When Tudor launched their first blue dial Submariner in 1969, they started a trend. This trend was taken up by not only the French Navy Divers (Marine Nationale), but also the less frequent amateur divers who were seduced by the so-called “Tudor Blue” colour. Celebrating the same colour, the Swiss watch manufacturer launches a line extension of their coveted Tudor Black Bay Fifty-Eight.

Instant hit

Tudor presented the Black Bay Fifty-Eigh in Basel World in 2018 and was an instant hit. The 39 millimeter case is featured with the new in house movement, COSC-certified calibre MT5402. It has a “weekend proof” power reserve of 70 hours and an anti-magnetic silicon hair-spring. This watch offers a lesser height compared to the more chunky 41 millimeter Black Bay. And hence a better fit on smaller wrists ? or fans and collectors of early Tudor Submariners. 

Tudor Black Bay Fifty Eight in Navy Blue

Named after a “Big Crown” Tudor Submariner from 1958, which is a darling amongst Tudor collectors today, the Black Bay is a modern take on the vintage ref. 7924. Tudor offers their Tudor Black Bay Fifty-Eight in a new and very attractive modern interpretation of the original “Big Crown” in steel with a combined polished and satin finish. 

As a line extension to the popular Fifty-Eight, Tudor now offers the Navy Blue. This new model comes with a very nice blue dial and bezel insert as well. Of course with the very distinct “Snowflake” hands. These hands are a recognised detail from the Tudor Submariners of the late 1960s and 1970s.

Tudor Black Bay Fifty-eight – COSC certified Calibre MT5402

Even if the COSC precision of the calibre MT5402 inside the Tudor Fifty-Eight Navy Blue is impressive. With a daily running rate of a watch movement of between -4 and +6 seconds, Tudor actually applies a tolerance of between -2 and +4 seconds? variation in its daily rate on the watch fully assembled.

The Tudor Black Bay Fifty-eight is fitted with either a steel bracelet with “rivets”, a blue soft tactile strap. This resembles the flannel on the celebrated and exquisitely woven textile strap. The French Julien Faure company in the St-Etienne region makes these strap. The Tudor Black Bay Fifty-Eight Navy Blue is great new launch. It is certainly to be another bull’s eye from the little sister of Rolex, who since 2010 came out of the shade and made a big name of itself.

10 years of partnership with the strap maker

Oh, by the way, Tudor and Julien Faure, who is the 150-year old family company behind the woven textile straps, celebrate 10 years of a partnership that started just before the launch of the Heritage Chrono in 2010, the first model of the brand to be fitted with a fabric strap created by the artisan. A fine anniversary for an enduring collaboration built on outstanding expertise ? and of course offered with the Fifty-Eight Navy Blue.

The Tudor Black Bay Fifty-Eight Navy Blue is water resistant to 200 meters. Tudor priced this watch at €3200 with soft strap and the Julien Faure textile strap. For €3500, you have the Tudor with steel “rivet” bracelet on your wrist.