In the first of a two-part Up Close special, we look at a pair of special editions that lend a new (blue) edge to two already popular watches from Tudor and Panerai
By Chris Hall

We have before us two very well known watches indeed. The Tudor Heritage Black Bay Bronze and Panerai Radiomir 1940 need little by way of introduction – they are cornerstones of their respective brands’ ranges and firm favourites with the watch cognoscenti. 
They have in common a strength of design that lends the watches a great flexibility; both derived from historic diving watches, they combine simple, strong lines with highly legible dials. The Radiomir 1940 achieved icon status many years ago, and the Black Bay is fast headed in the same direction. That essential simplicity, and the flexibility it gives has led to a whole host of different Black Bays and Radiomirs, and it is the reason these watches are here.
“Here” is the boardroom of Bucherer 1888, in Lucerne, and these watches are here because they are part of the Bucherer Blue Editions range – the largest selection of officially sanctioned custom watch designs in the world. Using its status as Europe’s largest Swiss watch retailer, Bucherer has developed relationships with several of Switzerland’s biggest brands, and worked together on special editions of Bucherer’s signature approach is the introduction of a rich, dark royal blue, and the effect is deeply impressive.
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