- Full 42 mm carbon-composite case and carbon-fibre bezel inspired by the Visa Cash App Racing Bulls VCARB 03.
- Domed “racing white” dial with bold yellow VCARB 03 accents and layered carbon-fibre sub-counters.
- Powered by the COSC-certified MT5813 chronograph calibre, offering a 70-hour power reserve.
- Hybrid leather-and-rubber strap with a tyre-inspired pattern and lightweight carbon-fibre end-links.
- Only 2,026 individually numbered pieces will be produced worldwide.
For TUDOR, motorsport has never been a passing interest—it’s a legacy that stretches back to the TUDOR Watches Racing Team of the late 1960s. Over the decades, that racing spirit has evolved into modern partnerships with some of the world’s most competitive teams, while the brand continues to experiment with advanced materials and performance-driven engineering. Now entering the second year of its collaboration with the Visa Cash App Racing Bulls Formula One Team, TUDOR builds on the success of last year’s Black Bay Chrono “Carbon 25” with a new edition inspired by the team’s latest challenger, the VCARB 03.
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Limited to 2,026 pieces worldwide, the Black Bay Chrono “Carbon 26” follows the same philosophy that defines Formula 1 — that every gram counts. The lightweight 42 mm carbon composite case, matching carbon tachymeter bezel, and carbon end-links show the constant effort to reduce weight seen in modern Formula 1 design, while the bright yellow accents taken from the VCARB 03 add fresh energy to the look. More than just a repeat of last year’s design, the Carbon 26 grows with the racing team it honours, making it feel like a true part of the 2026 Formula 1 season.
More than just a new colour option, the Carbon 26 shows a move toward a more modern style in the Black Bay collection. It replaces vintage-inspired details with a fresh Formula 1 look, showing that TUDOR’s annual racing chronographs are becoming a tradition in their own right. For motorsport fans and collectors, it’s a watch that captures the thrill of a new racing season while showing the brand’s readiness to go beyond its past.
Now, let’s take a closer look!
- Brand: TUDOR
- Model: Black Bay Chrono ‘Carbon 26’
- Reference: M79377KN-0003
- Diameter: 42 mm
- Thickness: 14.3 mm
- Material: Black Carbon Fibre
- Dial: blue sodalite ornamental stone
- Calibre: Calibre MT5813
- Power Reserve: 70 Hours
- Water-Resistance: 20 Bar (200 metres, 660 feet)
- Price: USD $8,625 (Limited Edition – 2026 Pieces)
The first thing that catches your eye is the “racing white” domed dial, giving the Black Bay Chrono “Carbon 26” a completely different personality from the rest of the collection. Clean, bright, and highly legible, it provides the perfect backdrop for the bold yellow accents borrowed directly from the Visa Cash App Racing Bulls VCARB 03, instantly tying the watch to the team’s 2026 Formula 1 challenger. Rather than feeling like a simple colour update, the new livery gives the Carbon 26 its own unmistakable identity.
Instead of printing a carbon fibre pattern onto the dial, TUDOR has created a layered construction using alternating brass discs and genuine carbon fibre sheets. This means the recessed chronograph counters and even the surround of the date window reveal the same woven carbon texture found throughout the case, creating a level of visual depth that’s rarely seen on modern sports chronographs.
The 42 mm carbon composite case retains the unmistakable Black Bay silhouette, complete with its bevelled lugs and the signature TUDOR rose-signed crown, but everything has been reimagined with a stealthy matte-black finish. That lightweight philosophy extends throughout the watch, from the one-piece carbon fibre tachymeter bezel to the carbon end-links, ensuring the Carbon 26 feels every bit as performance-focused as the Formula 1 car that inspired it. Black-out PVD-coated titanium chronograph pushers, influenced by TUDOR’s earliest chronographs, and a matching screw-down crown complete the technical aesthetic.
