As a brand, Tudor needs no introduction. 

Although for years the company had labored under Rolex’s shadow, since its relaunch in the U.S. roughly a decade ago, it has attained an identity all its own. Part of the appeal lies in watches like this one, the Black Bay, which bridges the gap between vintage and contemporary in a way that’s hard to argue with — even for purists like us.

The Black Bay is, along with the Pelagos, the brand’s take on classic Rolex and Tudor dive watches. In creating it, Tudor started at the very beginning of Tudor and Rolex dive watch history: It incorporates the “big crown” of the first reference of Tudor Sub, the Reference 7922, which had an 8mm crown like its Rolex counterpart. For the hands, the Black Bay makes use of the same handset as the most famous of vintage Tudor Subs, the Reference 7021 “Snowflake.”

This particular Black Bay is a Black Bay Dark, a further extension of Tudor's riff on its classic models. It features a 41mm black PVD-treated case with a sapphire crystal, a PVD 'rose' signed crown, a unidirectional rotating PVD bezel with a black ceramic insert, and a stealthy, luminous black dial with applied indices and a matching ‘snowflake’ handset.

Powered by the Tudor MT5602 automatic, chronometer-certified movement, it comes fitted to a signed black rubber/leather hybrid strap with a matching PVD deployant clasp.

If you’re in the market for a stealthy, reliable dive watch, look no further — this is the watch to own!