Tudor Black Bay Fifty-Eight

Tudor is a company with a proud heritage, which is on full display in the Heritage Black Bay collection. The watches take design elements from models that stopped rolling off the production lines decades ago.

When Tudor released the very first Black Bay (ref. 79230R) in 2012, it was met with a warm reception from fans and industry experts alike. People couldn't stop talking about its timeless diving watch design and extraordinary snowflake hands. Despite its universal popularity, many fans still had one gripe about the first Black Bay and its two successors: The 41-mm case was too large and bulky for many wrists.

Tudor responded to these concerns with the Heritage Black Bay Fifty-Eight in 2018. The manufacturer shrunk the case from 41 to 39 mm and whittled it down to a thickness of 12 instead of 15 mm. The lug width also fell from 22 to 20 mm. All told, Tudor managed to keep the case's total length – including lugs – under 50 mm. Not only were these dimensions more in line with diving watches from the 1950s, but the Black Bay was also finally an option for smaller wrists.

Encouraged by the Black Back Fifty-Eight's continued success, the manufacturer has introduced several new editions since 2020. Examples include the Black Bay Fifty-Eight Navy Blue with its blue dial and bezel and the Fifty-Eight 925 in sterling silver. There's also the Black Bay Fifty-Eight 18K in 18-karat gold. Of course, Tudor was never going to pass on the bronze trend and has also launched the Black Bay Fifty-Eight Bronze.

Each Black Bay Fifty-Eight gets its power from a chronometer-certified in-house caliber. Unlike the ETA calibers Tudor used until 2015, these movements have impressive 70-hour power reserves. Other shared features across the Black Bay Fifty-Eight series include water resistance to 200 m (20 bar, 656 ft) and a prominent crown with no guard.

The most affordable version of the Tudor Black Bay Fifty-Eight is the stainless steel ref. M79030N-003. The variant with a black dial and a textile strap costs around 3,900 USD. For an additional 230 USD, you can get the same watch on a steel bracelet. The Black Bay Fifty-Eight Navy Blue with a blue dial demands similar prices. If you want to call the Black Bay Fifty-Eight in sterling silver your own, be prepared to spend about 5,100 USD. The bronze edition demands roughly 6,600 USD, while the Black Bay Fifty-Eight 18K in gold will set you back a whopping 16,500 USD.

The Tudor Black Bay Fifty-Eight M79030N is a stainless steel watch with a matte black dial and applied dot indices. There are also bar indices at 3, 6, and 9 o'clock and an inverted triangle at 12. Like the rest of the Fifty-Eight series, domed sapphire crystal protects the dial from the elements.

Tudor has opted for a decidedly elegant color scheme for this watch. The indices, hands, minute track, and inscriptions are all a refined golden hue. Its dial bears a strong resemblance to the gilt dials found on Rolex and Tudor diving watches from the 1950s. White SuperLuminova fills the hands and indices, guaranteeing optimal readability under all lighting conditions. The black aluminum bezel inlay has a golden 60-minute scale and a red triangle with a glow-in-the-dark pearl at 12 o'clock – another common feature of vintage diving watches.

The manufacturer pairs the ref. M79030N-0001 with a stainless steel bracelet in the classic Oyster style. One notable feature is the use of rivets, which are visible on the sides of the bracelet's links. While older bracelets actually used rivets to connect the links, they are purely decorative on the Fifty-Eight. Like most modern watches, the bracelet's links screw together.

On Chrono24, you can purchase a never-worn stainless steel Black Bay Fifty-Eight on a steel bracelet for about 4,100 USD. Other options include the ref. M79030N-0002 on a leather strap for 3,700 USD and the M79030N-0003 on a textile strap for 3,900 USD.

If you like the Black Bay Fifty-Eight's size and design but would prefer a blue color scheme, you should take a closer look at the Navy Blue (ref. M79030B). Beyond its blue dial and bezel, this model is identical to the black edition. The Black Bay Fifty-Eight Navy Blue is available on your choice of a steel bracelet or textile strap. The former sells for around 4,100, while the latter requires an investment of roughly 3,900 USD.

The Black Bay Fifty-Eight in Silver and Gold

In spring 2021, Tudor announced two new versions of the Black Bay Fifty-Eight in precious metals. The first is the Black Bay Fifty-Eight 925 ref. M79010SG in sterling silver (i.e., a silver alloy with 92.5% pure silver). A sapphire crystal case back provides a view of the in-house caliber MT5400 with a 70-hour power reserve. The dial and bezel are taupe with white indices and markers. For the band, you can choose between a matching textile or leather strap. The strap material has no effect on the price, and both versions cost about 5,100 USD.

The ref. M79018V's case is solid 18-karat yellow gold and has a brushed finish. Known as the Black Bay Fifty-Eight 18K, this Tudor equips this timepiece with a sapphire crystal case back and the in-house caliber MT5400. Its dial and bezel are green. The final watch comes on a brown alligator leather strap, and the manufacturer ships it with an additional textile strap. Prices for this model sit around 17,000 USD.

Prices for the Black Bay Fifty-Eight Bronze

Bronze watches have been all the rage in recent years. Wearers enjoy the unique patinas they develop over time, making each watch truly one of a kind. In mid-2021, Tudor introduced the ref. M79012M, the first Black Bay Fifty Eight to feature this material. Its case is an aluminum-bronze alloy, which the manufacturer claims takes longer to age and does not develop verdigris (i.e., a green-tinged patina). The dial and bezel are a warm tone Tudor refers to as "bronze-brown." The dial is also slightly different from that of other Black Bay Fifty-Eights, with Arabic numerals in place of bar indices at 3, 6, and 9.

Another unique feature is the watch's bronze bracelet with a new folding clasp. The clasp boasts a rapid adjustment system for adjusting the bracelet's length in five positions up to a maximum of 8 mm. Like the Black Bay Fifty-Eight 18K, the bronze edition is also shipped with a complimentary textile strap.

The proven in-house caliber MT5400 powers the Black Bay Fifty-Eight Bronze and provides it with a 70-hour power reserve. You can call this timepiece your own for approximately 6,600 USD.

The automatic in-house caliber MT5402 is a smaller version of the MT5602, which powers the 41-mm Black Bay watches. The letters "MT" stand for "Manufacture Tudor." This movement has central hands for the hours, minutes, and seconds. It also boasts a 70-hour power reserve, 27 jewels, and a balance frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour (vph). Finally, Tudor has had the MT5402 certified as a chronometer by the Official Swiss Chronometer Testing Institute (Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres, or COSC).