Easy reading is still important despite the racing-inspired design. TUDOR’s famous Snowflake hands, first seen in 1969, are outlined in black and filled with bright Swiss Super-LumiNova, making the watch as useful as it is eye-catching. The watch also comes with a leather-and-rubber strap that has a tyre tread pattern—a small detail that reminds you of the Black Bay Chrono “Carbon 26’s” connection to Formula 1 every time you wear it. These careful touches make the watch feel much more than just a special edition; it truly captures the spirit of the sport.
Turning the Black Bay Chrono “Carbon 26” over reveals a PVD-finished titanium case back, but the real story lies beneath it. Powering the watch is TUDOR’s Manufacture Chronograph Calibre MT5813, a self-winding movement engineered for the same qualities that define Formula 1—precision, durability, and reliability.
Developed through a long-standing technical collaboration with Kenissi, it features a high-performance regulating organ exclusive to TUDOR, while a column wheel and vertical clutch ensure the chronograph engages with exceptional smoothness, eliminating the jump often found in traditional cam-operated chronographs.
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Performance is every bit as impressive as the engineering behind it. The COSC-certified movement delivers approximately 70 hours of power reserve and beats at 28,800 beats per hour (4 Hz). It includes a non-magnetic silicon balance spring, a balance adjusted with tiny screws, and 41 jewels to ensure long-term reliability.
Besides the main chronograph seconds hand, it shows a 45-minute timer at 3 o’clock, a small seconds dial at 9 o’clock, and a quick-change date at 6 o’clock, with a stop-seconds feature for exact time setting. This movement fits perfectly with the Carbon 26’s racing look, giving the performance fans expect from one of TUDOR’s top chronographs.
Like the previous model, the TUDOR Black Bay Chrono “Carbon 26” is a very limited edition, with only 2,026 individually numbered pieces made worldwide. Priced at USD $8,625, each watch has its unique number engraved on the titanium case back with a special PVD finish, showing its place in TUDOR’s 2026 Formula 1-inspired collection.
Backing the Carbon 26 is TUDOR’s five-year transferable guarantee, which requires no registration and no mandatory maintenance checks, reflecting the brand’s confidence in the durability and reliability of its Manufacture timepieces. Whether you’re a dedicated Formula 1 fan or simply appreciate lightweight, motorsport-inspired chronographs, the Black Bay Chrono “Carbon 26” is one of TUDOR’s most exciting limited editions to date.
We’ll admit it—carbon fibre isn’t always our first choice for luxury watches. In many cases, it can feel like a material used simply because it’s fashionable. Here, though, it makes perfect sense. Formula 1 has relied on carbon fibre for decades for its exceptional strength and lightweight properties, so seeing TUDOR build the Black Bay Chrono “Carbon 26” around the same philosophy feels authentic rather than gimmicky. More importantly, it transforms the wearing experience, giving the familiar Black Bay Chrono a noticeably lighter, more dynamic feel on the wrist.
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What also impressed us is that this isn’t just a cosmetic collaboration. TUDOR hasn’t simply applied the Visa Cash App Racing Bulls colours to an existing model and called it a day. From the carbon-composite case and layered dial to the racing-inspired details and the Manufacture Calibre MT5813, the Carbon 26 feels like a genuine evolution of the Black Bay Chrono. At USD $8,625, it remains one of the strongest value propositions in the luxury chronograph market, offering an in-house chronograph movement, premium materials, and a Formula 1 pedigree at a price that’s difficult to ignore.
The white dial and bright yellow highlights are a refreshing change from TUDOR’s usually simple colour choices, adding youthful energy that matches Formula 1’s growing worldwide fanbase. Together with the light carbon build, the 42 mm case feels more comfortable than its size suggests, making it a watch that is as fun to wear as it is to see. For us, the Black Bay Chrono “Carbon 26” stands out because it offers something rare: a partnership watch that delivers real technical improvements alongside a unique design, rather than simply putting two logos on the same dial.
