Tudor GMT Date wheel issue
In 2018, Tudor released the Heritage Black Bay GMT reference 79830RB. This watch was an important release for the brand as it is the first GMT watch for Tudor, but most importantly, it is inspired by the heritage of its bigger brother Rolex’s GMT watches. And it’s safe to say that Rolex makes what is possibly the most recognized GMT watches in the world.
As you can expect, the Tudor GMT 79830RB became an instant success after its launch. This model was on a waiting list around the world, and getting one could even take a year, maybe more. Just like with Rolex, the demand for this model just seemed to be too high.
But the life of the Tudor GMT 79830RB has not only been a smooth one. Already since the beginning of its production, the heritage Black Bay GMT has been haunted by a date wheel issue.
If you look online, much of what is being shared related to this watch is about the date wheel issue. But what is it really, and what can you do about it? In this article, we will go into detail about the Tudor GMT date wheel issue.
What is the Tudor date wheel issue?
The Tudor date wheel issue is something that seems to affect a number of heritage Black Bay GMT owners. The issue is that sometimes, the date advances earlier than midnight, sometimes the date advances 1.5 days or 0.5 days, which means it is stuck halfway in the date window.
Tudor has other watches featuring a date function, and there have been no reports that the date wheel gets stuck between two dates. As such, the movement, which is exclusive to the Black Bay GMT seems to be what is causing it.
The movement used in the Heritage Black Bay GMT is the MT5652. MT stands for Manufacture Tudor and tells us that it is an in-house movement. When Tudor launched the GMT, they launched a brand new movement, developed specifically for the watch.
This also means that the movement is not tried and true. Although, of course, the movement has undergone countless tests during its development stages. And speaking about the development stages, the deliveries of the Tudor GMT were actually postponed and delayed by Tudor, which is rumored to have been caused by the date wheel issue. This is even before the watch was available to the general public.
Tudor is just like Rolex, privately owned. Furthermore, it is just as secretive as its bigger brother in communicating information to the public. Of course, Tudor has not commented on or recognized the date wheel issue publicly. Even though, it seems that it is a somewhat widespread issue. But again, we want to emphasize that we have no idea how many people experience a date wheel issue on their GMT.
Then, of course, you can always debate how big of an issue it really is, but that is a topic for a different time. The majority of Tudor GMT owners likely do not complain about the date wheel issue if it appears. Others, however, take it to social media, and the reason the topic of the Tudor date wheel issue has gotten so much traction in recent times is that it’s not just one or two people reporting about it.
The delayed release of the Tudor GMT
The Tudor Heritage Black Bay GMT was released at Baselworld in 2018. But the watch didn’t seem to reach authorized Tudor retailers until late summer/autumn of 2019. Whilst there is some time between Basel and the actual release, the GMT had documented delays according to dealers. This is said to have been caused by the date wheel issue that Tudor identified and then tried to resolve.
Furthermore, authorized Tudor retailers have reported that at the beginning of its production, Tudor temporarily halted production as a result of the date wheel issue. This further caused delays in the deliveries of the Black Bay GMT. This is partly the reason for the waiting list for this model, as the production of the model hasn’t been up to full speed. But now, in recent times, almost one year after the release of the model, it seems that Tudor has finally caught up with production and more and more people are able to get it.
What is causing the Tudor GMT date wheel issue?
A common question we get is what is causing the date wheel issue.
We have gotten different information and responses, so it is difficult to say exactly what is causing it, but one issue that is mentioned is related to a teething issue on the movement. Another issue that has been discussed is the oil used in the movement. Another authorized Tudor retailer has said that the issue is related to a specific part of the movement which was faulty and needed to be replaced.
Only Tudor knows in detail what the issue that is causing the date wheel issue is.
But what is safe to say is that developing a new mechanical movement is no easy feat. A mechanical movement consists of hundreds of parts, and so getting it perfect is extremely difficult. It’s not uncommon that watchmakers identify flaws with their movements that they need to fix later on. It’s just that the date wheel issue is so noticeable.
Is the Tudor GMT date issue fixed?
