Tudor Delivers the White-Dial Black Bay Pro Fans Have Been Asking For

In 2022, Tudor released the Black Bay Pro: a fixed-bezel steel GMT with clear inspiration drawn from the Rolex Explorer II (particularly the four and five-digit references like the 1655 and 16570). Sized at 39mm, it’s a natural fit alongside the larger rotating-bezel Black Bay GMT released four years earlier. (Both powered by Tudor’s in-house GMT caliber MT5652.)

From day one, enthusiasts speculated that a white-dial Black Bay Pro was inevitable. It took three years, but those predictions were spot-on: the Black Bay Pro has finally received a dial update, now available in an opaline white that feels like a close cousin of the beloved five-digit “Polar” Rolex Explorer IIs.

Why the Opaline Dial is a Big Deal

Compared to Tudor's other 2025 releases—like a next-gen Black Bay 58 and the Pelagos Ultra diver—the opaline-dial Black Bay Pro wasn't the brand's most technically significant update. Still, as any watch enthusiast will tell you, this change from black to white completely transforms the watch’s personality.

The dial itself isn't pure white; Tudor describes it as "opaline," a fitting description because it shifts dramatically based on lighting. Under dimmer conditions or seen straight-on, it appears clean and matte—almost a creamy, muted white. But step outside into brighter environments or direct sunlight, and the dial has an iridescent silver sheen. Photographs don’t consistently capture the effect—you have to see it firsthand.

New Dial, Same Specs (With One Important Addition)

Aside from the dial change, nothing else has shifted on the Black Bay Pro. It still features the same dimensions, steel 24-hour bezel, and automatic GMT movement (cal. MT5652) Tudor fans already know well. But there’s another update worth noting: the ceramic-lumed hour indices applied to the dial are now a bright white surrounded by crisp black edges (as opposed to the off-white indices on the original BB Pro). Against the white dial, these black-outlined indices pop, much like those on the aforementioned Rolex Explorer II ref. 16570.

A brief note about thickness, since it always comes up: yes, this new model is identical in thickness (14.6mm) to the original Black Bay Pro, and yes, that means you'll still hear the usual complaints from watch forums. But as someone who wore a similarly sized (even thicker at 14.7mm) Black Bay GMT throughout an entire week of Watches and Wonders—suited and booted with a NATO strap, nonetheless—I can confirm that the thickness criticisms are exaggerated. If you’re curious about how a watch could wear differently than its dimensions suggest, check out this article.

So, if thickness wasn’t a deal-breaker before, it won’t be now.

Final Thoughts: See It for Yourself

This dial change genuinely elevated my preference for the Black Bay Pro. It now evokes the look of classic white-dial Rolex Explorer IIs but stands confidently as its own design, a bit smaller at 39mm in diameter. Even though this wasn't Tudor’s headlining release, the opaline dial Black Bay Pro still made a strong impression in Geneva. And for anyone who’s hesitated on picking up a Black Bay Pro in anticipation of exactly this dial, it's finally here.

On a personal note, this was our first official meeting with Tudor at Watches and Wonders. Stepping into their three-story “booth”—more like a miniature Tudor city—was a standout experience. But even more valuable was the chance to handle these watches firsthand the same day they were released. Tudor’s strength has always been accessibility, and the Black Bay Pro Opaline is the perfect example of a watch that demands an in-person experience. Do yourself a favor: skip the endless online photos and forum debates, and head to a Tudor boutique to try this one on your wrist.