0
Tudor Black Bay Review: The Best Affordable Dive Watches

Tudor Black Bay is a comprehensive collection of exceptional sports timepieces that blend vintage styling and most modern manufacturing methods. This best-selling series offers a number of diving watch models with water resistance up to 200 meters (660 ft). The most extensive collection from Tudor, Black Bay offers wristwatches featuring different case dimensions, designs and materials. 

Black Bay Classic

The Black Bay classic dive watch is inspired by a historic Tudor diving model first appeared in 1954. The iconic brand introduced the Tudor Heritage Black Bay watch in 2012 as part of their Heritage collection. Later renamed Black Bay, this vintage-era-inspired timepiece features a 41mm diameter case. The early references house customized ETA 2824 movements with a power reserve of 38 hours.

Since 2016, Tudor has been offering Black Bay watches equipped with the in-house self-winding mechanical caliber MT5602. This movement provides an impressive power reserve of up to 70 hours. These new generation models are chronometer certified by COSC. With the crystal-clear dial layout with lumed hands and hour-markers, the watch offers precise indication of hours, minutes and seconds. However, the classic Black Bay does not have a date function.

Tudor black bay
Black Bay 79230B-0007

At present, the Classic Black Bay watch is available with a black dial only, with the choice of black, blue or burgundy bezel inserts. The stainless steel model with a burgundy dial has long been known as Tudor Black Bay red watch. The brand offers three types of straps for the stainless steel Black Bay watches: steel bracelet, fabric and aged leather. It should also be noted that the bezel-inserts of stainless steel models are made of anodized aluminium.

In addition to the existing stainless steel versions, the brand has recently added a new Black Bay ceramic watch. It is fitted with the Manufacture Calibre MT5602-1U, an upgraded self-winding movement with a notable antimagnetic resistance up to 15,000 gauss. Featuring a matt-black ceramic case, this new variant features black PVD treated stainless steel rotating bezel, black ceramic bezel-insert, black dial and a hybrid leather and rubber strap in black color. 

Black Bay Black 79220R-STEEL

Black Bay Date

This impressive range is dedicated to those who love to have a date display in their diving watches. The Black Bay Date comes with a 41mm diameter case just like the classic version. Equipped with the Manufacture Calibre MT5612, this self-winding watch boasts a date window at 3 o’clock. The Tudor Black Bay date watch is available in two exterior finishes: stainless steel and two-tone.

The bi-color variants feature stainless steel case, yellow-gold crown and yellow-gold unidirectional bezel with matt-black anodized aluminium bezel insert featuring gold markings. These dual-tone versions are available with black or champagne color dial. The all-steel variant is presently available with black dial only. Its case, case-back, crown, bezel and bezel-insert are made of 316L stainless steel.

For the Black Bay Date series, Tudor offers three types of straps: metal bracelet, aged leather and fabric. Depending upon the version, the metal bracelet can be bi-metal (steel and yellow gold) or steel.

Black Bay S&G 79733N-0006

Black Bay GMT

This exceptional Black Bay wristwatch seamlessly integrates two practical functions – the Date and the Second Time Zone. Made of stainless steel, its 41mm diameter case houses a black dial with luminescent hands and hour-markers. It has two snowflake-style hour-hands. The red snowflake hand indicates the additional time zone. Its beating heart is Calibre MT5652, a state-of-the-art in-house self-winding mechanical movement.

The Tudor Black Bay GMT features a bi-directional rotating bezel with a bi-color bezel-insert in matt burgundy and blue, for distinguishing day and night time. Boasting the famous ‘Pepsi’ style bezel and specially designed for travelers, this timepiece comes with a choice of steel bracelet or straps in leather or fabric. 

Tudor Black Bay
Black Bay GMT 79830RB-0001

Black Bay Bronze

With a 43mm diameter case, this exemplary model is dedicated to customers who typically prefer large-sized wristwatches. Bronze has been associated with the maritime world since ancient times. Moreover, Tudor enjoys a glorious tradition in manufacturing reliable timekeepers for naval forces. The watch houses a trustworthy self-winding mechanical movement (calibre MT 5601). Made of a highly reliable aluminium-copper alloy used in naval engineering, this timepiece is a must-have accessory for ardent lovers of bronze wristwatches. Its bronze parts gradually develop a unique patina due to oxidation, making each timepiece a one-of-a-kind creation.

Its slate-grey dial maintains the similar style of Black Bay classic watch i.e. three hands without the date. However, there is a minute difference in the hour-markers. The Tudor Black Bay Bronze model has Arabic numerals for 3, 6 and 9 hours where as in the Classic Black Bay, rectangular indices are used for the same. 

