The original Tudor Black Bay helped turn the brand around in 2012, but its 41mm size (along with a 50mm lug-to-lug length and a rather slab-shaped back) wasn’t ideal for every wrist. The Black Bay Fifty-Eight, with its almost universally wearable 39mm case size, has been a huge hit ever since its release in 2018. But now there’s an even smaller Tudor dive watch on the scene: the 37mm Black Bay 54. In this Black Bay 54 vs. 58 breakdown, we review all of the differences between the two.
New to the Tudor Black Bay? Check our Tudor Black Bay Collector’s Guide.
Key Differences between the BB58 and BB54
The Black Bay 54 and 58 are very similar watches at a glance. The biggest differences are:
- The Black Bay 54 case is 2mm smaller than the Black Bay 58.
- The Black Bay 54 has a T-Fit clasp for micro-adjustments.
- The Black Bay 58 has a red triangle on the bezel insert.
Of course, to the close observer and true watch nerd, there are several differences. We review all of them below.
Case Size and Lug Width
The case size is the most obvious differentiator on paper, but the 2mm difference isn’t obvious in real life. The 54 even keeps the same familiar 20mm lug width. The Black Bay 54 does look like a Black Bay 58 at first glance, although it doesn’t take long to see that it’s its own distinct watch. In my opinion it wears similar to a Tudor midsize Submariner while the BB58 wears more like a vintage full-size Sub.
T-Fit Clasp
The Black Bay 58 Bronze is the only BB58 with Tudor’s T-Fit clasp, which is a micro-adjustment system comparable to Rolex’s beloved Glidelock. All the other variants have simple traditional clasps/buckles. The newer Black Bay 54, unsurprisingly, comes from the factory with T-Fit standard. For steel Black Bay 58 owners wanting to upgrade their clasp, consider buying a Tudor Ranger bracelet from your local Tudor AD: it fits and it has T-Fit.
Black Bay 54 vs 58: Strap Materials
In addition to the clasp, the strap material itself is notably different on the Black Bay 54 vs 58. Of course the familiar steel faux-rivet Oyster bracelet is an option on both, but Tudor never offered a rubber strap on the Black Bay 58. They offered almost every other kind of strap: fabric, leather, faux suede, and alligator. Meanwhile, rubber is the only non-bracelet option for the Black Bay 54. And unlike the strap versions of the Black Bay 58, the 54 has a deployant clasp and metal endlinks.
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Bezel
The distinctive red triangle of the Black Bay 58, an homage to some of the first Rolex Submariner references, is absent on the Black Bay 54. Also, the BB54’s bezel insert lacks hash marks, and features silver text instead of gold. As for the edge of the bezel itself, the 58 has the coin-edge texture of the original Black Bay while the 54 has a wider gradient.
Dial
The Black Bay 54 dial has a pleasant shiny finish, while the black dial from the Black Bay 58 is matte. Both look nice, but it makes sense that Tudor is changing it up.
Crown
This is a subtle difference, but the BB58 has the large, coin-edge winding crown we’ve come to expect from Tudor. The BB54 has a slightly smaller, more Rolex Oyster-like crown.
Black Bay 54 vs 58: Full Specifications
Model | Black Bay 54 | Black Bay 58 |
Year Introduced | 2023 | 2018 |
Reference | 79000 (Steel) | 79030 (Steel) 79012 (Bronze) 79010 (Silver) 79018 (Yellow Gold) |
Case Diameter | 37mm | 39mm |
Case Thickness | 11.3mm | 11.9mm |
Lug Width | 20mm | 20mm |
Dial | Glossy black | Matte black or blue (Steel) Grey (Silver) Green (Yellow Gold) Brown (Bronze) |
Clasp | T-Fit micro-adjust clasp | T-Fit micro-adjust clasp (Bronze only) Standard flip-lock clasp or tang buckle (all other metals) |
Movement | MT5400 (Automatic, 8 beats per second) | MT5402 (Automatic, 8 beats per second) |
Power Reserve | 70 hours | 70 hours |
Depth Rating | 200m | 200m |
MSRP (Mar. 2024) | $3,700 (Rubber strap) $3,900 (Bracelet) | $3,675 (Steel with fabric or faux-suede strap) $4,000 (Steel with bracelet) $4,650 (Silver with fabric or leather strap) $4,875 (Bronze with bracelet) $18,000 (Yellow Gold with gator strap) |
Black Bay 54 vs 58: In Conclusion
Overall, Tudor seems to have balanced tradition and progress well with the Black Bay 54, and it’s been well-received. There doesn’t seem to be quite the level of excitement for the Black Bay 54 that we saw with the Black Bay 58 in 2018, but still, it’s a welcome addition to the surprisingly sparse under-38mm dive watch market.