Latest Review
December 15, 2022 
Who needs Black Friday when you could wear a Black Bay every day? Holiday gift buying fatigue is very real, and there’s much more satisfaction in buying something that’s truly built to last a lifetime. That’s where Tudor’s Black Bay collection comes into play. Even though Tudor offers a wide range of timepiece styles, the Black Bay collection could easily stand on its own. Focused on vintage-inspired design, each of the watches bearing the now iconic Black Bay name draws from the past while featuring sturdy modern construction and materials. For this gift guide we’ve put together six models, each with their own unique appeal but still having that all-important Black Bay design DNA running throughout. Let’s take a closer look.
The Black Bay Fifty-Eight made a huge splash when introduced back in 2018. Drawing inspiration from dive watches of the 1950s, this 39mm steel diver perfectly blends modern construction with vintage looks. While the case is steel, the dial takes the design in a much warmer direction, featuring rose gold applied indices and hands with a matching gilt chapter ring. Known for its comfort and durability, the Fifty-Eight is a perfect option for daily wear. It features 200m of water resistance, a sapphire crystal, and a dependable in-house movement inside. If you have someone in your life who loves the look of vintage watches, but doesn’t want any of the hassle associated with babying a vintage piece, the “BB58” is a no-brainer.
Just a few years later, Tudor welcomed a fresh, new take on the Black Bay Fifty-Eight into their lineup—the Black Bay Fifty-Eight Navy. Featuring a beautiful blue dial with stark white indices, the Fifty-Eight Navy is a modern looking watch with vintage proportions. The 39mm steel case measures in at a svelte 11.9mm thick, easily slipping under a cuff. Whether you choose the riveted steel bracelet, the premium “soft touch” leather strap, or one of Tudor’s well-known woven fabric straps, there are several ways straight from the factory to switch up the look of your timepiece. Inside, you’ll find the same MT5402 movement as its black and gilt cousin, which will stay running for an impressive 70 hours when fully wound. Modern, clean, and accurate, the Fifty-Eight Navy makes an excellent choice for the discerning watch collector.
For the traveler in your life, there’s the new Black Bay Pro. Drawing inspiration from a hard-to-find vintage Rolex reference, the Black Bay Pro is a handsome blend of the past and present. The Black Bay Pro is a GMT watch that features a fourth hand to track a separate time zone. When traveling, simply unscrew the hand and jump the hour hand to the current time, while the yellow fourth hand displays the time at home. Between the highly-polished slab sides and the brushing on top of the lugs, the 39mm case features some striking finishing. On the dial, you’ll find unique indices which are crafted from blocks of lume, adding an interesting depth to its appearance, while remaining legible even in dark conditions.
Taking things in a more traditional route, the Black Bay GMT features a familiar blue and red rotating bezel. You will get similar functionality to the Black Bay Pro, since they feature the same in-house MT5652 automatic winding movement inside. On the outside, they each have their own unique design. The Black Bay GMT has a stronger presence on the wrist, thanks to its bold 41mm stainless steel case. On the dial, you’ll find the classic Black Bay circular indices, highlighted by rectangular bars at 6 and 9, with a triangle at 12. There’s a convenient date aperture at 3 o’clock which will come in especially handy when traveling over the date line. A set of snowflake hands points to the time, while the fourth GMT hand is highlighted in red, providing an additional pop of color.
Taking the Fifty-Eight’s signature 39mm case in a completely different direction is the unique silver “925”. While the measurements and movement remain the same, the case metal and dial are rendered in a unique shade of silver. The case itself features Tudor’s proprietary alloy of 925 silver that has a unique luster unlike anything else in the Black Bay lineup. It’s treated with a satin finish, helping it to stand out from the rest of the Black Bays. When reading the time, you’ll notice the taupe-colored dial and bezel perfectly complement the case material. If there’s someone in your life who wants to stand out from the pack (but not too much), then the Fifty-Eight 925 is an excellent under-the-radar option.
If warm-toned metals are more your vibe, then consider the all-bronze Fifty Eight Bronze. This Black Bay is crafted entirely from satin-brushed bronze that will take on a patina the more you wear it. It will age from a bright yellow tone to a more subdued golden brown over time. The dial features prominent 3-6-9 numeric indices resting atop a rich matte brown gradient dial with a gilt chapter ring. A set of Tudor’s signature snowflake hour and minute hands are rendered in gold to complete the look. You’ll have no issues dialing in the perfect fit on the bronze bracelet, as this is the first from Tudor to feature their “T-fit Clasp”—a unique on-the-fly adjustable clasp that allows you to quickly and easily adjust the bracelet throughout the day depending on how you want it to fit.
Last, but certainly not least is Tudor’s Black Bay Fifty-Eight 18K, featuring a solid gold case and vibrant green dial. Typically, gold watches are thought to be delicate dress pieces, but that’s not the case with this Fifty-Eight. A screw-down crown and thorough sealing allows this watch to achieve the same 200 meters of water resistance that the rest of the Black Bay lineup proudly sports. Complementing the 18K case and accents is a beautiful matte green dial and bezel, each with gold accents. The Fifty-Eight 18K ships on an elegant brown alligator leather strap with matching gold hardware. It also includes a coordinating woven fabric strap with a matching gold buckle and keepers. The perfect present for making someone’s day, week, month, and year.
