Tudor Black Bay

As a brand, Tudor needs no introduction.  Although for years the company had labored under Rolex’s shadow, since its relaunch in the U.S. roughly a decade ago, it has attained an identity all its own. Part of the appeal lies in watches like this one, the Black Bay, which bridges the gap between vintage and contemporary in a way that’s hard to argue with — even for purists like us. The Black Bay is, along with the Pelagos, the brand’s take on classic Rolex and Tudor dive watches. In creating it, Tudor started at the very beginning of Tudor and Rolex dive watch history: It incorporates the “big crown” of the first reference of Tudor Sub, the Reference 7922, which had an 8mm crown like its Rolex counterpart. For the hands, the Black Bay makes use of the same handset as the most famous of vintage Tudor Subs, the Reference 7021 “Snowflake.” This particular Black Bay, a Reference 79220B, features a 41mm stainless steel case, a luminous matte black rose dial with a matching snowflake handset, a rose signed crown, and a lovely navy blue unidirectional rotating dive timing bezel, and Tudors  excellent woven textile strap in a matching navy blue with a signed pin buckle. Furthermore, this piece is of the earliest Black Bays, which possesses an early 'smiley' dial and an ETA movement within and all its goodies! If you’re in the market for a trusty, reliable dive watch with a little bit of if you know, you know, look no further — this is the watch to own!