Tudor Black Bay Black Vs Ceramic SMP

kippyk

SMP by a hair. The bezel puts it over the top.

427shark

I've owned the Tudor BB with the ETA movement in the past and just got the SMP this weekend. I personally heads and tails prefer the SMP BUT I could also see how some would prefer the BB. The way I score it :

Bracelet - the Tudor has tighter tolerances and gaps than the omega but that can also just be because each Tudor link is made up of less pieces. Over all I prefer the omega bracelet , it still looks purposeful and fitting for a dive watch but is also more "upscale" looking . I also can't remember if the Tudor uses just pins or not . OMEGA

Clasp - Tudor has a great clasp with its ceramic balls and double flip deployment , very sturdy. Clasp on the omega is nice but being that it is a dive watch I would like the extra security of the double flip or fold over deployment and I also like the micro adjust holes of the Tudor. TUDOR

Case - Tudor BB has a pretty standard / retro case . I had the eta version which is thinner than the in house movement BB and it did wear thicker than the omega due to the flat case back instead of domed like the SMP. I mean the Tudor case is made by Rolex so the quality is phenomenal but also very plain like Rolex , being that it has no crown guards and a large crown with an extended crown tube it's very easy to operate. ... The SMP case is awesome , I love the engraved case back, he escape (even though unnecessary) , the lugs on the SMP are awesome . OMEGA

crown - Tudors crown is larger and easier to grasp with a printed Tudor rose on it , SMP crown is smaller with a cast omega logo on it still very easy to use. They both also have the same level of grip or knurling , unlike a submariner that has very aggressive or sharp knurling on the crown that bites. OMEGA

bezel - BB bezel is anodised with a coin edge while SMP bezel is very uniquely scalloped with an awesome ceramic insert . OMEGA (not sure if my indices on the SMP bezel are 1/2 second off though)

Dial - BB dial has printed text with the Tudor rose and applied indices and omega's dial has all applied txt and indices . OMEGA

Lume - hands down BB , not sure if it's because the hands are not skeletonized like the omega or if it just has more lume at the indices but it totally looks amazing and glows like a torch (still not as good as seiko's lumabrite though) TUDOR

movement - BB now uses the in house movement with no date, 70 hr power reserve , and technology borrowed from Rolex ( main spring ) . SMP 2500d heavily modified eta movement with co-axial escapment and date . TIE ( do you value more power reserve or the co-axial escapement ? Also it's a catch 22 saying the omega movement is not 100% in house when swatch owns both eta and omega )

Over all I'm very very happy with my SMP and much prefer it to the BB. I wanted an SMP blue dial ceramic since it first came out and just haven't got around to purchasing it till now. For me it's just as iconic as the black dial sub-c , any time I think diver I immediatly think blue SMP or black sub -c . The SMP just looks amazing to me overall , between the hue of blue they use, applied text , ceramic bezel , it's just so awesome to look at and polished yet still looks refined and "tough" ..... The BB is really cool and pays homage to Tudors history. They perfectly captured the retro feel with this watch and the Monte Carlo . The fit finish and quality of the BB is also parallel to Rolex which I feel slightly edges out the omega ............... Even though I prefer the SMP if your going for a retro feel hands down go with the BB.... No wrong decision ! ...... Oh also the SMP 300wr and the BB 200wr. OMEGA .... Had to get that in lol .. Good luck !

No.15

The BB was bothering me for some reason and I think I just figured it out. The round markers on the dial don't go with the hour hand shape. At least they don't for me.

No.15

The BB was bothering me for some reason and I think I just figured it out. The round markers on the dial don't go with the hour hand shape. At least they don't for me.

wilfreb

I like the overall design of the BB, but can't get past the bezel not being ceramic, I prefer the Pelagos

427shark

I agree 100% . Honestly in this day and age a ceramic bezel especially on a diver is a must have for me. I'm all fairness though going with the vintage theme is probably the reason they didn't give the BB a ceramic bezel , just like the breitling superpcean heritage is a retro diver and has an anodized bezel ... I did own a pelagos and a BB with the red dial and the pelagos was better in every way ( lume, clasp, bracelet, etc) but if I got a Tudor again it would be a BB red. . .something about the chocolate dial with the rose gold outlined indices and red bezel just work. Gives a warm vintage feel, very cool watch..... BUT the SMP is an awesome amazingly cool watch lol

wilfreb

The new Super ocean Heritage has ceramic bezel and they look awesome

427shark

Wow , your right (goes to show how much I been following breitling . . & your also right , that watch looks awesome! I won't mind owning one again someday especially that they have in house movements now. . Super nice watch

wilfreb

They are not in house, the new Super ocean 3 hands models use Tudor movements, but it's a great movement with the Rolex know how behind it.

427shark

No way , really ? I never thought that Rolex would basically share a movement of tech with breitling .. Is it a 70hr power reserve like Tudor ?

Shailor

The Superocean looks good and may be the first Breitlng that caught my eye. The green bezel and black dial look interesting. Not a fan of the bracelet though. Looks cheap imo.

427shark

Clasp - Tudor has a great clasp with its ceramic balls and double flip deployment , very sturdy. Clasp on the omega is nice but being that it is a dive watch I would like the extra security of the double flip or fold over deployment and I also like the micro adjust holes of the Tudor. TUDOR