Rolex’s accessibly priced sibling Tudor debuted a Black Bay 58 timepiece — with a strong 18K yellow gold case and bracelet — this yr at Watches and Wonders.
Like Rolex, which launched a Deepsea 18K Yellow Gold in 2024, the Tudor announcement of the Black Bay 58 18K comes off as an odd launch, contemplating each are dive watches designed for sporty endeavors.
At $32,100 the 18K yellow gold Black Bay 58 is simply over 8 occasions the value of a regular chrome steel Black Bay 58 ($32,100 vs. $4,000) with a metal bracelet. Equally, the 18K Yellow Gold Deepsea is nearly 4 occasions the value of the bottom Rolex Deepsea ($52,100 vs. $14,150).
Each the Black Bay 58 18K and the Deepsea 18K Yellow Gold come when gold is at a file excessive, and inflation and a predicted watch-selling slowdown loom over the business. Absolutely the fashions might be made in low portions in comparison with their non-precious metallic counterparts. However why even make such timepieces?
In a time when the hype has largely subsided, this may very well be a option to bolster earnings with out pushing out bigger volumes of timepieces. It may be indicative of each manufacturers transferring additional upscale. It’s one thing Tudor or Rolex executives might touch upon, although it’s unlikely we’ll ever know the why.
The case has the identical current 39 x 12.7 mm dimensions as different Black Bay 58s, and the motion isn’t the newest new Grasp Chronometer caliber, as an alternative, it’s the prevailing caliber MT5400 COSC-certified mannequin, which isn’t unhealthy (leaving the manufacturing unit adjusted to a charge of -2/+4), however begs the query of why somebody would pay such a excessive price ticket for the oldest expertise.
On prime of all this, 18K gold is a heavy metallic, which is a paradox contemplating that critical dive watches are fabricated from non-precious metals corresponding to chrome steel and titanium.
The Black Bay 59 18K (Ref. M79018V-0006) retails for $32,100.
Images by Tudor.
