Two No-Date Dive Watches Similar or Different?

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Ask anyone to name the most popular dive watches on the market today and they’ll most likely name the Rolex Submariner and Tudor Black Bay 58. At first glance these watches are similar, but they may be more different than you expect.

Bezel

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Not the feature most watch reviewers would start with, but possibly the most noticeable difference to the casual observer is the difference in their bezels. The Black Bay 58 sports a flat, matte bezel. The bezel on the Black Bay 58 is made out of aluminum with printed markings and features a coin edge. One interesting feature of the Black Bay 58 bezel that many may not know is that it actually “stops” at the 12 o’clock position; a little extra force is needed to turn it from that position compared with any other position on the dial.

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The Submariner bezel may appear more deep than the Black Bay 58, and that’s due to the fact that it’s made of ceramic as opposed to aluminum. Another feature which gives the Sub bezel additional depth is the fact that the markings are recessed and filled with platinum. The knurls on the edge of the Submariner bezel are deeper making it easier to grip, as opposed to the Black Bay 58’s which may be considered slippery to some. Another difference with the Submariner bezel is the fact that it turns in increments of half a minute, so it takes 120 turns to make the full rotation, as opposed to the 60 needed for the Black Bay 58.

Case

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The next thing your eye is drawn to is the cases of the two watches. The Black Bay 58 is slightly smaller at first glance, coming in at a diameter of 39mm and a thickness of 11.9mm. Although the Submariner is listed as a 41mm diameter, actual measurements put it at 40.6mm, so not as large as you may initially believe. The Sub also comes in at a thickness of 12mm, much like the Black Bay 58.

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Another difference that many people notice is the lack of crown guards on the Black Bay 58, this gives it a more retro look that resembles Submariners of the past. The updated 2020 Submariner has shorter crown guards than its maxi-case predecessor, but still retains its distinctive look.

Finally, a difference you may not be able to see is the difference in case material. The Rolex Submariner features a case made of 904L steel which is made specifically in Rolex foundries for Rolex watches. This type of steel offers the highest resistance to corrosion and pitting and also holds a higher polish than other grades of steel. The Tudor Black Bay 58, on the other hand, is made out of 316L steel which you may hear of as “medical grade”, although these differences appear on paper, it’s very difficult to tell the differences in steel by the naked eye, even on highly polished surfaces.

Bracelet

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The final difference between the two watches is in the bracelet. Both watches feature solid end link, oyster style, stainless steel bracelets. However, the Black Bay 58’s bracelet features fake rivets on the side to pay homage to vintage dive watches. The Submariner’s bracelet is flat sided and very clean looking.