They say flamingos get their pink color from eating shrimp and other foods with carotenoid pigments. But did you know that if they ate swordfish they would turn blue instead? Okay, so that last part is a lie but Tudor’s newest watch got me thinking about a blue-colored flamingo and I couldn’t stop hypothesizing.
Last year, the Swiss watchmaker seriously damaged the internet with the reveal of its pink-dial version of the Black Bay Chronograph to coincide with the partnership with David Beckham’s Inter Miami FC (although it wasn’t a collaboration). Now, they’re back again — this time with the soccer club completely out of the picture — with a turquoise blue version.
Flamingos Aren’t Blue
Despite the fact that flamingos aren’t blue (let alone Tiffany blue), the latest take on the stock Black Bay Chrono is surprisingly evocative of the animal anyway. Pink and turquoise have always seemed to go hand-in-hand, sparking images of neon-clad food courts, ‘50s automobiles, and the TV show Miami Vice.
However, I can’t help but feel like the namesake flamingo wielded by Tudor for this blue-dial watch has more to do with the plastic variety than the actual animals themselves. Plastic flamingos were invented in 1957 by American artist Don Featherstone and became popular as gaudy lawn ornaments by middle-class suburbia, especially those living in Florida, so the Miami connection sorta checks out.
Tudor Black Bay Chrono Flamingo Blue Basics
As for the watch, it’s essentially the same version of the Black Bay Chrono you’ve been seeing since 2017. Housed in the same 41mm stainless steel case with a 14.4-mm thickness and 200m of water resistance (the Black Bay Chronograph is essentially a chrono-diver). Powered by the same COSC-certified MT5813 automatic movement that’s been installed since its debut, the watch features a bicompax subdial setup, a date window at the bottom, and 70 hours of power reserve.
Also like last time, the dial is given a white handset, white hour markers, and black subdials, and is surrounded by a black tachymeter bezel. Lastly, the watch is adorned with a matching steel 5-link T-clasp bracelet.
If the limited-edition pink version were too pink for you, then the turquoise might be more up your alley. Certainly more of a summertime watch than a wintertime one, the Flamingo Blue is nevertheless a playful yet more accessible version than its predecessor.
Spec Sheet
Case Size: 41mm
Case Thickness: 14.4mm
Case Material: Stainless steel
Water Resistance: 200m
Movement: COSC-certified in-house MT5813 automatic chronograph
Band: 5-link stainless steel bracelet
Limited Edition?: No
Pricing & Availability
Unlike the pink version, the Black Bay Chrono “Flamingo Blue” won’t be limited in edition size. And it will be the same price of $5,875. Head over to Tudor’s website to find a retailer.
Recap
Tudor Black Bay Chronograph “Flamingo Blue”
Tudor follows up its pink-dial version of the Black Bay Chronograph from last year with a playful new “Flamingo Blue” version, featuring the same specs as the beloved chrono diver.
