BIG Tudor Black Bay Bronze problem

[bdex75]

Originally Posted by unknown

Not yet I’m afraid

I have contact with some AD trying to get an update

But tudor still doesn’t confess they have a problem

They told my ad they are not aware of anything

But as said... mine returned already 4 times with this issue

And if they play it like the mothership they will never ever admit they have/had a problem. They will take care of the customer without admitting there was any fault or problem. A la the cyclops mag issue that plagued the sport models a couple years ago.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[JManuel]

Originally Posted by krismanx

this one looks pretty messed up....and i really liked the bronze approach! This definitely looks like it had more than a salt water attack though. Not sure i'd dive with it based on what i'm seeing here. Then again, i don't think desk diving would cause this...and i'm an avid desk diver.

wtf !

[Travelller]

Originally Posted by JManuel

wtf !

It's called being utterly careless with your expensive gear...

[BVLDARI]

Any issues with pool water / chlorine?

[willygil]

same issue here...just saltwater, always rinsed afterwards, but got it regardless....quite a pity, really liked this watch and currently its at the AD, but if its recurrent I might just sell it after they exchange it.

[BVLDARI]

So what happens when the warranty runs out in 2 years?

[capote]

Fashion watch material meets tool watch usage

[Travelller]

Originally Posted by capote

Fashion watch material meets tool watch usage

I'm not sure Tudor had "fashion" in mind when they released it but why their "R&D" department didn't do some basic research on the combined elements is a mystery to me. Given that all other serious watch brands released their "bronzos" with a bronze bezel should have tipped Tudor off...

Yeah, as much as I love the look of my 5B, this is a solid FAIL

Still, the pic of the one that was almost completely eroded never saw any fresh water, not possible. Once you (completely) remove the salt, the reaction comes to an end. Hence my initial assumption that with rinsing there should be no problems. I suspect that in willygil's case, some salt managed to remain logged underneath the bezel...

p.s. Anyone insisting on using it for its intended purpose (diving...) should seriously consider rinsing it under fresh water first and then placing it in a glass of fresh water for 5~10mins in order to assure that all salt content has been removed / sufficiently diluted.

[BVLDARI]

Originally Posted by BVLDARI

Any issues with pool water / chlorine?

I will re-ask my question, is pool/chlorine an issue?

Thanks.

[Travelller]

Originally Posted by BVLDARI

I will re-ask my question, is pool/chlorine an issue?

... I would go through the same rinse procedure I suggested above...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrolyte

"Sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium, magnesium, and phosphate are examples of electrolytes."

"The most common compound of chlorine, sodium chloride (common salt)..."

[BVLDARI]

Originally Posted by Travelller

... I would go through the same rinse procedure I suggested above...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrolyte

"Sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium, magnesium, and phosphate are examples of electrolytes."

"The most common compound of chlorine, sodium chloride (common salt)..."

Thank you for looking it up and letting me know. A bit disappointing...

[JacksonStone]

Originally Posted by BVLDARI

So what happens when the warranty runs out in 2 years?

Good question. That's an even bigger issue for anyone with a Bucherer edition. Those bezels might not end up being replaceable after a time, even at the owner's expense.

[10klakes]

All these posts asking “what will go up in value?”...... well, this might be the modern day bakelite.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Baco Noir]

In 20 years, these will be worth 10x more because of the vintage crowd who pays dearly for error / spider dials, etc.

Originally Posted by 10klakes

All these posts asking “what will go up in value?”...... well, this might be the modern day bakelite.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[BVLDARI]

This may be a silly question but figured I would ask: I take my kids to swimming lessons. Sometimes inadvertently you get splashed (not much but it happens). Should I be worried and basically never take my watch near a swimming pool unless I plan to soak it in a glass of water later in the day?

[opawlows]

Is this actually a common problem with this model? I can't recall seeing many bezels that look corroded. Interested as I am looking to add the Bucherer edition to my Black Bay lineup.

Thanks!

[xIZeitgeistIx]

So far no issues with my bezel after 2 years.

