The Tudor Black Bay debuted at Baselworld 2012 as a single watch — a 41mm steel dive watch in red-and-black, referencing the brand’s 1950s and 1960s depth-rated tool watches. Thirteen years later, the Black Bay is a family of nine distinct references spanning 36mm to 43mm, entry-level steel to METAS-certified in-house movements, and price points from the mid-three thousands to the low sevens. That breadth came from a deliberate sequence of decisions, each one expanding what “Black Bay” can mean. This guide walks every key reference in order, with verified specifications and October 2026 pricing.
For the broader story of Tudor’s seven-decade history — from its origins as Rolex’s tool-watch line to the in-house movement era — see our Tudor history in 10 references. The Tudor brand hub collects all current reviews, buying guides, and comparisons.
TL;DR
Nine references. One DNA. The Black Bay launched in 2012 with a single 41mm model and has since expanded to seven case sizes, three movement families, and price points from ~$3,825 to ~$6,875+ new. Every reference shares the same snowflake hands, bidirectional bezel, and domed crystal — but each one solves a different brief. The Black Bay 58 is the sweet spot for wrist comfort; the Black Bay 68 is the performance flagship; the Black Bay 36 and 54 are the dresser options. The Chrono is the only complication. The GMT is the traveller’s pick.
1. Ref. 79220R (2012) — The Original Black Bay
Tudor introduced the Black Bay at Baselworld 2012 under the “Born to Dare” campaign. The reference, 79220R, carried visual cues from three decades of Tudor dive watches: the large-crown architecture of the 1958 ref. 7924 Big Crown Submariner, the rose-gold-accented snowflake hands adopted in Tudor’s 1969 Submariner, and the bi-directional 60-minute graduated bezel. The 41mm stainless steel case wore a distinctive burgundy (dark red) bezel insert — a colour that became the original Black Bay’s signature.
The launch movement was a third-party calibre (Tudor did not yet produce movements in-house). Power reserve and finishing were adequate for a sports watch at the original price point, which was considerably below Rolex’s comparable offerings. The 79220R quickly developed a collector following, particularly in its burgundy configuration, and established the visual grammar that all subsequent Black Bay references would inherit: snowflake hands, domed crystal, riveted bracelet option, and the distinctive “shield” crown.
2. Ref. M79220 (2015–2016) — In-House Movement & Bronze/Dark Variants
The pivot that changed everything arrived in 2015 when Tudor debuted its first in-house manufacture movement, the MT5601, in the Pelagos. Within the Black Bay line, the standard ref. M79220 was updated to carry the MT5601 — a bidirectional self-winding COSC-certified movement with a 70-hour power reserve and variable inertia balance. This brought Black Bay pricing and positioning into sharper focus: a COSC-certified manufacture movement at a meaningfully lower price than Swiss competition.
The same MT5601 family then powered two landmark variants. The Black Bay Dark (full PVD treatment, dark dial) gave the family a stealth option. The Black Bay Bronze — Tudor being among the first major brands to use a bronze case at scale — gave it a patinating material that aged uniquely on every wrist. Both wore the same 41mm dimensions as the steel flagship and shared the MT5601 movement. In 2017, Tudor formalised its movement production through the establishment of Kenissi SA, a movement manufacturer that supplies calibres to the Chanel group and other brands.
3. Ref. M79360N (2017) — Black Bay Chrono
Tudor added its first chronograph to the Black Bay family at Baselworld 2017. The Black Bay Chrono ref. M79360N measures 41mm × 13mm and is rated to 200m water resistance. The movement is the MT5813 — a COSC-certified manufacture chronograph calibre co-developed with Breguet, notable for its column-wheel actuation and vertical clutch design, the latter delivering cleaner seconds-hand engagement at the start of a timing sequence. Power reserve is 70 hours. The black-dial configuration (M79360N) remains the reference most frequently cited by buyers.
Current pricing at authorised dealers for the Black Bay Chrono runs from approximately $6,875 to $7,150 depending on bracelet and strap configuration, making it the most expensive standard Black Bay variant. For the full breakdown of sub-references and buying considerations, see our Tudor Black Bay Chrono buying guide.
4. Ref. 79030N (2018) — Black Bay 58
The Black Bay 58, launched in 2018, is named for the year that produced the watch it consciously recalls: the 1958 Tudor Big Crown Submariner, reference 7924. Where the standard Black Bay settled at 41mm, the BB58 measures 39mm × 11.9mm — small enough to slip under a shirt cuff, large enough to read clearly. The movement is the MT5402, a slimmer version of the Tudor manufacture calibre family, COSC-certified with 70 hours of power reserve.
