Baselworld, the biggest watch event of the year, is happening now at the Messe Basel in Basel, Switzerland. We’ve got a team on the ground there to bring you the most exciting releases. Follow our coverage here, and also be sure to check out Instagram. We’ll be posting to our feed throughout the week.

Price: $3,950
Availability: July 2019
Case Dimensions: 42mm
Movement & Winding: Tudor Manufacture MT5612; automatic
Power Reserve: 70 hours

Quick Take: New Black Bay models and updates from Tudor were expected for Baselworld 2019, but not many people saw the P01 coming. Deviating significantly from the established form of the Tudor Black Bay, the new P01 features an unusual bezel-locking system integrated into the endlinks of its bracelet and an asymmetrical crown placement around 4 o’clock. Adding to its unconventional looks is a steel 12-hour bezel. Based on a 1960s prototype from the brand’s archives intended for military use, it’s a somewhat daring release but potentially a badass dive watch.

Who It’s For: To be into something like the Black Bay P01, you’ve got to appreciate the funkier side of vintage dive watches. Seiko, for instance, has made a design signature out of similar crown placement and integrated crown guards with the popular SKX and others. The Black Bay P01 will have its fans and detractors, but with an in-house movement and relatively approachable price point, it adds a dollop of strong personality to Tudor’s lineup.

Key Features: Experimental bezel-locking mechanisms have led to some distinctive design traits. Think of the Paneari Luminor, the Omega Ploprof, or even the Yema Superman. These are all very different approaches, as is the Tudor Black Bay P01’s claw-like locking system that prevents the bidirectional rotating bezel from turning unintentionally.

At an angular 42mm wide and water-resistant to 200m, the P01 should provide a chunky but still wearable dive watch experience. Obviously, the strap is integral to the whole bezel-locking system, so serial strap swappers should take note. Inside is Tudor’s in-house, well regarded MT5612 automatic movement with 70 hours of power reserve. The Tudor Black Bay P01 has a price of $3,950.

More from Baselworld 2019

See more of our favorite new releases from Geneva. Read the Story