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?
I’ve had mine sinds September 2018. The date issue first occured in November 2018 and it took more then 10 weeks to get the watch back after sending it in to get it fixed. The issue seemed resolved until 2 months ago. The date issue was back. The issue occurred about once per day. And it wasn’t just that, but the movement started to lag. 3 weeks ago, before I send it back to my AD, the watch was running between 8 and 14 seconds slow per day.
Hopefully it will get fixed under warranty soon.
Hi Jorick,
Thank you for sharing your experience. Sorry to hear. Hope it will be resolved soon!
Kind regards,
Millenary Watches
My date starting acting up at month 18. It’s currently back with Tudor for repairs under warranty. From my research, it appears that the problem occurs between month 14-24 suggesting it’s a lubrication issue.
My fear is that the problem will occur again outside the warranty period.
Greetings All:
I too am a proud owner of the the Tudor GMT purchased in Australia from a AD. Unfortunately I’ve experienced the date stuck issue as well. Bought new in SEP2019, noticed the date issue around APR2020. Took it back to my AD who in turn sent it off to the local Rolex service centre. MAY2020 was advised they were unable to repair and instead will have the movement replaced all done under warranty. It’s now almost AUG2020 and with COVID19, not sure when the replacement will arrive.
Suffice to say, this whole experience has left a sour note with Tudor/Rolex to the point where I personally (from experience) would not recommend this model. All the best.
Hi John,
Sorry to hear about your experience! And thank you for sharing. Hopefully, you will have it good to go soon and can enjoy and experience what makes Tudor so special.
Kind regards,
Millenary Watches
I picked mine up May 2019 after a three month wait. In November 2019 I noticed the date skipping two day’s. I received the watch back in December 2019. All I was told was the watch is fixed and had a modification to the movement. July 2020 the issue re-occurs. I have been told the movement will be replaced with a fresh five year warranty. It is due back in September 2020.
Hi Jeremy,
Thank you for sharing!
Please feel free to share if you ever experience any issues with your new watch! Hopefully, you won’t have to 🙂
Kind regards,
Millenary Watches
Hi. I bought my first GMT in middle of dec 2018.
In dec 2019 I got the date issue. First days it jumped 2 dates a day. Last day it was stuck between two dates.
First days of jan 2020 it was delivered to my AD and sent to the Tudor factory. 6,5 weeks later, I got it back with a new movement. So my AD said. Sold it the 1st of May. Ordered a new one (also GMT) and got it the 1st of July. 2020.
My first GMT’s serialnumber started with an I. My new GMT the serialnumber starts with Q.
Just wonder if those letters mean anything. The new one starting with Q, is that may be a “new” redesigned movement ?
Anyone know ?
I love that GMT, and have now 5 years of warranty. So I’m quite relaxed with the “date issue”
Hi Øivind,
Thank you for sharing!
Tudor, like Rolex is very secretive and does not reveal or comment much about the Tudor GMT date wheel issue. They have not made any announcement that this watch has a new movement, although we can assume Tudor has been working has to make things right for future pieces that leave the factory.
The serial number changes, however, are not made to indicate any changes to models. Instead, they are used to indicate different production cycles and relate to all models, not just the Tudor GMT.
Hope this helps!
Kind regards,
Millenary Watches
Purchased the Tudor GMT on Chrono24 like new condition in early August 2020 (original purchase from AD in Oct 2019), within a couple days noticed date was skipping(turning over two full day instead of one at midnight, btw this happened every night) took to the Dallas Rolex Service Center, they indicated it 10 weeks as it will get a new movement. I like the watch very much and the time keeping was within 1 second per day. As long as date function is permanently fixed I’ll be satisfied.
Hi Bill,
Thank you for sharing!
Thankfully, that is what the warranty is for. Let’s keep our fingers crossed 🙂 Date issue or not, it is indeed a beautiful and well-built watch.
Kind regards,
Millenary Watches
Hey there,
I got my BB GMT in April of 2019 and it was fine for about 6 months then I noticed the date wheel stuck between two dates one day. I cycled the date and it was fine for about another 6 months after that. I parked it in a watch mover for about three weeks, after which I noticed that the date wheel stopped moving after about a week off the wrist. The timekeepimg btw stayed (as it has always been) amazingly good, about a second per day, just the date had stopped moving. I again reset the date and the next night the date wheel got stuck between two dates, so I finally relented and dropped the watch off to be repaired.
I specifically asked if my warranty would be extended/ renewed with the repair and was told no. Even when I mentioned, that the standard warranty was extended to 4 years as of 2020 and the problem only appeared after about half a year. Provided I get the piece back within a couple of months, my warranty would expire by the time the problem seems likely to reappear (unless Tudor have finally found a permanent fix)
Do you know if the voluntary extension of the original warranty by 18 months is limited to a certain market or is it internationally valid? Again, my local AD here in Germany said there would be no extension.
I love the piece to death, it exceeds my expectations as to its accuracy and is just plain gorgeous. As I do use it as a true tool watch for work as an airline pilot flying internationally (not so much right now, granted) a malfunctioning date function would, regrettably, make the watch unusable to me.
Hello Ralf,
Yes, you are right, it is indeed a great watch, despite the potential risk of date wheel issue.
The extended warranty which relates to timepieces dated 2019 of 1.5 years works just the same way as the standard warranty. Starting from January 2020,Tudor introduced the 5 year warranty.
Unfortunately, based on your case, I would not assume that your warranty will be extended.
Kind regards,
Millenary Watches
5 Year Warranty Now. 2020 models have no reported issues.
There seem to be improvements made indeed! The 5-year warranty is definitely a huge improvement.
Kind regards,
Millenary Watches
Recently purchased a second hand GMT. Sadly starting advancing two dates a day – almost exactly 12 months after the original purchase.
This appears to be a very common problem with the GMT. Very disappointing. Going back to AD today – hopefully I won’t be without the watch for 3 months while they do some repairs.
Hi Richard,
Sorry to hear about that. Hopefully, it will be resolved quickly! Thank you for reading.
Kind regards,
Millenary Watches
Purchased mine From an AD in April 2019. Wore it daily. The date complication began malfunctioning after about one year. My watch was skipping a date about once each week. I had an AD send the watch in to Tudor for repair. I was in formed that they replaced the entire movement. The servicing time was about three months. I have had the watch back now for about one week. I do not trust the watch and expect better from a $4000 product. I have had similar, movement-related issues with Omega automatic watches (over twenty years ago). I have also had several Rolexes. They have been reliable and comfortable. I will stick with Rolex. It is a shame this Tudor movement let everyone down. The watch’s aesthetics are outstanding. But a watch must be reliable.