I've wanted a Tudor Black Bay Bronze Bucherer Blue Edition since I saw the first story on it, but alas it was Europe only and wait listed. When Tourneau was bought by Bucherer I called the Vegas store. They didn’t know about the watch but checked for me - no news on whether or not it would come to the US. Six months later I called back. They checked again and finally said it would be Europe only even if Tourneau changed names to Bucherer.

Fast forward to the beginning of September. I heard a watch friend was heading to Portugal but flying in/out of London. I messaged another watch friend in the UK and he called all the London stores for me and found one. I wired the money immediately. The day before “I” was supposed to pick it up, I emailed the sales rep and said I was unable to make it and that a friend would pick it up for me - sent a picture of him, name and Drivers license number.

When he arrived, they were a little miffed for several reasons. The store made a mistake as it was supposed to be reserved for existing customers only and there was a waitlist that I had jumped but since I had wired the money they honored it. They tried to have my friend write his name on the warranty card, but he just wrote mine in anyway - Americans!

So anyway, a serious of fortunate events lead to this...

Here's my friend checking it out in London


This is the unboxing when it arrived in CO.


I'm flying down to Texas to thank my friend in person. I had him buy a bottle of nice port while in Portugal (my treat) and we're going to celebrate with a nice dinner at Del Frisco's Double Eagle next month.

 

Aces on a great pickup, sometimes the stars align just right...congratulations!

 

Love the blue and bronze colour scheme, great pickup

 

Nice story. And a very nice watch.

 

I'm not big on Tudor or Rolex, but I can't deny that the colour scheme on this watch is in great taste.

The name is a little bit of a tongue twister though right?

Enjoy this watch, it looks great!

 

Gorgeous watch and even better story to go along with it. Congrats @Baco Noir - excited to see it in person at the next GTG

 

Hats off to your friends, a.k.a. enablers!

 

Well done!

 

Yup, and now I see why some forums are just calling it the BBBBB but hell even that's too much - I say B5!

 

Beautiful! Congrats!

 

Wow, the BBBBB is a pretty bad nickname, B5 sounds so much better!

Either way I do like the NATO strap too, I can understand why you would want this watch. Everyone has their special watch and this one turned out to be yours.

Enjoy your B5!

 

Had it with me last weekend at the Mile High Watches GTG, which was well attended.

 

Notice in the photo, the fabric strap is already showing the spring bars? That gets worse as the strap stretches. The fabric is not really a NATO either - it has the bars sewn in and the tail isn't long enough to fold back under the keepers, and on top of that it's too small for my 7.25 inch wrist. Heck, the OEM leather is almost too small - on the second to last hole.

 

nice catch! had a friend who bought this too and hasn't left his wrist then.

 

Watch looks great, and I love the story. Great example of finding a way to get something you really want, no matter what obstacles. Makes it even more enjoyable I think!

 

I figured as much - My mistake was picking the Broncos game over the GTG. Should have known better.

 

Ah yes, apologies I can't really differentiate between fabric and NATO straps. Tudor is essential a subsidy of Rolex right?

I can't believe they would make a strap like that for one of their watches, not the best quality.

Worst comes to worst, I'm sure you could always get another strap for it if you don't like the fabric one or get tired of the leather one.

 

Yeah, I wasn't upset with my choice when I got to the bar and saw the score. Seems like we need some coaching changes, and probably a new QB.

 

Yes, Tudor is a second brand under Rolex. Since both straps are short and this is European only, I'm guessing maybe, just maybe, the average wrist size is smaller in the EU?

I do have 2 custom straps on order already - a blue canvas and a distressed blue alligator. I'll post pics when they come in.

 

I second that. Brownish and Bluish go great together. Awesome pickup ...even if you inadvertently jumped the que...