Black Bay Bronze 79250BB-0001

Black Bay P01

Featuring a 42mm diameter stainless steel case, Tudor Black Bay P01 is a tribute to a prototype diving watch created for the US Navy in the late 1960s. P01 stands for Prototype 1. In comparison with other Black Bay models, this watch features a varied design. For example, its crown is set at 4 o’clock instead of the usual 3 o’clock position. It also features crown-protectors whereas the other Black Bay watches do not have this feature.

The bezel design is also different. Instead of the 0-60 scale bezel, P01 has a 60-notch, 12-hour graduated steel bidirectional rotating bezel. The watch also incorporates a stop system for the bidirectional rotating bezel via a mobile end-link at 12 o’clock. The Black Bay P01 has a black dial with a date window at 3 o’clock. This unusual Tudor watch is driven by the in-house self-winding caliber MT5612, the same movement used in the Tudor Black Bay Date watch. 

Black Bay P01 70150-0001

Black Bay Fifty-Eight

The Black Bay Fifty-Eight series is not only dedicated to the customers with smaller wrists; it also attracts connoisseurs with a passion for diving watches with antique style and classic proportions. Dressed in a 39mm diameter case, the Black Bay Fifty-Eight watch has already conquered the hearts of aficionados, thanks to its versatility and classiness. It is a reliable recreational diving instrument with 200 meters water resistance. At the same time, it can also be used as a dress watch thanks to its compact dimensions and elegant appearance.

Black Bay Fifty-Eight 79030B-0002

The Black Bay Fifty-Eight series is not only dedicated to the customers with smaller wrists; it also attracts connoisseurs with a passion for diving watches with antique style and classic proportions. Dressed in a 39mm diameter case, the Black Bay Fifty-Eight watch has already conquered the hearts of aficionados, thanks to its versatility and classiness. It is a reliable recreational diving instrument with 200 meters water resistance. At the same time, it can also be used as a dress watch thanks to its compact dimensions and elegant appearance.

The brand offers Stainless Steel, Silver, 18K Gold and Bronze variants of this most-sought after Black Bay watch. These Tudor watches feature matching dial and bezel inserts. For example, the stainless steel version with a black dial has a matt-black anodised aluminium bezel insert. The collection also includes a Black Bay Fifty-Eight stainless steel variant with a blue dial and a matching bezel-insert. 

The Silver version features a taupe-colored dial and a matching bezel-insert. For the 18-carat Yellow Gold model, the brand has opted for green color for its dial and bezel-insert. Recently launched, the Bronze variant has a matt brown-bronze color dial and a matching bezel-insert. All Black Bay 58 watches are equipped with the in-house self-winding Calibre MT5400, which offers accurate time display without the date.

Black Bay Fifty-Eight 79030N-0001

The Silver version features a taupe-colored dial and a matching bezel-insert. For the 18-carat Yellow Gold model, the brand has opted for green color for its dial and bezel-insert. Recently launched, the Bronze variant has a matt brown-bronze color dial and a matching bezel-insert. All Black Bay 58 watches are equipped with the in-house self-winding Calibre MT5400, which offers accurate time display without the date.

Why Tudor Black Bay is a popular dive watch collection?

All Tudor Black Bay dive watches are tested for a water resistance of 200 meters, which is ideal for both snorkeling and recreational scuba diving activities. Its impressive water proof design is consisted of rugged case construction, screw-down winding crown, domed sapphire crystal and solid case-back. These quality features definitely make this collection extremely popular among diving watch lovers.

The collection offers four case diameters (39mm and 41mm, 42mm, 43mm) to address the needs of divers with different wrist sizes. It also includes watches with or without date display. These characteristics will naturally increase the acceptance of Black Bay watches among customers with various requirements.

The self-winding movements that power these timepieces are built in-house and certified by COSC for its chronometric performance. They provide an exceptional power reserve of up to 70 hours. Precise, trustworthy and energy efficient, each Tudor Black Bay is a faithful timekeeper that ensures safe monitoring of time during underwater activities.

Affordability is a crucial point when it comes to the popularity of Tudor Black Bay. For example, in Singapore Tudor Black Bay price range is relatively S$ 4,000 to S$ 6,000, making it one of the most accessible dive watches in the luxury segment. Tudor is also offering excellent choices of bracelets and straps to make the Black Bay watch suitable for wearing comfortably during various activities and occasions.

Read More :

Suunto

Rolex

Omega

IWC Watches

Breitling

Cartier

Hublot

Hamilton

Chopard

Panerai

Leave A Reply

Your email address will not be published.