{"id":26535,"date":"2021-08-08T05:59:51","date_gmt":"2021-08-08T05:59:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.horbiter.com\/the-tudor-black-bay-fifty-eight-navy-blue-watch-hands-on\/"},"modified":"2026-07-11T20:28:39","modified_gmt":"2026-07-11T18:28:39","slug":"tudor-black-bay-fifty-eight-navy-blue-m79030b-watch-hands-on","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.horbiter.com\/en\/tudor-black-bay-fifty-eight-navy-blue-m79030b-watch-hands-on\/","title":{"rendered":"The Tudor Black Bay 58 Navy Blue watch hands-on"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Tudor Black Bay 58<\/strong>\u00a0is a case study in the watch industry. After making the Black Bay<\/strong><\/a> collection the brand\u2019s hero, Tudor<\/strong>\u2018s marketing gurus followed up by shaving a couple of millimeters off the original timepiece, creating a smaller version whose design is a nod to the brand\u2019s highly sought-after first diving watches (like the reference 7924<\/strong>, in this case).<\/p>\n

Tudor<\/strong> was smart (and quick) enough to detect a scenario where the oversized-timepiece trend was fading, and vintage-inspired smaller diving watches were beginning to become hot. Here is when the Black Bay 58<\/strong>\u00a0hit the market.<\/p>\n

\"tudor-black-bay-fifty-eight-navy-blue-m79030b-2-compressor\"Well-established brand identity and a strategy aimed at empowering the brand\u2019s pedigree among diving instruments finally placed Tudor<\/strong> among the hottest watch brands.<\/p>\n

The Black Bay 58<\/strong>\u00a0well exemplifies the \u201cfour Ps of marketing.\u201d<\/em> The response from collectors has been enthusiastic; sales volumes began to ramp up so quickly that the Black Bay 58<\/strong>, primarily when sold on the solid steel bracelet with rivets, is highly sought after, and the market price keeps growing over the suggested retail, at a steady pace. With that said, the freshly-released Navy Blue<\/strong> option is a welcome addition and a lovely range extender.<\/p>\n

\"tudor-black-bay-fifty-eight-navy-blue-m79030b-10-compressor\"As soon as the rumors regarding a blue Tudor<\/strong> Black Bay 58<\/strong>\u00a0began to spread on the Internet, with teasers and photoshopped timepieces popping up here and there, Google<\/strong>\u2018s related search volumes skyrocketed and accounted for 3<\/strong>,6 million<\/strong> results, as of today.<\/p>\n

The Tudor Black Bay 58<\/strong>\u00a0Navy Blue<\/strong> has quickly become a \u201ctrending topic\u201d<\/em> among forum members, watch enthusiasts, and original Fifty<\/strong>\u2013Eight<\/strong>\u2018s happy owners, including some who belong to our Club<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"tudor-black-bay-fifty-eight-navy-blue-m79030b-8-compressor\"All this buzz, despite Tudor<\/strong> being late in introducing the now-mainstream blue dial option. The brand adopted a matte deep blue Pantone, setting itself apart from the competition whose blue vintage-inspired diving watches are less subtle in comparison.<\/p>\n

Such blue is darker than a Pelagos<\/strong><\/a>\u2018 too, which I accept, considering the saturation diving watch is sportier and geared towards a different audience.<\/p>\n

Interestingly, it is the first time I had the chance to spend enough quality time with a Fifty<\/strong>\u2013Eight<\/strong> wrapped around my wrist, since its launch in 2018<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"tudor-black-bay-fifty-eight-navy-blue-m79030b-6-compressor\"At 39mm<\/strong>, across, the case might seem too downsized for my wrist (which measures 20mm<\/strong>), and at first glance, it is, by listening to the first face-to-face unfiltered comments I have received, too.<\/p>\n

However, the Tudor Black Bay<\/strong> Fifty<\/strong>\u2013Eight<\/strong> is not a thin watch, and this changes the perspective. On paper, the diameter is a nod to the once-called skin divers, whereas the body\u2019s design is no doubt modern-looking. Viewing a Tudor Black Bay 58<\/strong> from atop, it\u2019s all about vintage flavor.<\/p>\n

