Tudor Black Bay Pro Opaline: The Rare White-Dial GMT and Rolex Explorer II Alternative

There are certain watches that make you stop and think, “If Tudor ever made that, I'd buy one.”

For me, the Tudor Black Bay Pro was one of those watches. I always thought it looked fantastic, but I couldn't help thinking how good it would look with a white dial.

Then, in 2025, Tudor released the Black Bay Pro Opaline.

And it was almost exactly what I had been waiting for.

What makes the Tudor Black Bay Pro Opaline different?

The original Tudor Black Bay Pro was introduced in 2022 with a black dial. The formula was already a very good one: a compact 39mm stainless-steel case, fixed 24-hour bezel, GMT functionality and Tudor's distinctive yellow Snowflake GMT hand.

For 2025, Tudor kept the fundamental design but introduced a completely new Opaline dial.

And "white" doesn't really do it justice.

The Tudor Black Bay Pro Opaline dial is more of an off-white, silvery colour with a subtle metallic quality. Depending on the lighting, it can look almost pure white, then take on a warmer or more silver appearance when the light changes.

It's one of those dials that looks noticeably different in photographs compared with real life.

Tudor also changed the visual treatment of the dial to improve contrast. The ceramic hour markers are outlined in black, as are the hands, creating a much sharper contrast against the light-coloured background. Tudor specifically describes the Opaline dial as a design intended to boost legibility.

And then there is that yellow GMT hand.

The yellow 24-hour Snowflake hand stands out incredibly well against the Opaline dial and gives the watch a splash of colour without making it feel overly flashy.

Tudor Black Bay Pro vs Rolex Explorer II

It's almost impossible to look at a white-dial Tudor Black Bay Pro without thinking about the Rolex Explorer II.

The comparison is understandable.

The Rolex Explorer II has been around since 1971 and was designed around exploration, particularly environments where distinguishing between day and night can become difficult. Its fixed 24-hour bezel and additional 24-hour hand are central to the design.

The modern Rolex Explorer II 226570 is 42mm, while the Tudor Black Bay Pro is considerably more compact at 39mm. Both have fixed 24-hour bezels, date displays and GMT functionality, although they use very different movements and have their own distinctive design languages.

The Explorer II uses Rolex's calibre 3285, while the Black Bay Pro uses Tudor's Manufacture Calibre MT5652. Both offer approximately 70 hours of power reserve.

There is also a big difference in personality.

The Rolex Explorer II has the famous orange 24-hour hand and a very recognisable white dial. The Tudor uses its yellow Snowflake GMT hand, snowflake hour hand and the distinctive Black Bay case and handset.

For me, the Tudor has a slightly more understated, vintage-inspired feel, while the Rolex is unmistakably an Explorer II.

The Opaline Black Bay Pro sits somewhere between a traditional Tudor tool watch and the modern white-dial GMT aesthetic that Rolex has made famous.

Why is the Black Bay Pro Opaline so interesting?

Part of the appeal is simply how different it looks from the original Black Bay Pro.

The black-dial version is quite serious and monochromatic. The Opaline version completely changes the personality of the watch.

The lighter dial makes the 39mm case appear slightly larger visually, while the black markers, black hands and yellow GMT hand create a lot more contrast.

It is also a relatively unusual combination for Tudor.

Tudor currently lists the Opaline Black Bay Pro as a 39mm steel watch with a fixed 24-hour bezel, 200m water resistance and the MT5652 Manufacture GMT movement. The case is 14.6mm thick and uses a domed sapphire crystal.

The mysterious Black Bay Pro Opaline recall rumours

This is where the story gets particularly interesting.

There have been rumours within the watch community that some early Black Bay Pro Opaline watches were recalled, with claims that there may have been an issue affecting the dial.

One of the rumours specifically concerns possible cracking or defects appearing on the Opaline dial.

However, this is important: there has been no public confirmation from Tudor that the Opaline Black Bay Pro was recalled because of a defective dial.

I have also not been able to find reliable, publicly confirmed photographs demonstrating the alleged dial defect.

That means the story should remain exactly that — a rumour, rather than an established fact.

There are reports and discussions within the watch community about watches being recalled or becoming difficult to obtain, but without an official Tudor statement explaining what happened, it is impossible to say with certainty whether a production issue existed, how widespread it was, or whether it was actually related to the dial.

And perhaps that uncertainty is part of what makes the early Opaline Black Bay Pro so interesting.

If you own one, particularly an early example, it is certainly a watch with an unusual story surrounding it.

A Tudor Black Bay Pro Opaline on an integrated FKM rubber strap

For this particular Black Bay Pro, I wanted to take the watch in a slightly different direction.

The watch is fitted with the Yorkshire Watch Straps INTEGRA FKM rubber strap, an integrated rubber watch strap specifically designed for the Tudor Black Bay Pro.

Rather than using a generic rubber strap and leaving a gap between the strap and the case, the INTEGRA uses the original Tudor OEM end links and spring bars to create a much more seamless connection to the watch.

The result is an integrated FKM rubber strap that follows the lines of the Black Bay Pro case and gives the watch a much more modern appearance.

FKM rubber is particularly well suited to a watch like the Black Bay Pro. It is durable, comfortable and highly resistant to the conditions that make rubber such a popular material for sports and dive watches.

The combination of the Opaline dial and black FKM rubber works particularly well.

The light dial provides the contrast, while the black rubber brings the watch back towards its original tool-watch character.

Why I think the Opaline Black Bay Pro works so well

The Tudor Black Bay Pro has always been an interesting watch because it occupies a slightly unusual position in the Tudor range.

It has the heritage of the Black Bay family, but its fixed 24-hour bezel and GMT function make it something quite different.

The Opaline version takes that concept and gives it an entirely different personality.

It has the visual appeal of a white-dial GMT, the compact 39mm dimensions that many people prefer, 200m water resistance and Tudor's MT5652 Manufacture GMT movement.

And while the comparisons with the Rolex Explorer II are inevitable, I don't think the Black Bay Pro needs to be a Rolex alternative.

It has enough character of its own.

The yellow Snowflake GMT hand, Tudor case, 39mm proportions and Opaline dial give it an identity that is unmistakably Tudor.

And fitted with an integrated FKM rubber strap, it becomes something slightly different again.

A modern Tudor GMT, with a vintage-inspired exploration aesthetic, a rare-looking Opaline dial and a strap designed specifically around the case.

For me, it's one of the most interesting versions of the Black Bay Pro Tudor has produced.

Tudor Black Bay Pro Opaline.

A white-dial GMT I had been waiting for — and one that turned out to have a rather interesting story behind it.

Tudor Black Bay Pro Opaline Specifications

• Model: Tudor Black Bay Pro Opaline
• Reference: M79470-0004
• Case: Stainless steel
• Diameter: 39mm
• Thickness: 14.6mm
• Lug width: 20mm
• Dial: Opaline, domed
• Crystal: Domed sapphire
• Bezel: Fixed, satin-brushed steel, 24-hour graduated
• Movement: Tudor Manufacture Calibre MT5652
• Certification: COSC
• Power reserve: Approximately 70 hours
• Water resistance: 200m / 660ft
• GMT: Independent local-hour adjustment
• Strap: Yorkshire Watch Straps INTEGRA FKM Rubber Strap
• Strap end links: Original Tudor OEM end links

The reported dial-defect/recall story remains unconfirmed by Tudor. No official Tudor announcement confirming a defective Opaline dial or explaining a recall has been located.