Every time I pull a Tudor out for the first time, I have the same reaction. Is that it? The Tudor Black Bay 58 Burgundy is no different. Off the wrist, it feels almost like a toy to me, even with that bright burgundy bezel. On the wrist, I like it a lot more.
This review covers the M7939A1A0RU-0003, the version on the black rubber strap. I’ll go through the dial, the case, the strap, the movement, the price, and where it lands on the 5D leaderboard.
Key takeaways
- The burgundy sunburst dial looks very dark most of the time. In natural light, it’s beautiful.
- MSRP is $4,975 on Tudor’s website on the rubber strap. Used, these trade between about $3,900 and $4,500.
- The movement is Tudor’s MT5400-U, a METAS Master Chronometer with about 65 hours of power reserve.
- The rubber strap feels thin and cheaper than the rest of the watch. The T-fit clasp is great.
- It scores 57 out of 100 on the 5D Score.
Tudor Black Bay 58 Burgundy specs
| Spec | Tudor Black Bay 58 Burgundy |
|---|---|
| Reference | M7939A1A0RU-0003 (rubber strap) |
| Case | 39mm steel, polished and satin finishes |
| Thickness | 11.7mm |
| Lug to lug | About 47mm |
| Lug width | 20mm |
| Dial | Burgundy, domed, sunburst finish, applied markers |
| Hands and markers | Silver, with Super-LumiNova |
| Bezel | One-way rotating, burgundy aluminum insert |
| Crystal | Domed sapphire |
| Crown | Screw-down |
| Water resistance | 200 meters |
| Movement | Tudor MT5400-U automatic |
| Certification | COSC and METAS Master Chronometer |
| Power reserve | About 65 hours |
| Beat rate | 8 beats per second |
| Strap | Black rubber with T-fit clasp |
| MSRP | $4,975 on Tudor’s website |
The dial and bezel
The dial is a burgundy sunburst. Most of the time, it actually looks very dark. Unless you’ve got the right light, usually natural light, you don’t really see that sunburst come through. When you do catch it in the right light, it’s beautiful.
It’s also really hard to capture in photos. What you see online probably won’t match what you see in person.
The bezel is the opposite. The insert is aluminum in that burgundy red, and you see that color all the time, no matter what light you’re in.
The hands and the hour markers are silver, and the lume is applied really well. The crystal is sapphire and just lightly domed, and I think that works well on this watch.
Where the burgundy comes from
Tudor says the burgundy dial and bezel take their cues from a prototype Tudor Submariner from the 1990s, reference 79190. That prototype never went into production. This Black Bay 58 is where that look finally shows up.
Does the sunburst take away from the vintage look? If this was trying to be a true heritage watch, then yes, it doesn’t feel like a full heritage piece. But I don’t think that’s what Tudor was going for with this one.
The case
The sides of the case are polished and the tops of the lugs are satin. I wish the whole case had been satin. The polished sides just get smudged up, and I don’t think the watch benefits from the polish. It doesn’t take away from the watch, but satin would have been a little bit better.
The bezel only turns one way, since this is meant to be a dive watch. It’s rated to 200 meters.
Price and what comes in the box
| Version | Reference | MSRP on Tudor’s website |
|---|---|---|
| Rubber strap | M7939A1A0RU-0003 | $4,975 |
| Rivet-style bracelet | M7939A1A0RU-0002 | $5,225 |
| Five-link bracelet | M7939A1A0RU-0001 | $5,350 |
Used, these have been trading between about $3,900 and $4,500. That range moves depending on the strap and what comes in the box.
This one comes with the inner box, the outer box, the warranty card, and the papers. The only thing missing is the hang tag.
The rubber strap and T-fit clasp
The strap is where I’m a little let down. The rubber itself just seems so thin, and it feels cheaper than the rest of the watch. Next to something like Rolex’s Oysterflex, it feels tiny. You kind of look at it and think, wait, what did I just pay for?
The clasp, on the other hand, is great. Tudor’s T-fit clasp has nothing to complain about, and you can adjust the fit without any tools. The strap is comfortable. I just think this watch would have a lot more presence on the five-link bracelet. On the rubber, it’s easy to overlook.
The crown and how it wears
Same as the Tudor Ranger I reviewed, this one has a screw-down crown. I’m not a screw-down crown guy. But this is a dive watch rated to 200 meters, so I get why it’s there. It winds cleanly, it’s easy to set the time, and it catches easily when you screw it back down.
