Monochrome Watches
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Up Close and Personal with the Tudor Heritage Black Bay Steel

| By Brice Goulard | 8 min read |
Tudor Heritage Black Bay Steel 79730

At Baselworld this year, Tudor introduced a new version of the Black Bay, dubbed “Steel” – or more precisely, the reference 79730. Immediately during the official presentation, I wondered to myself about the real purpose of this watch, which admittedly is… a Tudor Black Bay. No question about it, this new version perfectly blends into the rest of the collection. The real question was more about knowing if it was just another Black Bay or if it could make a difference? Let’s find out.

Tudor Heritage Black Bay Steel 79730

In order to make things clear, I am the owner of a Tudor Black Bay Midnight Blue (before being the Managing Editor of MONOCHROME, I was already a watch lover and a watch collector). I love everything about this watch, and I know it by heart. I know the reason why it has been created, I know the guy who designed it, I know all the specs and the details, I know where it comes from, I know its evolution over the years… There’s not much about the Black Bay that remains unknown to me. I ordered the Blue edition just after its introduction at Baselworld 2014 – although for me it was, in all fairness, love at first sight. And in every love story, when a new candidate enters the game, it will undoubtedly draw attention. This is what happened with the Tudor Heritage Black Bay Steel Ref. 79730. Is it still a Black Bay? Is it just another Black Bay? Does it bear enough specificities to have its own “raison d’être”? Many questions that I had, and I’m sure many shared. And we’ll try to find out the answers here.

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Tudor Heritage Black Bay Steel 79730

In a previous article, which was rightfully named “First Look”, I mainly described the watch in an objective way, without trying to enter too much into the details of the background or into more personal feelings. Such conclusions should only be done once we had enough quality time with the watch strapped to our wrists. A 30-minute meeting at Baselworld mainly focused on our need to make over 200 photos certainly won’t give credit to a watch. Before being able to write a precise piece about the Black Bay Steel, we needed to have it for a longer period – which we’ve done (Frank, the Founder of Mono’, was also using the watch).

Tudor Heritage Black Bay Steel 79730

What is exactly the Tudor Black Bay Steel? Well, in short (way too short), it is an evolution of the BB, which presents 2 main specificities: a steel bezel (replacing the coloured aluminium inserts) and a date window (and that is far from being a simple update… It tells a lot about the intentions behind this watch). For the rest, no real drama, as the basics of the collection are still here: the 41mm steel case with a mix of vintage and modern elements, a very decent diving capacity, a dial that recalls the old Tudor Submariner watches, a respectable and efficient in-house movement, a quality that is above all suspicion and a price/pleasure/quality ratio that is… quite hard to beat.

In details, with the Tudor Black Bay Steel Ref. 79730, we basically have the same watch (to the exception of the two specificities we mentioned earlier) as the regular Black Bay, which is available in 3 different versions (black bezel, blue bezel and burgundy bezel). Essentially this means it’s an evolution of the watch, with the in-house movement. Nothing to complain about the addition of the in-house movement, as for an extra cost of only EUR 250, collectors could benefit from a calibre superior in every aspect: longer power reserve (a comfortable 70h), antimagnetic properties (thanks to the silicon hairspring), chronometer certification, respectful pedigree (Tudor is owned by Rolex, meaning that the crown must have been involved in the conception… and that is always a good sign for the reliability) and a conception made accordingly with the style of the watch (the BB is, after all, a tool watch made for action, and its movement is made to resist this tough life).

Tudor Heritage Black Bay Manufacture trilogy

The original Black Bay trilogy, with Black, Blue or Burgundy Bezel

However, with all of this in mind, isn’t the Tudor Black Bay Steel perhaps a little too close to the “original triplets”? Believe it or not, and this is not only my original opinion, I’m now convinced of the merits of this version, which I feel is a piece on its own in the collection, a piece that aims to conquer new clients (a word that I chose on purpose, in opposition to the word “collectors”) and to bring some fresh air to the collection.

