Welcome to Sunday Morning Showdown, a steady diet of weekly watch duels. This time, Jorg and Mike battle it out using two vintage-inspired GMTs. But which one is the most effective? Will it be the impressive Tudor Black Bay 58 GMT unveiled at Watches and Wonders earlier this year? Or will the popular L’Aventure Transatlantic II GMT take the GMT crown? In the battle of travel watches You decide who wins!
After last week’s battle of retro-futuristic watches, we’re back on Earth and focusing on two classic GMTs with a strong retro vibe. The Tudor Black Bay 58 GMT is the first GMT version of the popular Black Bay 58 series. This introduced a complication to the BB58 lineup and proved for the first time that Tudor could create a slimmer GMT watch. The Laventure Transatlantique II GMT is the second version of this young brand’s popular GMT. With a smaller case, updated design and different movement, this new version further completes the Transtatlantique. But can the more expensive Laventure take down the fan favorite Black Bay? Let’s find out!
Last week on Sunday Morning Showdown…
But before we turn it over to Jorg and Mike, let’s take a look at last week’s Sunday Morning Showdown. In last week’s battle, the Girard-Perregaux Casquette 2.0 took on the Amida Digitrend, and it’s no exaggeration to say that the Casquette easily won. The titanium reissue of Girard-Perregaux’s famous 1970s classic won with a whopping 74% of the vote, while Amida only got 26%. Reading through the comments, I found that many people were not happy with either of these designs. That’s why we’re not going to spend too much time discussing wins. Fratelli, Jorg and Mike ended up making two watch cases that are more traditional in nature that are definitely further up your alley.
Jorg: Laventure Transatlantic II GMT
To be honest, Mike, I really admire Laventure. From the moment the first version of the brand’s Transatlantic GMT was released, I fell in love with its style. I had the pleasure of checking out Clement Gou’s early work. While the Marine and Sue Marine were promising releases, the first Transatlantic GMT demonstrated the brand’s full stylistic potential. Although the design’s roots lie in the familiar aesthetics of Patek Philippe and Rolex, brand founder Gaud has managed to find an unmistakable charm that instantly captivates people. I explained that I have never had any regrets about watches, but one of the few regrets I have is not buying the first Transatlantic GMT when I had the chance.
I fell in love with its vintage GMT-Master inspired aesthetic. And yes, that’s how I see it. People like to bring up the visual references of Patek Philippe, but the dial and bezel are more in the realm of the classic GMT-Master reference. 1675 than any Patek Philippe. My favorite reference to GMT is the ultimate flattery. On top of that, Gaud made sure to add more to the design than just an overall look and feel rooted in one of the industry’s great companies.
2020 Original Laventure Transatlantic GMT
Transatlantic updated based on the same aesthetics
You can try to justify the emotions you feel when you see Transatlantic GMT for the first time, but it will never tell the whole story. It’s hard to explain my love for this watch because it’s so much more than just the sum of its parts.
2020 Original Laventure Transatlantic GMT
But among the many details that impressed me: the sandwich dial with oversized hour markers, the use of two different shades of green on the bezel, the color and size of the numerals on the bezel; Examples include the green and white colors of the dial. I also really like the simple but beautiful logo, white seconds hand, and light green 24-hour GMT hand. The light green 24-hour GMT hand has a noticeable contrast yet perfectly blends with the overall aesthetic, and I love the typography in style, color, and size, as well as the way it’s done. The minute track is connected to the hour marker.
I could go on further, but the overall aesthetic impressed me the most. This shows the care taken in the creation of the two early Transatlantique GMT models launched in 2020. These proved to be the perfect canvas for the new Toranatlantic II GMT, which debuted earlier this year.
Gaud decided to use the basic principles of the first version, but rebuilt the second version from scratch. It starts with a completely redesigned case, shrinking the case from 41mm to 39mm for a true vintage feel. Thanks to improved ergonomics, the case is also thinner and fits more comfortably on your wrist. He has also optimized the bracelet to fit the case, which is extremely comfortable and carefully crafted. As Daan explains in his review, after experiencing it up close, I found it to be a very well-crafted watch.
New dial colors for the Transatlantic II GMT
Gaude also changed the dial color of the green model to matte black rather than dark green or cream. If there’s one small “problem” with the new Transatlantic II GMT, it’s the black dial. I prefer the dial color of the first version because it gives the watch a unique twist, although it has a crisper feel overall. Gaud also added two brown dial models, one in steel and one in a steel and gold combination, but these have sold out. The plexiglass bezel has also been redesigned to make the numbers feel sharper. The domed plexiglass crystal that covers the dial remains intact, adding to the vintage feel.
Hidden behind the simplified caseback is another element that I liked about the first iteration: the beautifully engraved caseback. The highly improved Sellita SW330-2. This caliber is a COSC-certified chronometer, operates at 28,800 revolutions per hour and offers a power reserve of 56 hours. Movements are aesthetically pleasing and are a reliable powertrain for watches, but they also have a number of potential problems.
