Tudor Heritage Black Bay Black

As a brand, Tudor needs no introduction. Although for years the brand had labored under Rolex’s shadow, since its relaunch at the beginning of this decade, it has attained an identity all its own. Part of the appeal lies in watches like this one, the Black Bay Black, 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 was, along with the Pelagos, the brand’s take on classic Rolex and Tudor dive watches. We say watches in the plural for a reason. Rather than being a line-by-line rehash or reissue of a particular vintage piece, the Black Bay was an amalgam of several different vintage models.

In creating the Black Bay, Tudor started at the very beginning of Tudor and Rolex dive watch history (a very good place to start, rich in tradition and lore). The Black Bay incorporated 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 lifted the same handset as the most famous of vintage Tudor Subs, the Reference 7021 “Snowflake.”

Although this is a characteristic that the Black Bay shares with the Pelagos, when compared to its stablemate, the Black Bay holds its own—particularly where this watch, the Black Bay Black, is concerned.

With one tiny, yet not insignificant, change, Tudor created a watch that is as close to a recreation of a vintage “big crown” Sub as we’re ever going to get. We’re talking about the bezel, black rather than the burgundy that adorned the Black Bay since the very beginning. More than that, the red triangle at 12 o’clock on the bezel ties the Black Bay Black all the way back to the Rolex Submariner Reference 6538.

This vintage feel is further carried through in the matte black dial, which features a finishing on the minute track, hour plots, and hands, reminiscent of gilt Rolex Submariners.

Since reissues aren’t Rolex’s bag, we’re probably never going to see all of these individual components united in a single watch with “Rolex” on the dial. But that’s okay, because the Black Bay Black is unique enough on its own. Moreover, although this might not be a Rolex, this—in our opinion at least—is a plus, not a minus.

If there’s one distinguishing factor of Rolex, it’s consistency, first and foremost, and that’s reflected in the design of its watches, resulting in a kind of uniformity. Tudor, unhampered in its current incarnation from the weighty mantle of the past, is free now to experiment in the arena of design. And for that we’re truly grateful.

Our Pledge

Analog:Shift stands behind the authenticity of our products in perpetuity.

Condition

Since our pieces are vintage or pre-owned, please expect wear & patina from usage and age. Please read each item description and examine all product images.

Warranty

We back each Analog:Shift vintage timepiece with a one-year mechanical warranty from the date of purchase.

International Buyers

Please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.

All of our watches include complementary insured shipping within the 50 states.

Most of our products are on hand and will ship directly from our headquarters in New York City. In some cases, watches will be shipped directly from one of our authorized partners.

We generally ship our products via FedEx, fully insured, within 5 business days of purchase. An adult signature is required for receipt of all packages for insurance purposes. Expedited shipping is available at an additional cost. We are also happy to hand deliver your purchase in Manhattan or you may pick it up at our showroom.

Returns must be sent overnight or by priority international delivery, fully insured and paid for by the customer. A restocking fee may apply. Watches must be returned in the same condition as initially shipped.

We welcome international buyers, please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.