Undisputed ‘King of Mandopop’ Jay Chou proves a dab hand at horological hits too
Even by his standards of mega-stardom, Jay Chou is having a bit of a fashion moment. Last month, he was named the new global brand ambassador of Rimowa—hot on the heels of his appointment as a Dior menswear ambassador at the end of last year.
As for timepieces, the known horology enthusiast has a longstanding partnership with Swiss luxury watch manufacturer Tudor under his belt, which began when he joined its #BornToDare campaign in 2018.
The Black Bay Chrono seen here was first spotted on Chou’s wrist in January this year, when he took to his official Instagram to thank the brand for an “incredible birthday surprise” in the form of its first-ever watch in pink—his signature colour.
Fast-forward to March, and it turns out that Chou had more input in its creation than previously thought. Touted as a collaboration between both powerhouses, the model that many thought was a one-off is now available in limited quantities.
Rule-breaking pink hue aside, the DNA of the Black Bay line is very much evident. From satin-brushed and polished finishes, to bevelled lugs and Tudor rose-signed crown, all this and more find a familiar home in the 41mm stainless-steel case, which is paired with a robust five-link bracelet.
The luminescent ‘Snowflake’ hands, a hallmark of Tudor divers’ watches since 1969, have been honed to ensure optimum readability on the domed dial layout that includes a 45-minute counter and a date aperture at six o'clock. A fixed bezel in stainless steel with a tachymetric scale insert in black anodised aluminium completes the look.
The in-house MT5813 displays hour, minute, second, chronograph and date functions and offers 70 hours of power reserve. It has the finish typical of Tudor Manufacture calibres. Notably, its rotor in tungsten monobloc is openwork and satin-brushed with sand-blasted details, while its bridges and mainplate have alternate sand-blasted and polished surfaces with laser decorations.
Tudor and Jay Chou show that rather than sticking to conventional black and white, real horology enthusiasts can and should wear pink. It is high time more stepped outside the box and freshened up their collections with this vibrant and versatile colour—not just global icons.
