Tudor Black Bay Pink

This morning, I needed to contact a Tudor AD regarding a warranty issue on a watch. The Authorized Dealer promptly resolved it, as expected.

Following up, I inquired about the availability of the new Tudor Black Bay Pink. My curiosity stemmed from gauging its popularity and personal interest in the colour. I would certainly wear one if it were available to a wider audience. The new colour has the potential for success if Tudor has confidence in it. However, the response I received was unexpected. While I knew the numbers were limited, the extent of the limitation surprised me.

This has surprised me—how Tudor has dangled this huge Pink Carrot before us, only to select the person with the biggest influence overall. I do not doubt that this selective process has probably been going on for years, not just by Tudor, but many high-profile brands. It does matter who you know, and what weight you carry in the horological world we play our games in.

Is Their Proof In The Pudding?

To gauge interest, I called 15 ADs in the UK and asked about the Tudor Black Bay Pink. Although most just said they had no idea if or when they may see one, all said they had been inundated with requests for them. Especially when it was revealed just before Watches & Wonders 2024 that this would be available in a limited number.

This exemplifies manufactured exclusivity, a tactic commonly employed by major players with their customers. Most of us lack a substantial social following, an extensive watch portfolio, or a significant brand spending history. While I understand the desire to cater to exclusive and influential clients, why tantalise the masses with a Pink Unicorn? All this accomplishes is fueling hype and driving prices sky-high. Imagine securing one at the asking price of £4520.00, only to see its value soar on the grey market.

Time For A Change?

Nonetheless, it will generate hype for the brand, and I hope Tudor will take note of the interest and heed their customer base. Perhaps they could release these watches properly, even if in limited numbers per year. Where there is demand, there is money to be made. Although it has been confirmed that there will only be one production run of this chrono version, who knows, perhaps they might introduce another Tudor Black Bay Pink in a different range. Just drop the Chrono; a simple Black Bay Pink will suffice. Now, there’s an idea. We live in hope…