The Black Bay Fifty-Eight 925 Silver Tudor is possibly the best looking model in the 2021 collection. The taupe dial and unusual matte sheen of the silver case works very well together. Add to that the strangeness of using silver, a traditionally easily tarnished metal on a dive watch, makes a compelling and potentially collectible piece.
Tudor Black Bay Fifty-Eight 925 Silver
The Black Bay series from Tudor has been their best seller for a while, and remains to be the focus of the brand for 2021. This new watch has some additional interest in the use of a case made in a special solid silver alloy.
Silver is not commonly used in watch cases as it is relatively soft and prone to tarnishing. But Tudor claims they have concocted a silver alloy which is more resistant than the normal 925 Stirling Silver. Remains to be seen, but when we handled the watch, the hue is immediately attractive – it is somewhat warmer and not clinical as stainless steel tend to be. In combination to the taupe grey dial, it is rather handsome.
The Case and Dial
The Tudor Black Bay Fifty-Eight 925 is Tudor’s first dive watch with a silver case. Using the same case dimensions as the previous Fifty-Eight models, the watch measures 39 mm in diameter. It is slightly thicker at 12.7 mm versus 11.9 mm possibly a consequence of using a see-through display back.
Various shades of grey are used on the watch. From its dial, to the bezel and the matte finished case, the watch has a more muted look as compared to a regular black and steel combination. This resemblance is similar to vintage Rolex ghost bezel/dial features.
The other components of the watch function just the same as before. A screwdown crown crowns the watch’s 200m water resistance. Beneath the domed sapphire crystal glass sits the iconic snowflake hour hand, surrounded by luminous filled hour markers.
The overall case is utilitarian in design, with a straight and clean profile, congruent with its tool watch DNA. The key difference is the open caseback which now allows its wearer to observe the movement.
The Movement
The watch uses the MT5400 automatic movement, visible through the sapphire glass caseback.
The movement offers a 70-hour power reserve meaning that its wearer can, for example, take off the watch on Friday evening and put it on again on Monday morning without having to wind it. Beating to a frequency of 28,800 bph, the movement is regulated by a variable inertia oscillator with silicon balance spring, held in place by a traversing bridge – a guarantee of its robustness. And is certified by the Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute (COSC).
Concluding thoughts
The Black Bay Fifty-Eight 925 is priced at USD 4,300 / SGD 5904 (including GST) and is available in either a leather or nato strap. This comes in at a USD 600 premium over a bracelet Black Bay and a USD 925 premium over a strap Black Bay. While the material is not expected to patina as fast as a bronze case, there is intrigue with how this Tudor Silver alloy will look over time.
The Black Bay Fifty-Eight 925 is in every way a well-designed and reliable tool-watch. The novelty of the rarely used silver case will add to its collectibility – not referring to flipping potential, but a fun factor for any watch collector.