[Travelller]

Originally Posted by xIZeitgeistIx

So far no issues with my bezel after 2 years.

"So far no issues with my bezel after 2 years" ...of:

A: scuba-diving nut
B: sailing / motor-boating / fishing for a living
C: beach bum
D: regular laps at the local olympic pool
E: desk diving ... with the occasional interaction with fresh water... in the lavatory.

CONTEXT IS IMPORTANT

[Blackdog]

This problem is very strange...

There was a similar issue with the insert and tube collar of the first gen Blackbays.
It happened to me.

The typical explanation is galvanic corrosion. But anodized aluminium inserts in stainless diving watches (like the BB gen1) have been around for decades....

Somehow Tudor solved the issue at the time and the problem had not been seen again. Til now.

[xIZeitgeistIx]

Originally Posted by Travelller

"So far no issues with my bezel after 2 years" ...of:

A: scuba-diving nut
B: sailing / motor-boating / fishing for a living
C: beach bum
D: regular laps at the local olympic pool
E: desk diving ... with the occasional interaction with fresh water... in the lavatory.

CONTEXT IS IMPORTANT

A and C

[karasus]

Originally Posted by sager

Wow. I expected better QC.

Its not bad QC it shitty engineering ruined by politics. Looking at the product line, Tudor clearly has the tech to make ceramic bezel inserts but they "can't make it too good" to compete with Rolex. So we end up with shitty engineering where they think its OK to use aluminium with bronze when they could have used ceramic....

[JacksonStone]

Originally Posted by karasus

Its not bad QC it shitty engineering ruined by politics. Looking at the product line, Tudor clearly has the tech to make ceramic bezel inserts but they "can't make it too good" to compete with Rolex. So we end up with shitty engineering where they think its OK to use aluminium with bronze when they could have used ceramic....

It is a weird choice. Obviously Rolex SA is OK with Tudor using ceramic, as seen in the Pelagos. They could have used something similar specifically for the BB Bronze. I understand the Black Bay is the retro range, so it's fitting they use aluminum inserts, but if there's a chemical problem pairing aluminum with bronze for use in aquatic environments, it's seems completely boneheaded they wouldn't have used a different insert material for that particular model.

[Travelller]

Originally Posted by Blackdog

...There was a similar issue with the insert and tube collar of the first gen Blackbays... It happened to me... The typical explanation is galvanic corrosion. But anodized aluminium inserts in stainless diving watches (like the BB gen1) have been around for decades.... Somehow Tudor solved the issue at the time and the problem had not been seen again. Til now.

Good point. Aluminum reacts (badly) with many elements, including stainless steel. There is a chart somewhere that shows how reactive an element will be and Bronze poses a bigger danger to Al than SS does.

The solution I assume everyone uses is some kind of coating (of the Al insert). apparently the coating Tudor used might be enough to protect the Al against SS but not against the more caustic Bronze...

That or more simply, the coating process is not 100% and there are maybe some areas not properly coated and this is where the corrosion is allowed to begin...

[MIKE84]

I revisited this thread because I have been thinking of picking one up and I see discrepancies between some of the members here, which makes me wonder if there is an issue with the date of production, though, I don't think they have changed the materials, so hmm.

Is the consensus that one should just avoid water completely?

[jackcarls0n]

The issue is that aluminum(bezel) and bronze(case) together results in galvanic corrosion. Salt water/water can cause corrosion of the material. Salt water is a no no. You can go under water and rinse it afterwards. But if your watch doesn't see water, it should be good to go.

[MIKE84]

Originally Posted by jackcarls0n

The issue is that aluminum(bezel) and bronze(case) together results in galvanic corrosion. Salt water/water can cause corrosion of the material. Salt water is a no no. You can go under water and rinse it afterwards. But if your watch doesn't see water, it should be good to go.

That is what I suspected. Thanks.

[Greenwich Mean Time]

I wonder who at Tudor / Rolex signed off on that. High school chemistry. Can't believe their materials and or mechanical engineering staff didn't warn them that this could happen.

[Sothy]

Any updates on this? Happy New Year everyone.