There are mixed answers to this question. According to many authorized Tudor retailers, the date wheel issue is in fact resolved. But if you look at social media, you can see that some people who have bought a GMT recently have experienced the date wheel issue.
And the fact is that only Tudor knows the answer to that question. Most likely, Tudor has identified the issue and done something about it. It may be slightly improved but as cases seem to be appearing still, it seems it is not completely resolved just yet.
What should you do if you have the Tudor date wheel issue?
There are several things you can do if you notice that your Tudor GMT watch has a date wheel issue.
1. Leave it
One thing you can do (and that a lot of people do) is to leave it as it is and hope that it will get better. We all react to things in different ways, and some people will barely raise an eyebrow if they notice the date has jumped a bit too far or a bit short and gotten ”stuck” in the middle
2. Wait and see if it gets better
It all depends on what your attitude is towards this issue. Do you not care that much or are you a person who will take it to social media to complain and let out your frustration? If you are the first, you can simply wait and see if the date wheel issue gets better and only something temporary. You can also wind the date when and if it gets stuck to get it into position again. If it proves not the be temporary, you can think about if it bothers you and if you want to have it fixed.
3. Take it to a service center
The date wheel issue with the Tudor GMT will be covered under its warranty. Since the watch didn’t start hitting the shelves until the late summer of 2018, it means that the vast majority of them will have a 3.5-year warranty due to the extended warranty that Tudor announced in 2020.
Tudor will fix this issue free of charge under the warranty if you complain about it and take it to a service center. In most cases, the watch will have to be sent back to Tudor in Switzerland, in others, it may be fixed at the service center. Bear in mind that it normally takes about 6 weeks to get it back, but can take longer. We have been informed that many GMTs that have the date wheel issue get the movement replaced with a brand new one.
The issue is that we have heard many reports of people who have handed in their Tudor GMT to have the date wheel issue resolved, only to find that it gets the date wheel issue again, shortly thereafter. However, for the majority of people, the issue seems to be resolved when it gets back from the service.
If you have had the date wheel issue, it may be a good idea to have it fixed whilst you still have the warranty left. The date wheel issue is covered under the Tudor warranty, so it will be resolved free of charge.
Conclusion
Should the date wheel issue stop you from getting the GMT? We think not. It seems like some people decide not to get the Tudor GMT because of the reported date wheel issue, but we think you shouldn’t let it stop you if it speaks to you. Bear in mind that the majority of watches seem to have no issues at all. If the issue appears, you can simply wind the date so it gets into position again. If you do indeed get the issue and it bothers you a lot, it will be resolved under warranty.
It’s a stunning watch that offers great value for money, with its well-finished case and dial, its vintage-inspired design, and its in-house caliber. It’s just a great watch.
Let us know in the comment section below! Do you have a Tudor GMT and have you had the date wheel issue? Is this a major dealbreaker for you?
Hi there, thank you very much for some well informed information regarding the ongoing GMT issues Tudor are faced with. Yes it did initially put me off from buying because the flooded social media comments along with the associated cost. As a result I held out and have just purchased my GMT therefore having the New 5 year warranty as back up, however it seems despite the issue being aimed at earlier models it still exists at from the end of 2019 so we’ll wait an see, however it is very appealing to me as love the vintage style and quality it offers therefore don’t think I’ll part with mine regardless of the issue as long as the potential date fault doesn’t have any bearing on the movement it self, I mean cause unnecessary wear. Many thanks! Hopeful GMT owner.
Hi Jonathan,
Thank you for your insights and thoughts.
We couldn’t agree more. It’s far too much fuzz about the date wheel issue, which seems to only affect a small number of GMTs. It seems that the people who have the issue makes the most noise and makes it appear as if all of them have the issue.
Kind regards,
Millenary Watches
I as well were lucky enough to be called by my AD that my GMT arrived, 2020 model, maybe last one before Tudor closed shop for COVID. I have it under wraps until I can truly celebrate my milestone Birthday. Please post if you have a problem. I too heard the problem was resolved. Some people on line purchased their GMTs used, so the issue dates may not be brand new late 2019/2020 models. I apologize to anyone who does have a problem with their 2020 models though, if I am wrong. Enjoy.
