Brand
Tudor Black Bay 36 Ref. 79500
First launched in 2016 on the heels of the first Tudor Heritage Black Bay Bronze, the Black Bay 36 represented a significant shift for the already astoundingly popular Black Bay line. No longer would Black Bay watches just be an interesting series of dive watches alone, but rather an expansive collection of vintage-inspired pieces, the design language curated and consistent, and the watches each highly appealing in their own right.
For many fans of Tudor and otherwise, the Black Bay 36, with its namesake 36mm steel case, vintage diver inspired dial, and relatively accessible price point, quickly became an attractive offering within the brand’s catalog. Launched just before the original Black Bay Fifty-Eight and its highly regarded 39mm sizing, the Black Bay 36 also represented the first offering within the larger collection to directly cater to those looking for a smaller watch that featured the growingly popular design.
This example of the Tudor Black Bay 36 shares each of these traits, its 36mm steel case carrying on the interesting lineage of the collection. The case itself is a downsized version of the classic Black Bay style, with its oyster-style inspiration, blocky construction, and relatively large crown with its signature inner ring. As a time-only offering, the watch eschews an outer rotating dive bezel, the 150m water resistant watch focused more as a more formal-focused wearer as compared to its sportier older brother.
On the dial, the Tudor Black Bay 36 features the signature of the collection, complete with its unique set of indices, “Smiley” script towards the 6 o’clock position, and snowflake hands set sweeping over it all. A Tudor-modified ETA caliber 2824 powers these hands, the automatic movement containing 25 jewels, beating at a frequency of 28,800 vph, and maintaining an approximate 38-hour power reserve.
This particular Black Bay 36 is in overall excellent pre-owned condition, meaning there are very light signs of wear and some small scratches on the case and bracelet that come with being lived with. The case is crisp with strong lines and has been professionally refinished. The dial and bezel are stunning. The bracelet is tight with little stretch between the links. There are a few very faint scratches on the caseback and rear of the lugs. The rear of the case is marked with the serial number as well as the reference number. During our quality control check, any necessary adjustments are made to ensure the watch is functioning as intended.
Hans Wilsdorf, the mastermind behind the Rolex brand, founded Tudor in 1946 with the mission to create watches with the same Rolex quality at a more attainable price. Throughout the remainder of the 20th century, Tudor worked to carve its own place in the industry, independent from its parent brand. In that time, Tudor built a reputation among military forces and began establishing some of its own signature design elements. In the new millenium, Tudor further exerted its position as one of the most prominent watch brands in the world with the debut of its first in-house movement in 2015. Since then, Tudor has remained a force to be reckoned with in the watch community and our culture.