The combination of the reduced size, domed crystal, and gilt printing on the original navy dial made the BB58 an immediate commercial success. New retail pricing is approximately $3,825 for the standard steel configuration — a significant value position for a COSC manufacture movement in a 39mm sports watch. The BB58 is covered in full in our Tudor Black Bay 58 review.
5. Ref. 79830RB (2018) — Black Bay GMT
Also launched in 2018, the Black Bay GMT ref. 79830RB gave the family its first complication beyond the standard three-hand layout. The GMT function uses Tudor’s MT5652 manufacture calibre — COSC-certified, 70-hour power reserve — with a jumping local-hours hand: the second time zone advances in one-hour increments independently of the minute hand, making single-timezone adjustments a one-push operation rather than a full forward cycle. The case is 41mm, shared with the standard Black Bay, and water resistance is 200m.
The original reference 79830RB features a bi-directional aluminium bezel in the now-iconic red, black, and blue “pepsi” colour scheme. The GMT subsequently expanded into the Black Bay GMT S&G (Steel and Gold), which uses 18k yellow gold accents on the bezel rim, crown, and crown tube — priced from $5,825 to $8,125 depending on bracelet configuration. For current GMT pricing across all configurations, see our Tudor Black Bay GMT buying guide.
6. Ref. M79640 (2020) — Black Bay 36
The Black Bay 36, introduced in 2020, makes a specific case for a smaller Black Bay that wears as a dress-capable sports watch. Reference M79640 measures 36mm × 10.5mm — 5mm slimmer in diameter than the BB58 — and is powered by the MT5400 manufacture calibre, COSC-certified with 70 hours of power reserve. The reduced thickness (10.5mm versus the BB58’s 11.9mm) means it slides under a dressed cuff without protest.
Available in black and blue dial configurations, new retail pricing is approximately $4,725. The pre-owned market, where demand is lighter than for the BB58 or BB41, currently prices the M79640 at around $3,159 — one of the more accessible entry points into the manufacture Black Bay family. Our Tudor Black Bay 36 review covers the complete specification and wrist-wear in full.
7. Ref. M7941A (2024) — Black Bay 41
The Black Bay 41 is the standard-bearer of the current lineup — the successor to the original 41mm Black Bay that launched in 2012. The current series, ref. M7941A, represents the modern expression of that founding brief: 41mm, 200m water resistance, COSC manufacture movement, and a bracelet-or-strap choice that covers most occasions. New retail pricing is approximately $5,325.
The pre-owned market for the prior 41mm generation (ref. M79230N) runs from approximately $2,800 to $3,400 depending on condition and configuration — making it one of the most attainable routes into the Black Bay family for buyers who prioritise the 41mm case. For specification details across all current sub-references and a pre-owned buying framework, see our Tudor Black Bay 41 buying guide.
8. Ref. M79000N (2023) — Black Bay 54
Introduced in 2023, the Black Bay 54 takes the same naming convention as the BB58 — looking back to a specific year — but targets an even earlier reference. The M79000N is built to the proportions of the 1954 Tudor Submariner ref. 7922, measuring 37mm × 12.3mm. Like the BB58 and BB36, it runs the MT5400 manufacture calibre (COSC-certified, 70 hours of power reserve) but in a case that falls between the BB36 and BB58 in diameter while being a touch thicker than either.
Distinguishing visual features include a pencil-style minutes hand (period-correct for the 1954 reference), a more pronounced “snowflake” seconds hand, and a bi-directional aluminium bezel in black. Retail pricing is approximately $4,725 on the five-link steel bracelet or $4,475 on a rubber strap. The BB54 is currently the newest addition to the size-specific references in the family. Our Tudor Black Bay 54 review covers wrist impressions and specification detail.
9. Ref. M7943A1A0NU (2025) — Black Bay 68
The Black Bay 68, launched at Watches & Wonders 2025, is named for 1968 — the year Tudor introduced its iconic snowflake hands across the Submariner line. Reference M7943A1A0NU measures 43mm × 13.7mm, making it the largest Black Bay to date, and is powered by the MT5601-U — a METAS-certified Master Chronometer movement. That METAS certification is a formal achievement: the MT5601-U passed the eight tests covering magnetic resistance (to 15,000 gauss), rate accuracy, and power reserve at 33% charge.
The BB68 is the performance benchmark of the current Black Bay family. New retail pricing is approximately $4,700 — a position that makes the METAS certification compelling given comparable COSC-only references from other brands at similar or higher price points. Available in silver and blue dial variants on bracelet or strap. Our full Tudor Black Bay 68 review covers the movement performance and wearing experience in detail.