Thank you for sharing your insights and thoughts, Mark! We appreciate it!
Wear your watch in good health! Issue or not, it’s a stunning and well-made piece.
Kind regards,
Millenary Watches
I have it on the wrist now (as of beginning of May 2020). No date wheel issue, normal operation.
***UPDATE 2021. I have had no problem with the date wheel. I have also not heard of any issues with any GMT that was issued in 2020. I am getting almost dead on accuracy per day, and +.50spd in watch box, set 12 oclock up on 45 degree angle. You will not be disappointed.
Thanks for sharing, Mark!
Glad to hear!
Kind regards,
Millenary Watches
I purchased mine in February 2020 and am pleased to report the date wheel is functioning correctly.
I must say Tudor has done a great job with the in house movement, it is actually more accurate than my Rolex Date Just II. I love the watch
Hi Mark
Glad to hear you have had a positive experience and thank you for sharing. It’s important to not forget that overall, Tudor makes great in-house movements, backed by Rolex’s expertise and know-how. This issue only affects a minority of GMTs.
Kind regards,
Millenary Watches
This is no guarantee it will not develop the date wheel issue. I purchased mine in July 2019 and it was fine for about 12 months. Now it sticks between dates when changing, then springs forward two days, so every day my date is wrong. If I forget to adjust, after 2 days, it’s 4 days wrong, after 3 days, it’s 6 days wrong, etc. Very, very annoying as I rely on the watch for date information, and don’t expect to have to correct it daily. Very poor – this would certainly discourage me from buying one if I hadn’t already. I can’t arrange a repair as we are on house lockdown due to Covid-19, as the clock ticks my warranty gets closer and closer to expiration.
I was fortunate to snag my Tudor GMT in June 2018 and experienced the date wheel issue after about 12 months. It was serviced in Sydney last August which resolved the problem – but has recently started advancing two days each day. If reset to the correct date it continues to advance an extra day.
I was unaware of the extended warranty so that should give me plenty of time to try again for a permanent fix.
The extended warranty is definitely a great improvement from Tudor’s side! Thank you for reading and sharing your thoughts!
Kind regards,
Millenary Watches
Hi Peter,
I live in New York and I was also fortunate enough to purchase the Tudor GMT in June of 2018, but experienced the date issue after about a year. I sent it back to the AD and on the Tudor service center. It took 3 months to get back, and now I am experiencing it again in April of 2020. It is really frustrating, because I love the watch and the retro/modern aesthetic of the piece but I hate that the date isn’t working. This would never happen with a Rolex!
There are a lot of people who complain about Rolex and that they aren’t on the forefront of movement technology, but this is the other side of that. I love my Tudor and I hope that they can fix this.
Hi All, I purchased my Tudor GMT in 2018 and my date wheel also skips ahead two days each day – a bit frustrating. I thought it was me not setting correctly so I am thankful,for the forum, but regret to hear that others have the same issue.
Me also. Purchased Sept 2019.
Exactly the same for me – bought Nov 8, 2018 and March 2, 2020 was the date I first notice it, and I thought I moved the date ahead too much from February. It jumped a date about a week later, and again I thought “Did I set it wrong again, that can’t be right”, and the third time I knew it was not me, but I lived with it and felt I payed a lot for a half quality watch. Then in June 2020 it skipped two dates every day, and that was it. Either trade it in for something else. or just outright sell it (~$2,600-2,900 on the used market). I talked to the jeweler where I bought it and they said they’d take care of it and send it back. Very good of them to do that. However, the wait time is 5 months due to the backlog. I will be happy to have it back sometime in December (hopefully), but will have less than 80% faith in it until it proves itself worthy again.
I had an Omega GMT which I liked, but the bracket came undone while in the water and it sank, and I could not find it even diving down for over an hour to find it. I also had a Rolex GMT II and it was the best fitting, best balanced watch I’ve ever had, but unfortunately I sold it. Wish I hadn’t. I also have a Breitling GMT that I like. As you can see, watches are fun, but pricey toys, but for the price they are expected to function properly for a very long time.