The bezel is stunningly thin (I guess the thinnest in its class), the graduated inlay is all but ceramic, the dial is very sleek with no date window.<\/p>\n

From aside, the case is unquestionably modern-looking, other than helping with the oversized crown not pinching your wrist at all. To provide a full overview of how the Black Bay 58<\/strong>\u00a0wears, I should also try the full steel variant.<\/p>\n

\"tudor-black-bay-fifty-eight-navy-blue-m79030b-15-compressor\"The Navy Blue<\/strong> version pays homage to the original 1969 Tudor Submariner<\/strong> reference; they\u2019re notably different from each other, let alone the blue they\u2019re adopting, yet they share that uncommon formal balance.<\/p>\n

Also, I wouldn\u2019t be that surprised if those who\u2019re on a waiting list to get their black<\/strong> Black Bay 58<\/strong>\u00a0would somehow shift to the newest Navy Blue<\/strong> sibling, which is already available at Tudor<\/strong>\u2018s official retailers.<\/p>\n

Kudos to Tudor<\/strong>\u2018s watchmakers for developing a rotating bezel whose detenting is so compliant and pleasant to listen to; it adds up to enhanced perceived quality.<\/p>\n

In an age where we\u2019re buying luxury products rather than timing instruments or tool watches, the \u201ctouch and feel\u201d<\/em> session is the first enabler in turning a prospect into a happy buyer.<\/p>\n

\"tudor-black-bay-fifty-eight-navy-blue-m79030b-13-compressor\"Tudor<\/strong> adopts on the Black Bay 58<\/strong>\u00a0Navy Blue<\/strong> a fabric strap<\/strong> crafted, as per the brand\u2019s tradition, by Julien Faure<\/strong>. It is a Saint<\/strong>\u2013Etienne<\/strong> based manufacturer whose straps are woven by using old-school wood-made sewing machines, whose end quality and refinement are top-notch and unparalleled.<\/p>\n

Tudor<\/strong> was the first-ever luxury watch brand to partner with this 150<\/strong>\u2013old company<\/strong> whose approach to making straps is boutique.<\/p>\n

The new Black Bay 58<\/strong>\u00a0Navy Blue<\/strong> comes standard with other straps like, for example, a soft-touch synthetic leather strap or a steel bracelet with rivets.<\/p>\n

I would also add a rubber strap<\/strong> to easily allow the wearer to use the watch during the summer. Is there any Julien Faure<\/strong>\u2018s sibling among rubber straps\u2019 producers?<\/p>\n

\"tudor-black-bay-fifty-eight-navy-blue-m79030b-16-compressor\"Under the hood, you\u2019ll find the manufacture caliber MT 5402<\/strong> (MT stands for Manufacture Tudor), capable of running the timepiece for at least seventy hours, when fully wound.<\/p>\n

It is a Chronometer<\/strong> certified mechanical movement, designed to offer timing precision and robustness, as proven by the double-fastening balance bridge.<\/p>\n

Conversely, I believe Tudor Watch<\/strong> should move forward and provide a full timepiece in-house certification anytime soon.<\/p>\n

\"tudor-black-bay-fifty-eight-navy-blue-m79030b-11-compressor\"What I like to stress instead is that the brand now offers a five<\/strong>\u2013year warranty<\/strong> (something we spotted when writing our guide of the Tudor Black Bay), a plus that places Tudor<\/strong> way ahead of the competition in its class.<\/p>\n

Also, by reading the specs sheet, you\u2019ll notice how Tudor<\/strong> underlines that no registration process is needed to access the extended warranty, something that looks like a jab to those premium brands whose extended warranty is guaranteed by applying to a registration process only.<\/p>\n

The Tudor Black Bay Fifty<\/strong>\u2013Eight<\/strong> Navy Blue<\/strong> retails for 3<\/strong>,500 Euros<\/strong> with the bracelet, and 3<\/strong>,200 Euros<\/strong> either on blue \u201csoft touch\u201d<\/em> strap or fabric strap with pin buckle.<\/p>\n