All 9 References at a Glance
| Year | Reference | Model | Diameter | Movement | Price (Oct 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 79220R | Black Bay Original | 41mm | Third-party (later MT5601) | Pre-owned ~$2,500–$4,000 |
| 2015–16 | M79220 / Bronze / Dark | Black Bay (MT5601 era) | 41mm | MT5601 COSC, 70h | Pre-owned varies |
| 2017 | M79360N | Black Bay Chrono | 41mm | MT5813 COSC, 70h | ~$6,875–$7,150 new |
| 2018 | 79030N | Black Bay 58 | 39mm | MT5402 COSC, 70h | ~$3,825 new |
| 2018 | 79830RB | Black Bay GMT | 41mm | MT5652 COSC, 70h | See GMT guide |
| 2020 | M79640 | Black Bay 36 | 36mm | MT5400 COSC, 70h | ~$4,725 new / ~$3,159 pre-owned |
| 2023 | M79000N | Black Bay 54 | 37mm | MT5400 COSC, 70h | ~$4,725 (bracelet) new |
| 2024 | M7941A | Black Bay 41 | 41mm | MT5400-family COSC | ~$5,325 new |
| 2025 | M7943A1A0NU | Black Bay 68 | 43mm | MT5601-U METAS | ~$4,700 new |
Which Black Bay Is Right for You?
The case size question answers most of the decision. Wrists at 6.5 inches or below tend to find the 39mm BB58 or 37mm BB54 best. Wrists above 7 inches carry the BB41 and BB68 without overhang. The BB36 fills a niche as a dressed-down option that genuinely works with formal wear. For buyers who want the highest technical specification in the family, the BB68’s METAS certification is the answer — at a price that’s lower than the BB41 new. The Chrono stands apart as the only complication, and the GMT is the only dual-time reference. Pre-owned buyers targeting value should consider the M79230N (BB41 prior generation, ~$2,800–$3,400) or the BB36 (~$3,159).
The first Tudor Black Bay was reference 79220R, introduced at Baselworld 2012. It measured 41mm with a burgundy (dark red) bi-directional bezel and was powered by a third-party movement before the MT5601 was introduced in 2015.
Tudor’s first in-house manufacture movement, the MT5601, debuted in the Pelagos in 2015 and was subsequently adopted across the Black Bay line. Kenissi SA, which manufactures Tudor’s calibres, was formally established in 2017.
The Black Bay 58 is named for the year 1958, when Tudor produced the Big Crown Submariner reference 7924 — the vintage watch the BB58’s proportions and design directly reference. The BB58’s 39mm case echoes the smaller footprint of that original.
The Black Bay 54 (ref M79000N, 37mm) references the 1954 Tudor Submariner ref 7922 and is 2mm smaller than the Black Bay 58 (ref 79030N, 39mm). Both use MT5400-family COSC movements. The BB54 has a pencil-style minute hand for period accuracy; the BB58 has the snowflake hand. Pricing is similar, at approximately $4,725 and $3,825 respectively.
The Black Bay 68 (ref M7943A1A0NU, ~$4,700) costs roughly $875 more than the BB58 (~$3,825) but includes a METAS Master Chronometer-certified movement (MT5601-U), a larger 43mm case, and resistance to 15,000 gauss magnetic fields. If the extra case size suits your wrist and technical certification matters, the premium is justified. If you prefer 39mm, the BB58 remains the compelling choice.
The Black Bay 58 and Black Bay GMT have historically shown the strongest pre-owned retention in the Black Bay family, driven by high demand relative to production and strong collector recognition. The Black Bay 36 and Black Bay 54 have shown lighter demand and deeper pre-owned discounts, which works in favour of buyers entering those markets.
The MT5601-U is Tudor’s METAS-certified Master Chronometer movement, first debuted in the Black Bay 68 at Watches and Wonders 2025. It passed the eight METAS tests, including magnetic resistance to 15,000 gauss, rate accuracy within 0–5 seconds per day, and performance at 33% power reserve. It is an evolution of the MT5601 manufacture calibre that has powered the standard Black Bay since 2015.
Final Verdict
The Black Bay started as a single idea — a modern Tudor dive watch drawing on the best of the brand’s archival references — and has been executed with unusual discipline across thirteen years and nine distinct references. The shared design language (snowflake hands, domed crystal, large crown, graduated bezel) means the family reads as coherent even as the range now spans 36mm to 43mm and three separate movement families. That coherence is the achievement. If you want a manufacture movement, a COSC certification, and a sport-appropriate case at a price point significantly below Rolex, any current Black Bay reference makes the case better than almost anything else on the market at its price tier.
Related Articles
- Tudor Black Bay 58 Review (2026)
- Tudor Black Bay 41 Buying Guide (2026)
- Tudor Black Bay 68 Review (2026)
- Tudor Manufacture Calibres Explained
- Tudor History in 10 References
Sources: TWG BB58 review; TWG BB68 review; TWG Tudor calibres guide; TWG Tudor history post. Pricing: authorized dealer listings, October 2026.