The combination of a Kohler-style GMT movement and a price of CHF 4,650 excluding VAT on a stainless steel bracelet is quite expensive. Add Dutch VAT of 21% and convert the price to euros for just over 6,000 euros. That’s a lot of cash. I admit that, Mike. I can defend it by claiming that the manufacturing quality is exceptional and that you get a special watch that is not mass produced. On your wrist, you can see that it’s made to be more impressive than the Tudor.
put a price tag on something you like
But in the end, the Laventure is significantly more expensive than the Tudor Black Bay 58 GMT when list price is taken into account. Save €1,400 and buy the Tudor for €4,670 and get a Master Chronometer Flyer-style GMT movement. I can understand why some people choose Tudor for that simple reason. But the world of watches is not about checking boxes on spec sheets. The spec sheet is certainly way ahead of the curve. But if you love watches as much as I love the L’Aventure Transatlantic II GMT, a reasonable alternative is simply not an option. That’s why I always choose the L’Aventure Transatlantic II GMT over the Tudor Black Bay 58 GMT.
When it comes to Tudor, some Fratelli may know that the Black Bay Pro is my favorite GMT made by Tudor. That will always be my first Tudor pick. And with the slimmer Black Bay 58 GMT showing what Tudor is capable of, my hopes for a less chunky Black Bay Pro are very much alive. Interestingly, the Black Bay Pro is also a watch that evokes the same emotions as the Laventure Transatlantic II GMT.
And these feelings make the Black Bay 58 GMT not an option for me. Mike, maybe you were expecting me to attack Tudor a little more. But other than the gold decorations, there’s not much to dislike about it. It’s certainly a very nice watch. But in a world full of good watches, I want to be fascinated by something more. And that’s exactly what Laventure does. That’s why I always choose this over the Tudor. Sometimes things are very simple. But I’m sure you have thoughts on this, Mike.
Microphone: Tudor Black Bay 58 GMT
Well, Jorg, it’s as if you wrote my part by summarizing Black Bay 58 GMT. However, let’s take a step back and discuss the Laventure Transatlantique II GMT. Laventure makes great watches, but it’s even more impressive that they come from a small, independent brand. Heh, the fact that he’s playing against Tudor speaks volumes. These are great watches and I remember thinking that when I saw similar non-GMT models. So why would I choose the Tudor over the admittedly rarer Laventure?
The Black Bay 58 is always a great watch in any form. Honestly, these pieces are as close as you can get to a Rolex of yesteryear. It has no ceramic bezel, is just the right size at 39mm, and is reasonably priced. It would be dangerous to call this shape boring or familiar, because these watches have something Laventure doesn’t: staying power.
great looks
It’s hard to fault the overall aesthetics of the Black Bay 58 GMT. It’s familiar, but the gold detailing mixed in with the red and black aluminum bezel always looks sharp. The matte black dial is coated with plenty of white Super-LumiNova, highlighting the design’s combination of retro and modern details.
classic shape
The Tudor has a classic shape that never gets old. On the other hand, I think Laventure is a watch that aims to be different. It washes off well, but it loses its luster after the honeymoon period. In fact, it reminds me of a microbrand watch. Tudor borrows a lot from Rolex, but it’s a watch that works well in all situations. As a non-GMT 58 owner, I can attest that this is the kind of watch that is always worth having.
A better case — finally
The Black Bay 58 definitely has that Tudor characteristic of slabside. However, it’s only 12.8 mm thick, so it’s not as noticeable as the larger model. What’s more, the lug-to-lug measurement is 47mm, making it a perfect fit for any wrist. When it comes to wearability, rubber is an option, but a riveted Oyster bracelet is the best choice for the case. This is a high-quality bracelet that stands out among its class, which cannot be found anywhere else.
impressive movement
Tudor uses the Master Chronometer certified Kenissi MT5450-U automatic. The key is to tick the magic box of offering flyer complexity. The Laventure, on the other hand, is powered by a Kohler GMT movement made by Sellita. Frankly, I think the difference between the two styles is overrated, but watch enthusiasts seem to prefer the Flyer. If your buyer prefers flyers, it’s worth noting the price difference between the two flyers.
As mentioned by Jorg, the Laventure Transatlantic II GMT on a bracelet costs around 6,000 euros, while the Tudor Black Bay 58 GMT on a bracelet costs 4,670 euros. This is a big difference, and if you end up choosing Laventure, it’s likely due to aesthetic preference and relative rarity. For me, the Tudor wins for its looks, mechanical performance, and affordability. Which watch would you vote for and why? Vote and let us know in the comments below.
Tudor Black Bay 58 GMT vs. Laventure Transatlantic II GMT