With the “original triplets” (burgundy, blue, black), Tudor’s mission was to make a return to its former glory and to gain the heart of collectors. They needed to gain in popularity, which has been done by creating a watch that could talk to real watch aficionados, to those with more than one watch, to those who already knew the brand… And they did it with a cool-looking vintage-inspired dive watch, based on what had been the brand’s most successful pieces – the 1960s Subs. Mission accomplished, as many insiders (merchants, journalists, bloggers, influencers…) consciously fell into the trap. Yet, the brand can’t live on one model only, with one single (and concise) customer base.

Tudor Heritage Black Bay Steel 79730

This is, at least to me, the “raison d’être” of the Black Bay Steel, which might be the watch to talk to a larger audience, and this is all due to the two main specificities Tudor chose to implement here. First is the steel bezel’s insert, in lieu of the aluminium inserts – what we have here isn’t a solid steel bezel but a new insert, which is made out of steel. The new insert gives a rather different design to the watch. It makes it, to my eyes, more modern, more technical, more casual too, and mainly, less vintage-inspired. This steel ring is circular brushed and engraved with the 60-minute diving scale, something that is also quite different from the shiny, flat and dark bezel we were used to seeing on the triplets.

Tudor Heritage Black Bay Steel 79730

In addition to this, this new bezel changes the perception of the watch once on the wrist. It plays differently with the light, it changes the proportions, it changes the contrast and makes it more of a tool watch than a retro-diver. It draws the attention differently, and the watch is now more focused on its dial rather than on its bezel. This change of bezel also implied a dial that gets rid of the golden hands and indexes, again in line with the more contemporary and stealthier look of this Tudor Black Bay Steel – and all of these comments become even truer when the watch is worn on its (superbly executed) riveted steel bracelet – look at this page for more images.

Tudor Heritage Black Bay Steel 79730

Then there’s the addition of a date to the Black Bay – which is something I know shocked some collectors. Once again, this watch isn’t, in my opinion, meant to be a collector’s piece but had been created to appeal to a wide audience. The date is, in this perspective, a clever addition, as many “clients” are willing to have a date window on their watches – something that is admittedly quite practical on a daily basis. The date has two interests: first, it makes the watch more modern, then it gives a more practical, user-friendly touch to a piece that was previously meant for an experienced clientele.

Tudor Heritage Black Bay Steel 79730

All in all, I would say that this Tudor Black Bay Steel Ref. 79730 has its own style, and even if it blends into the BB collection, it stands apart with its modern, toolish design and its more practical functionalities. It is a Black Bay without being just another Black Bay. And its very existence is justified by the need for Tudor to evolve and to gain new market shares, especially among a clientele that is a little less informed and that will be less attracted by vintage codes. Don’t forget that Tudor, as all watch brands, is a company that needs to make profits – which can go along with pleasing hardcore collectors, but that is the duty of the original Black Bay trilogy.

Tudor Heritage Black Bay Steel 79730

On a more product-oriented note, the Black Bay Steel is again a demonstration of savoir-faire by Tudor, with a watch that is impeccably executed and perfectly positioned in terms of pricing. Starting at EUR 3,260 on leather (EUR 3,560 on steel bracelet), it again offers one of the best quality/price ratios on the market. More details on www.tudorwatch.com.


