Met with critical and commercial acclaim at its launch  in 2018, the Tudor Black Bay Fifty-Eight hit the sweet spot with enthusiasts who had been clamouring for a Black Bay in a trimmer and smaller case. At Watches & Wonders 2021, Tudor releases two variants of the model that are perhaps its most unusual dive watches ever: the Black Bay Fifty-Eight 925 in sterling silver, and the Black Bay Fifty-Eight 18K in solid yellow gold.

Initial Thoughts

Though a precious-metal case for a “tool” watch seems incongruent, it’s a familiar combination for high-end sports watches. But Tudor has done it differently, with the evocative 925 silver case a perfect match for the Fifty-Eight, which is at heart a vintage remake.

The look of the Fifty-Eight 925 is pure understatement – a low-key yet striking watch that will be recognised only by those in the know. Thankfully, Tudor resisted using faux-aged Super-Luminova on the hour markers and Snowflake hands, a decision that preserves the watch’s clean look.

The Fifty-Eight 925 in sterling silver

And the look is clean. The bezel and dial are in taupe – a restrained grey-brown – a versatile colour that is studiedly neutral. Despite the inconspicuous colour – and specifically because of it – the watch is actually quite noticeable on the wrist.

It is vaguely vintage in style, which goes with the soft, silvery colour of the case. Given both the colour and smaller case size, the Fifty-Eight 925 is perhaps the most gender neutral of all the Fifty-Eight models.

Ordinarily sterling silver would be liable to tarnish, which would be quite unattractive on a watch like this. But Tudor promises the silver alloy is formulated such that “use does not affect the appearance of the case”.

The Fifty-Eight 925 is also priced right, with a retail of US$4,700. That’s about US$1,300 more than the standard steel model, which is substantial but justified given the precious metal case.

Vintage-Inspired

The Black Bay Fifty-Eight 1925 is the first Tudor dive watch in silver, though Tudor did produce silver-case watches in the early decades of the 20th century.

It’s made of a proprietary alloy with a secret composition, though it is probably silver mixed with copper, and possibly germanium, tin, or silicon, as most tarnish-resistant silver alloys are.

The 39mm case is entirely satin finished, including the transitional bevel between the case flanks and the tops of the lugs that’s polished on the steel models.

The Fifty-Eight 925 will be available with either a leather or fabric strap

Besides the case material, its construction is also unusual.

The in-house MT5400 is visible through the sapphire case back – something almost never found on past Tudor watches, save for the North Flag and Black Bay Ceramic One “Only Watch”.

Though the calibre is plainly finished in an industrial style, it is a compact movement with all the features expected in an excellent modern movement, including a free-sprung balance and a longish, 70-hour power reserve. And it also features a non-magnetic silicon hairspring, along with a promised daily rate of within -2/+4 seconds per day.

The MT5400 in the Fifty-Eight 925 is a variant of the MT5402 found in the steel Fifty-Eight, but with a larger base plate, presumably because of thinner case walls in order to optimise the weight of the silver case, since sterling silver is about 40% denser than steel.

The MT5400 in the Fifty-Eight 925

Key facts and price

Tudor Black Bay Fifty-Eight 925
Ref. 79010SG

Diameter: 39.0 mm
Height: 12.7 mm
Material: 925 sterling silver
Crystal: Sapphire
Water resistance: 200 m

Movement: Cal. MT5400
Functions: Hours, minutes, and seconds
Winding: Automatic
Frequency: 28,800 vibrations per hour (4 Hz)
Power reserve: 70 hours

Strap: Leather or fabric with pin buckle

Availability: Already at boutiques and authorised retailers
Price: US$4,300; or 5,904 Singapore dollars

For more, visit Tudorwatch.com.

Correction April 10, 2021: The retail price in US dollars is US$4,300, and not the price stated before.