Tudor also redesigned the crown on this generation, so it sits closer to the case than it did on the older Black Bay 58.
On a 7.25 inch wrist
At 39mm across, 11.7mm thick, and about 47mm lug to lug, it fits exactly the way I’d expect a 39mm watch to fit on my 7.25 inch wrist. It’s comfortable.
Even at 39mm, Tudors just feel small to me. Off the wrist, it’s underwhelming. On the wrist, it’s better. You really have to like this look and feel for this to be the one you pick. Day to day, the one thing you’ll notice is the polished sides picking up smudges.
The MT5400-U movement
The movement inside is Tudor’s own caliber MT5400-U. It has about 65 hours of power reserve and beats 8 times a second.
It’s certified as a Master Chronometer by METAS. That means the whole watch gets tested. It’s certified to run between 0 and +5 seconds a day and to handle magnetic fields up to 15,000 gauss. That’s the same certification Omega uses on the Speedmaster Moonphase I reviewed.
The Tudor Ranger has the older MT5402 with 70 hours. So the Black Bay 58 Burgundy has five fewer hours of power reserve, but it carries the tougher certification.
How it compares
If I had to put a rival next to it, I’d look at the Breitling Superocean Heritage and the Omega Aqua Terra.
Next to the Breitling, I think the Tudor is the cleaner look, and it’s smaller. Breitling doesn’t make a 39mm Superocean. The closest is the 40mm Superocean Heritage.
This feels closer to an Aqua Terra to me, because it just feels like a smaller watch, and Omega makes the Aqua Terra in 38mm. I’d probably take the Aqua Terra over this one. Both Breitling and Omega also give you a lot more color options.
Verdict and 5D Score
Does the Tudor Black Bay 58 Burgundy stand out? Off the wrist, not really. On the wrist, yes, it does. If I could change one thing, I’d make the sides of the case satin instead of polished. And I’d put it on the five-link bracelet over the rubber strap.
Aesthetics & Heritage — 25/50
- Styling: 6
- Movement & Craftsmanship: 7
- Cool Factor: 4
- Legacy: 4
- Value & Collectibility: 4
Wearability & Utility — 32/50
- Comfort: 8
- Usability & Tactility: 7
- Features & Complications: 4
- Build Quality: 7
- Versatility: 6
Total: 57/100
That puts it right behind the Panerai PAM00112 and just ahead of the Breitling Superocean 44 on the 5D leaderboard.
Who should buy it: if you like the look and feel of Tudor, this is everything you’d expect. It looks good, it’s well built, it’s going to run well, and it’s going to last.
Who should pass: if you want a watch with real presence, even off the wrist, I’d look at the Aqua Terra first.
Get first look at watches like this one
This exact watch is going into a no reserve auction, so you’ll be able to see exactly where it lands. If you want to get notified when I go live on these no reserve auctions, join the 5D Insider list. You’ll also get better pricing, first look at new inventory, a heads up any time a watch goes live, and watch news with a weekly update.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the Tudor Black Bay 58 Burgundy?
MSRP is $4,975 on Tudor’s website on the rubber strap, $5,225 on the rivet-style bracelet, and $5,350 on the five-link bracelet. Used, they have been trading between about $3,900 and $4,500, depending on the strap and what comes in the box.
What movement is in the Black Bay 58 Burgundy?
It uses Tudor’s MT5400-U automatic movement. It’s a METAS certified Master Chronometer with about 65 hours of power reserve, and it’s certified to handle magnetic fields up to 15,000 gauss.
Is the bezel on the Black Bay 58 Burgundy ceramic?
No. The bezel insert is anodized aluminum in burgundy, according to Tudor’s website.
How big is the Tudor Black Bay 58 Burgundy?
The case is 39mm across, 11.7mm thick, and about 47mm lug to lug, with 20mm lugs. On a 7.25 inch wrist, it fits exactly the way you’d expect a 39mm watch to fit.
Is the Black Bay 58 Burgundy a dive watch?
Yes. It has a one-way rotating bezel, a screw-down crown, and 200 meters of water resistance.
What inspired the burgundy color?
Tudor says the burgundy dial and bezel take their cues from a 1990s prototype Tudor Submariner, reference 79190, which never went into production.
What does the 5D Score rate it?
It scores 25 out of 50 for Aesthetics and Heritage and 32 out of 50 for Wearability and Utility, for a total of 57 out of 100.
