the actual bracelet and clasp in photographs rather than inferring them from the dial.

For a 6.5-inch wrist, approximately 165mm, trying one on is preferable to judging from photographs. Lug overhang, case height and bracelet articulation matter more than a universal minimum wrist-size rule.

If you prefer a simpler display, the Tudor Black Bay 7941A offers a useful comparison within the same design family. It is a different model, not a smaller Chrono.

What to Check on a Pre-Owned Example

Authentication, condition and configuration are separate questions. A genuine watch can still have an incorrect bracelet, missing links, replacement components or extensive refinishing.

Dial, bezel and case condition

For any Tudor Black Bay Chrono, compare the dial and bezel with the complete reference, then examine the individual watch rather than a stock image. Replacement parts are not automatically problematic, but material substitutions should be disclosed and understood.

Look closely at dial printing, hands, counter layout and the date window. Authentication should also address the movement and identifying numbers where appropriate. A convincing dial photograph alone is insufficient.

Case photographs should show the lugs, crown guards, pushers and caseback. Heavy polishing can soften edges and alter proportions. On the black-coated 79360DK, inspect edges and contact points for coating wear. Treat refinishing as a separate question from authenticity.

On the S&G reference 79363N, steel and yellow gold construction should not be confused with a solid-gold watch. Ask which components contain gold and how they are constructed if that distinction affects your decision.

Bracelet, documents and functional testing

A bracelet that fits today may still be missing links that matter to the next owner. Confirm spare links, clasp type, end-link fit and any replacement bracelet or strap.

Original box and papers document the supplied set. They do not replace authentication, and their absence does not prove that a watch is counterfeit. Obtain clear photographs of the warranty card and compare its identifying information with the watch.

The inspection should include winding, time setting, date operation and chronograph start, stop and reset. Follow the manual for date adjustment and pusher use. Screw-down pushers must be unlocked for operation, and the chronograph should not be operated underwater.

A 200m factory rating also does not establish the present water resistance of a pre-owned example. Request a recent pressure-test result before relying on it for swimming.

Comparing Prices and Ownership Costs

Compare a Tudor Black Bay Chrono with examples of the same reference, dial and bracelet configuration. Mixing an early steel-bezel 79350, an S&G model and a later colored-dial version into one price range produces a poor benchmark.

Use the exact watch’s asking price, then account for condition, completeness, documented service and seller protections. An asking price is not evidence of a completed sale. If a seller describes a dial as scarce or collectible, ask for evidence rather than treating that language as a valuation.

Request a written service estimate when maintenance is uncertain. A chronograph has additional mechanisms compared with a three-hand watch, so borrowing a service-cost assumption from another Black Bay is unreliable.

If your actual requirement is a second time zone rather than a stopwatch, compare the Tudor Black Bay GMT 79830. Buy the complication you will use. Neither model should be purchased on the assumption of guaranteed appreciation or a particular future resale value.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do the main Black Bay Chrono references use the same movement? The principal references covered here use the automatic MT5813. Their differences primarily concern case treatment, bezel, dial and bracelet configuration rather than a change of caliber.

Is the Tudor Black Bay Chrono an in-house chronograph? Tudor calls the MT5813 a Manufacture Calibre. Its architecture derives from Breitling’s B01, with Tudor-specific modifications. Describing it as wholly unrelated to Breitling would be inaccurate.

Does every model have a T-fit clasp? No. Clasp equipment depends on the bracelet and configuration. Inspect the actual clasp and confirm adjustment options before buying, especially when wrist fit is a priority.

Are box and papers necessary for authentication? No. They help establish completeness and provenance, but authentication requires examination of the watch itself. A warranty card cannot independently verify the movement, component originality or current condition.

Choose the Exact Watch, Not Just the Dial

Before committing, obtain the complete reference, clear condition photographs, bracelet details and written service and warranty terms.

Lume Wrist Watches is an independent retailer, not an authorized Tudor dealer. Its inventory is authenticated pre-owned, listed in Excellent condition, certified authentic by Watch CSA and serviced before shipping. Purchases include a 2-year warranty, 30-day returns and free insured US shipping. International shipping is available on request and quote.

Explore Lume’s pre-owned watch selection, or contact sales@lumewrist.com to ask about available Chrono references and their exact configurations.

## Part of the series This article belongs to our complete guide: Watchmaking Explained: Movements & Complications – A Collector's Guide.\n