Watches that smile back...
The first iteration of Tudor Black Bays are the best, in my opinion. The 41mm diameter works better than the smaller BB58 on my 7.25inch wrist. That, coupled with the relatively svelt thickness of this watch, makes the dimensions near perfect: the 79220N is 12.8mm thick, less than 1mm thicker than the BB58 at 11.9mm and more than 2mm thinner than the newer in-house 41. I like the traditional ETA engine - cheap and easy to service and mine is running within 2 seconds per day (never serviced) after 6 years. On top of all that, the rose logo, the silver bezel markings coupled with the gold dial markings faux-rivet free bracelet and, best of all, that smiley text, make the Tudor Black Bay Noir 79220N (on Ranger camo nato here) the very best of the bunch.
An admirer of shiny wrist art. I've recently arrived at a fairly settled collection after years of flipping. That could all change at any time... IG: @tickerstickers
It was the first edition Blue Bay that took my breath away. I agree with all other points tho. 😊👍 I’d still like to try on a 58, but this one is special to me.
My watch never smiles at me and I take it to dinner AND sleep with the ungrateful thing. Maybe its the logo.
This is hits right on the nose for me. I would love to get a 41mm Black Bay (Blue Bay for me) with an easier and cheaper to service movement (a true tool watch). The Rose and smiley face plus the fact that it is not as thick as the current version are just bonuses.
The cheapskate in me can't get over the relatively sharp price appreciation in these watches (which has saved me from destructively buying a ton of watches but in this case may cost me as I could have picked one up 3 years ago for a lot less).
https://www.fratellowatches.com/why-the-tudor-black-bay-smiley-face-is-primed-to-become-a-collectors-gem/#gref
This is hits right on the nose for me. I would love to get a 41mm Black Bay (Blue Bay for me) with an easier and cheaper to service movement (a true tool watch). The Rose and smiley face plus the fact that it is not as thick as the current version are just bonuses.
The cheapskate in me can't get over the relatively sharp price appreciation in these watches (which has saved me from destructively buying a ton of watches but in this case may cost me as I could have picked one up 3 years ago for a lot less).
https://www.fratellowatches.com/why-the-tudor-black-bay-smiley-face-is-primed-to-become-a-collectors-gem/#gref
The appreciation is pretty wild, my 79220N is probably worth twice what I paid for it 6 years ago.
even though my wrist is 6.25 inch, i still got the BB Red ETA due to the dial just looks so better then the in-house ver. and for some reason the BB58 the case size is perfect but the dial proportions look a bit out of place got me. The indices look a bit larger making it look a bit crowded on the dial.
I am still conflicted should i get the BB Blue ETA also to have a pair.
even though my wrist is 6.25 inch, i still got the BB Red ETA due to the dial just looks so better then the in-house ver. and for some reason the BB58 the case size is perfect but the dial proportions look a bit out of place got me. The indices look a bit larger making it look a bit crowded on the dial.
I am still conflicted should i get the BB Blue ETA also to have a pair.
The burgundy was the watch I went into the store to get when I ended up with my noir - would still love to have one. I totally agree about the dial - the smile is so, so much nicer than the blocky text on the in-house and 58. As well as being a bit small for my wrist in my view, I thought the BB58 was too chunky too. Proportionately to the diameter, it seemed thicker to me when I tried it on and directly compared it to my smiley. It's still a lovely watch.
The burgundy was the watch I went into the store to get when I ended up with my noir - would still love to have one. I totally agree about the dial - the smile is so, so much nicer than the blocky text on the in-house and 58. As well as being a bit small for my wrist in my view, I thought the BB58 was too chunky too. Proportionately to the diameter, it seemed thicker to me when I tried it on and directly compared it to my smiley. It's still a lovely watch.
nice that you ended up with the noir instead! It's the most valued BB to date. My partial regret was not getting mine with a bracelet. Now trying to source an OEM without the rivets the price is nuts.
nice that you ended up with the noir instead! It's the most valued BB to date. My partial regret was not getting mine with a bracelet. Now trying to source an OEM without the rivets the price is nuts.
Same - exactly. When I got it, I didn't wear bracelets at all, then I got the BB36 and love the bracelet. I like the leather strap on my noir very much (and the nato), but often have it on a cheap (though actually not bad) 'replica'. I was quoted £600 for the original bracelet by the AD. I may get it one day...