Technical Specifications – Tudor Heritage Black Bay Steel Ref. 79730

  • Case: 41mm diameter – 60-minute uni-directional bezel (60 clicks) with brushed and engraved steel insert – stainless steel case, brushed and polished – domed sapphire crystal on top, screwed steel caseback – 200m water resistance
  • Movement: Calibre MT5612, in-house – COSC certified – Automatic – 70h power reserve – 4Hz frequency – hours, minutes, seconds, date
  • Strap: Aged leather strap on folding clasp or steel riveted bracelet on folding clasp – additional green fabric strap with buckle included in the box
  • Availability: As of June 2017
  • Reference: M79730-0003 (leather) – M79730-0001 (Steel bracelet)
  • Price: starting at EUR 3,260 / CHF 3,300 / USD 3,475 / GBP 2,490

https://monochrome.website-lab.nl/tudor-heritage-black-bay-steel-79730-review-price/

7 responses

  1. I have the Tudor Black BB, the Bronze BB, and the Steel BB. And the most revealing attractive part of the Steel BB is the bezel. That is what makes the watch special and makes it stand out against all the other BB. It will become the classic. It looks great on the wrist, and is never confused with a Rolex!

  2. I love this watch. I have the previous, discontinued ETA and have just got the blue bezel COSC version. I was interested in reading your review but gave up half way through; mainly out of frustration. Nice idea but please learn to write. I’ve been an editor for 25 years. This is up there with the worst, overwritten copy I’ve ever encountered. You could start by learning how to avoid parenthesis. Good luck.

  3. Yes, it will appeal to a much wider audience. It seems to mimic the Rolex Explorer in a way,
    except for the great bezel. Classic.

  4. I have the 79220B and 79220N (ETA Black and Blue versions) and even though it makes no sense, I can’t get this one out of my mind. It’s got it own modern, functional look and the date doesn’t really bother me on this model. Like it!

  5. Good review pointing out who this timepiece is targeted at and maybe who it isn’t. Agree on the transformation the steel bezel makes. A great effort at making a complement to the submariner while trying to establish a separate identity.

  6. Im a collector, I own over 100 vintage Dive Watches. I have almost every brand made ( a collector is NEVER done collecting). I avoid the junk., but I do have few famous pin movement collectors in my collection. All are 100% functional, some purchased as, yes, NEW old stock… a collectors dream.
    Anyway, on my radar, was one of the new Tudor Heritage series watches, I just wasnt sure which one…or ones I wanted. I was first drawn to the ETA powered versions, a classic movement…but ETA went rogue on us and sold their soul to the SWATCH mega consortium…being contractually banned from providing movements outside the SWATCH mega-watch consortium, of which Rolex and Tudor among many other high end swiss watch makers APPROPRIATELY thumbed their noses at SWATCH and will no longer use ETA movements. The same power move happened in the SUNGLASS industry amd now 95% of all high end sunglasses come from ONE source, doesnt matter if its Rayban, Oakley, of Maui Jim….THERE IS NOW only ONE MANUFACTURER. So be aware the same BS is being attempted in the watch world…which will destroy the industry if it succeeds.
    When searching through Tudor Models I literally stumpled upon the “Back Bay Steel”. I immediately was drawn to this model. I was drawn because, ironically, Tudor had inadvertantly stumbled into creating a NEW collectors watch in their attempt to pay homage to their past successes. This watch is an automatic future collectors watch…both the history ongoing now, forcong Tudors hand, and their innovation is shown UNIQUE on this very simple timepiece. I recognized its greatness on first sight…I saw the Seamaster Chronograph Bond Model without the subdials…that same steel engraved bezel and fantastic COSC inhouse movement, with a simple date complication has all it takes to become the future ” watch to have” in a world that is moving away from true artistry and craftmanship. Rolex themselves would do well to take note of this watch in contrast to usually the opposite relationship, where Rolex ideas influence Tudor…this is one where Tudor will lead the way.
    I ,therefore, sticking true to my collectors roots sought out this watch, found an owner, who purchased the watch 6 months ago, but made some holiday purchases that are forcing him to sell this beauty to me for $1500 USD to cover those expenses.
    I literally love this watch..I have all the greats…Rolex, IWC, Longines, Panerai…this watch is the one I have to force myself NOT to wear …and it doesnt suck that I know I already have a profit on this sure to be collectors watch…a collectors dream.
    Listen to me…if you do one thing for your future…buy this watch…you wont regret it.

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