BACK IN BLUE

Tudor’s recent hit returns in a new colour that’s sure to garner even more followers

TUDOR’S BLACK BAY FIFTY-EIGHT was an instant hit when it debuted in 2018. The model was praised for taking the familiar design language of the Black Bay line and getting reworked into a smaller, more elegant package. This naturally appealed to a wider audience, and demand for the watch shot up so remarkably that there were waitlists stretching several months at authorised dealers around the world. This year, Tudor has followed up on the original release with the Black Bay Fifty-Eight “Navy Blue”, a line extension that looks set to become yet another hit.

Like its older sibling, the Black Bay Fifty-Eight “Navy Blue” comes in a svelte stainless steel case measuring just 39 millimetres across. With its 200-metre water resistance and large crown, it recalls the brand’s Oyster Prince Submariner ref. 7924 “Big Crown” watch. The angular “Snowflake” hands are, of course, a classic Tudor hallmark.

The most striking difference in the new reference is the navy blue dial and bezel. This colourway is a departure from the 2018 model’s black-and-gilt scheme, and offers a decidedly modern take on what’s a traditionally sized and proportioned timepiece. In fact, one can even consider it to be the classic counterpart to the modern, hypertechnical, and very blue Tudor Pelagos dive watch from 2015.

Tudor has maintained the technical execution of the original

Black Bay Fifty-Eight in this new watch. The COSC-certified MT5402 movement, for instance, remains in use here. This calibre doesn’t just feature an anti-magnetic silicon hairspring, but also sports a longish 70-hour power reserve that keeps it ticking even if the watch hasn’t been worn over the weekend. The brand has also applied a stricter criterion to the timepiece’s accuracy: the complete watch is regulated to a tolerance of between -2 and +4 seconds, in contrast to COSC’s -4 to +6 standard for just the movement alone. The overall construction of the Black Bay Fifty-Eight “Navy Blue” is backed by Tudor’s guarantee: the watch comes with a five-year transferable warranty.

This timepiece is available with three strap options. For the most masculine and technical look, there is the matching steel bracelet with riveted links. A “soft touch” strap made from a synthetic material resembling flannel is also available for a more dressed-down look. Finally, you can opt for the fabric strap woven in France by Julien Faure, which has supplied Tudor’s fabric straps since 2010’s Heritage Chrono timepiece. AM