With the Black Bay Black 58 GMT ref. M7939G1A0NRU-0001, the Swiss watch manufacturer Tudor has launched the timepiece fans have been longing for. I had the chance to take a closer look at the new Tudor release and will tell you everything you need to know, from its design, dimensions, and comfort to its technology and price. I’ll also compare the new Black Bay 58 GMT with the existing Black Bay GMT and tell you why the vintage-inspired pilot’s watch has both fans and detractors in the watch community.
Tudor Black Bay 58 GMT: Reactions
While Tudor has responded to the wishes of its fans by releasing a smaller, thinner GMT watch, the new Tudor timepiece has received both positive and negative reactions. The reason for this is the thickness of this watch, which is a little different from what fans were expecting. I’ll explain this in more detail below. In any case, the Tudor Black Bay 58 GMT has been well received, giving watch lovers exactly what they have been asking for for years.
The design and feel of the Tudor Black Bay 58 GMT
First, let’s talk about the overall design and feel of the Tudor Black Bay 58 GMT. This is a glimpse into the future: the new Tudor creation features a new case, a new crown, and even a new bezel knurl, showing enthusiasts what future 58 models will look like. At its core, the design retains the same essence of the standard Tudor Black Bay 58. The watch is vintage-inspired through and through, with a matte black dial featuring gold elements on the hands, indices and bezel. Unlike the standard GMT, the 58 version has a “Coke” bezel: the upper part is black, while the lower part is a rich Bordeaux red. The wearing experience is similar to that of the black Tudor Black Bay 58. You get the feeling of wearing a watch from the 1950s, even though the brand new Tudor Black Bay 58 GMT is not based on an existing vintage model.
Tudor Black Bay 58 GMT: Dimensions
As expected, the dimensions of the Tudor Black Bay GMT 58 have been significantly reduced compared to the standard “Pepsi” bezel version. The 39-mm diameter and 20-mm lug width are the same as the standard version of the Tudor Black Bay 58, with the lug-to-lug distance remaining almost identical at a compact 47.8 mm. So everything’s the same? Well, not quite, because at 12.8 mm, the housing is now thicker. For comparison: The standard version of the Tudor Black Bay 58 has a case height of 11.9 mm, making the new Tudor almost a millimeter thicker. This measurement is the reason why the long-awaited Tudor Black Bay 58 GMT has aroused mixed feelings in the watch community. But is this really fair? As the owner of a Tudor Black Bay 58, I couldn’t resist comparing the two watches. And I can assure you that the thickness of the new GMT is not as dramatic as it’s made out to be. Although it is in fact thicker than the standard version of the Tudor Black Bay 58, it’s significantly thinner than the standard GMT or the Tudor Black Bay Pro, both of which come in at just under 15 mm. Direct comparison with the standard GMT immediately reveals the reduced dimensions of the new model. More importantly, the overall look of the new Tudor Black Bay 58 is beautifully balanced on the wrist. Its height, by the way, is no coincidence given the impressive technology inside.
Tudor Black Bay 58 GMT: Tech & Price
When it comes to technology, this watch has it all – and not just the convenient T-Fit quick-fit clasp. The timepiece comes with a genuine GMT and date function, and features the new METAS-certified movement that’s also used by the standard Black Bay. This means that the watch is extremely accurate (between 0 and +5 seconds per day) and anti-magnetic up to 15,000 gauss. The Tudor Black Bay 58 GMT is also water-resistant to 200 meters (20 bar, 656 feet). Its specifications are truly second to none, including the Rolex GMT-Master II, which only offers 100 meters (10 bar, 328 feet) of water resistance and does not have a METAS-certified movement. This makes the pricing of the new Tudor all the more astonishing: With a list price of $4,600 for the steel bracelet version, Tudor offers you a value for money that’s unparalleled in today’s watch market.
Tudor Black Bay 58 GMT: The Bottom Line
With the Tudor Black Bay 58 GMT, Tudor offers something Rolex doesn’t: fan service. While the height of the case may be an issue for some enthusiasts, I can only recommend that every watchlover make up their own mind about this model. If you ask me, Tudor has succeeded in creating one of the most exciting watches of 2024 with the Black Bay GMT 58, combining fantastic design, strong technology, and unbeatable value for money. Allow me a small personal quibble: a Pepsi bezel would have been more exciting, at least for me.
