Tudor Black Bay 54

Released in 2018, Tudor’s Black Bay Fifty-Eight encapsulated everything we love about vintage dive watches: A sub-40mm stainless steel case, a ‘gilt’ black dial with classic Submariner-inspired touches; an excellent multi-link bracelet; and a bulletproof automatic — all for under $5,000 — showed us that it’s possible to get mid-20th century looks in a modern package at an approachable price point. How could Tudor possibly do better?

Well, in 2023 Tudor did do better by introducing the Black Bay 54. Based upon an early Tudor Submariner released in — you guessed it — 1954, its slim proportions make it ideal for someone who prefers dressier timepieces but is dive-watch curious. Measuring 37mm in stainless steel with a signed, screw-down crown (and no crown guards); a sapphire crystal; and unidirectional dive bezel with an aluminum timing insert, it features a black dial with luminous, applied indices; an outer ‘gilt’ minute track; a set of luminous ‘snowflake’ hands; and ‘gilt’ printing.

Powered by the automatic Tudor Calibre MT5400 movement with 70 hours of power reserve and paired to a stainless steel multi-link bracelet with Tudor’s “T-fit” expandable clasp, this slim piece is every bit the professional dive watch. Combining 1950s looks with 2020s materials and specs, it’s fit and ready for duty, whether that duty includes underwater adventures or city-slicking fun.

COSC-certified and just 11.2mm thick, the Black Bay 54 is most certainly Tudor’s best vintage-inspired dive watch yet. Comfortable, accurate, robust, and timeless, it’s guaranteed to bring a smile to your face every time to cinch its bracelet closed on your wrist.

Rolex founder Hans Wilsdorf created Tudor in 1926 for the everyman — for miners, construction workers and all sorts of tradesmen. For your everyday person Rolex was sometimes — and is now more so than ever — out of reach. It was meant for the explorer and the businessman, whereas Tudor was to be a different creature entirely.
In creating Tudor, Wilsdorf wanted to offer “a watch that our agents could sell at a more modest price than our Rolex watches, and yet one that would attain the standards of dependability for which Rolex is famous.”
Tudors were in many ways Rolexes in all but name, with the same waterproof Oyster cases and similar styling. However, in order to keep costs down, the brand used off-the-shelf Swiss movements rather than their own in-house calibres. What resulted were watches that were more affordable than Rolexes to the consumer, but still uniformly tough and reliable.
Today Tudor has certainly defeated any impression of being the redheaded stepchild of the Rolex family, and their current timepiece collection — as well as their vintage counterparts — are getting the recognition and respect they most rightfully deserve. From the colorful “Home Plate” chronograph to the complicated Advisor, these models often picked up where Rolex left off, daring to be more bold and playful in their design. And now that the brand has introduced in-house movements while still managing to keep pricing modest, the company is better poised than ever to win the hearts and minds of millions of new watch enthusiasts.

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.