How to Tell the Difference Between the Tudor Black Bay Heritage and the Tudor Black Bay Fifty-Eight

Tudor’s Black Bay collection is absolutely huge, and it spans a remarkably wide assortment of different watches. However, within the collection are two models that look incredibly similar, and when just looking at photos of them, it can be rather difficult to tell the two timepieces apart. Both models are vintage-inspired dive watches that are fitted with black time-only dials and matching black bezels. Additionally, both models are powered by in-house movements and are available with the option of either stainless steel bracelets, leather bands, or canvas straps. So, what exactly is the difference between the Tudor Black Bay Fifty-Eight and the Tudor Black Bay Heritage and more importantly, how can you tell them apart?

Tudor Black Bay Heritage 

The Tudor Black Bay Heritage is the original version of Tudor’s vintage inspired dive watch that first appeared in 2012. Featuring a 41mm stainless steel case, the current Black Bay Heritage is available with three different bezel colors: red, blue, and black. All three versions are fitted with black dials; however, the blue version’s dial features silver text, while the other two models have gold-colored “gilt” text on them. With that in mind, the 41mm platform is the standard size for the greater Black Bay collection, so you will also find other models with the same case diameter and overall layout, such as the Black Bay GMT, Black Bay Ceramic, and two-tone Black Bay S&G models.

When the Tudor Black Bay Heritage was first released, it was powered by an ETA-based movement. However, Tudor upgraded the collection to feature its own in-house movement (Cal. MT5602) in 2016, which is chronometer-certified and features a longer 70-hour power reserve. To accommodate the larger in-house movement, the thickness of the Black Bay Heritage’s 41mm case increased from approximately 12.7mm to 14.8mm, and its dial text was updated to feature the words, “Chronometer Officially Certified” below its depth rating, instead of the “Rotor Self-Winding” text that can be found on the original versions. At a glance, the quickest way to tell the difference is that the ETA versions will have their last line of dial text printed in an upward facing curve, while the models with in-house movements will have dial text that is completely straight.

Tudor Black Bay Heritage Key Details:

• Reference Numbers: M79230R (Red), M79230B (Blue), M79230N (Black) 
• Materials: Stainless Steel
• Case Dimensions: 41mm (Diameter); 14.8 (Thick)
• Dial: Black w/ Applied Luminous Hour Markers
• Bezel: Unidirectional Timing Bezel; Red, Blue, or Black Aluminum Insert w/ 60-Minute Scale
• Crystal: Sapphire (Domed)
• Movement: Tudor Manufacture Cal. MT5602
• Water Resistance: 200 Meters / 660 Feet
• Strap/Bracelet: Stainless Steel Bracelet, Leather Strap, or Fabric Strap
• Retail Price: $3,570 (Leather or Fabric Strap), $3,900 (Stainless Steel Bracelet)

Tudor Black Bay Fifty-Eight 

The Tudor Black Bay Fifty-Eight is the reduced sized version of the standard Black Bay Heritage dive watch that first appeared in 2018, and it is characterized by its smaller 39mm case diameter. Like the full-size model, the Black Bay Fifty-Eight is crafted from stainless steel, although Tudor also offers bronze, sterling silver, and even solid 18k gold versions of the Black Bay Fifty-Eight. However, for the purposes of this comparison, we will focus exclusively on the stainless steel models, since the various other metal options don’t have 41mm siblings. 

While the standard 41mm Tudor Black Bay Heritage is available in three different colorways, the stainless steel Black Bay Fifty-Eight is only available in either blue or black. However, while the blue version of the 41mm Black Bay Heritage is fitted with a black dial, the blue version of the Black Bay Fifty-Eight is fitted with a blue dial and a blue bezel. Additionally, unlike the 41mm models that can be found with either ETA or in-house movements, all Tudor Black Bay Fifty-Eight watches will be powered by the brand’s in-house Cal. MT5402 movement, which offers the exact same performance metrics as the in-house calibers used to power the full-size Black Bay models. Since all Tudor Black Bay Fifty-Eight watches are chronometer-certified, all of them will have straight dial text, just like the in-house versions of the 41mm Black Bay Heritage. Similarly, both colors of the Black Bay Fifty-Eight are offered with the option of stainless steel bracelets, leather bands, or fabric straps.

Tudor Black Bay Fifty-Eight Key Details:

• Reference Numbers: M79030N (Black), M79030B (Blue)
• Materials: Stainless Steel
• Case Dimensions: 39mm (Diameter); 11.9 (Thick)
• Dial: Black or Blue w/ Applied Luminous Hour Markers
• Bezel: Unidirectional Timing Bezel; Blue or Black Aluminum Insert w/ 60-Minute Scale
• Crystal: Sapphire (Domed)
• Movement: Tudor Manufacture Cal. MT5402
• Water Resistance: 200 Meters / 660 Feet
• Strap/Bracelet: Stainless Steel Bracelet, Leather Strap, or Fabric Strap
• Retail Price: $3,457 (Leather or Fabric Strap), $3,800 (Stainless Steel Bracelet)

How to Tell the Difference Between the Tudor Black Bay Heritage and the Tudor Black Bay Fifty-Eight

Now, where things can get slightly confusing is when it comes to the black version of the Tudor Black Bay Heritage (the version with an in-house movement) and the black version of the Tudor Black Bay Fifty-Eight. If you have the two watches in front of you, the differences are immediately apparent, since the full-size 41mm model is noticeably larger than its 39mm sibling - especially when it comes to its overall thickness. However, when just looking at photos of the watches, the two models can appear almost identical. 

The quickest way to tell the difference between the Tudor Black Bay Heritage and the Tudor Black Bay Fifty-Eight is to simply look at their bezels and winding crowns. Both models feature black bezels with red triangles, but the text on the bezel insert of the 41mm Black Bay Heritage is silver, while the bezel text on the Black Bay Fifty-Eight is gold and matches the text on its dial. Additionally, the crown tube (the piece that protrudes from the case that contains the corresponding threads for the screw-down crown) is finished black on the full-size Black Bay Heritage, while it is plain stainless steel on the 39mm Black Bay Fifty-Eight.

One of the main reasons why it’s important to be able to tell the difference between the Tudor Black Bay Heritage and the Tudor Black Bay Fifty-Eight is because the two watches use different straps. While the distance between the lugs is 22mm on the full-size Black Bay Heritage, it measures 20mm for the Black Bay Fifty-Eight, and straps and bracelets for the two models will not be interchangeable. Although the Tudor Black Bay Heritage and Tudor Black Bay Fifty-Eight have incredibly similar aesthetics and even offer identical performance metrics, they are different sized watches and a quick look at their bezel inserts and crown tubes is all it takes to tell them apart!

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*All images courtesy of Tudor