Thank you very much for sharing your story and thoughts!
My GMT has the infamous date wheel issue. It was purchased 7/26/18. Will it be covered under warranty? (My AD is closed because of Covid) You mentioned a “vast majority) will be covered. I want to make sure I’m in the majority!
Regards,
Hi Tony,
If you bought your Tudor between July 1st, 2018 until December 31st, 2019, you will receive a free 18-month extension on your warranty (which means a warranty of a total of 3.5 years (2 years + extra 18 months).
Since you bought your watch after July 1st, you have a total warranty lenght of 3.5 years from the date of purchase.
Kind regards,
Millenary Watches
Hi,
Thanks and this article is really helpful for an ordinary watch owner like me. I got mine in September, 2019 and unfortunately it’s date wheel has started malfunctioning in March, 2020. I’m utterly disappointed with this purchase and handed this over to the service center here in Dubai. These guys are not sharing much of details and let’s how they help me fix this instrument. Hope after fix it wouldn’t be a repeat issue.
I would recommend anyone to invest in this model. I have researched and around 15% respondents have issue.
Sincere regards,
Salim
Thank you for your input, Salim!
We agree. The potential risk of getting the date wheel issue shouldn’t stop you from getting one. They are extremely well-made and beautiful.
Kind regards,
Millenary Watches
I e had mine about a year, and it just started with the date wheel issue, first skipping a whole day, they advancing half a day.
Rather annoying, but these things happen. I’m going to wait and see how often it happens, then send it back when the post-COVID backlog is a bit smaller, if it doesn’t stop.
I’m wondering if it’s temperature related? It’s just started to get warm (26°C, warm for us!) here in London and a few people seem to be reporting first problems when it’s a year old, in the spring / summer.
That is an interesting input about temperature. There are discussions that the issue is the lubricant. Of course, the lubricants can change its characteristics depending on the temperatures, so it could be a possibility.
Kind regards,
Millenary Watches
Also my Tudor GMT had date wheel issue (two times).
After first appearance of date wheel problem my AD “solved” it.
But after 1 week problem started happening again.
They said that the problem is in the spring that holds gear wheel is to loose.
And they don’t know how to fixed differently then they did on first try.
Purchased mine from a dishonest person that hidden this issue to me, and of course next day of my purchase the problem happened…it’s a mouvement issue, all watches are or will be impacted by it and Tudor doesn’t know how to fix it. They should stop production until new movement is ready and functional. Vey disappointing. I just sent to service centre but have no hope.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts!
Kind regards,
Millenary Watches
Purchased my BB GMT back in Aug 2018. It’s been enjoyed in rotation with about another dozen watches and just started skipping a day. I was hoping I had escaped the issue, but was not to be.
Heading to the AD to get it sorted under warranty. With hope, that will sort the problem once and for all.
Purchased my GMT in December of 2018 and in June of 2019 the date started to skip (it advanced 2 days). Sent watch to Tudor (In June) which they returned in October of 2019 without an explanation as to the cause of problem. In March of 2020 Watch started to skip date agen. Waited for Tudor to reopen after COVID 19 to send back. Initially they told me it would take 12 weeks to repair and after I complained they “fixed” the watch in 2 weeks and returned the watch without an explanation. Let’s see.
Hi Jose,
Thank you for sharing your experience!
Kind regards,
MW
The issue itself didn’t stop me, but the fact that watches that have been serviced are having the issue reoccur has me staying away. Tudor obviously can’t fix it. I saw the price of the one Millenary posted on a forum, and it’s a good price, but this movement is clearly not right. It’s a shame, because I would have been all over this watch.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Erik!
Kind regards,
MW
Had my GMT about 8 months now, thought I’d got away with it but a few days ago it started advancing 2 days at a time.
I’ll be taking it back to the AD this afternoon so we’ll see what they say about it.
Thank you for sharing, James. Wish you best of luck.
Kind regards,
Millenary Watches