Introducing: The Black Bay 58 GMT

The 58 has been cleared for travel.

Big news for the most patient of Tudor's fanbase today as the brand has announced a GMT version of its beloved Black Bay 58. It's 39mm wide, comes in a single black/burgundy spec, and while this new GMT trades a dive bezel for one showing 24 hours, we still get dive-ready water resistance – and the whole package is thinner than you might expect. The question remains: is this the Black Bay GMT we've all been waiting for? 

Let's keep the pace here as I'll be following up with a Hands-On story ASAP, but the new BB 58 GMT measures 39mm wide, 12.8mm thick, and 47.8mm lug-to-lug – making it almost identical in size to a standard Black Bay 58. Water resistance is 200 meters, the crown screws down, and you can choose your pick of either a three-link steel bracelet or a fitted rubber strap. Thankfully, both options include Tudor's T-Fit tool-less bracelet extension. 

Currently available only in the colorway shown here, the new Black Bay 58 GMT has a red/black (Tudor calls it Burgundy) bezel insert with gilt-effect numerals that are matched by gilt accents for the dial furniture and the hands. It's a gold-coke vibe with a matte black dial. I think it looks great and connects nicely with the original spec of the 58, which had a black dial and gilt accents.  

Safely nestled in the now smaller case, we find Tudor's METAS-certified Master Chronometer MT 5450-U, an automatic COSC-certified 4 Hz movement that offers a local jumping "flyer" GMT complication that follows the function set of the original 41mm BB GMT. The power reserve is 65 hours, and the movement is rated to keep time to within -2/+4 seconds a day and magnetic resistance to 15,000 gauss. 

Available shortly from your most local Tudor dealer, the new Black Bay 58 GMT will retail for CHF 4,100 on the rubber strap or CHF 4,300 on the steel bracelet. 

I mean. Come on, folks, it's a watch we've been dreaming about since the Black Bay 58 was first released, and in terms of proportions, it looks like an absolute home run. 39 x 12.8 x 47.8 means it should wear a whole lot like the standard 58 (a watch beloved for its sizing), not to mention the proportional similarity to a certain 5-digit relative from the Rolex family. 

While I'm going to save some speculation, given the intent for a Hands-On later today, I can't imagine a more sensible and direct line extension from Tudor. And that goes for the Black Bay, the 58, and certainly the brand's recent GMT prowess. The BB GMT is a simply excellent watch, but the mere existence of the 58 has left something of a void for us GMT nerds – and now we have it. 

Ultimately, if the only thing that you can complain about is the coloring of a watch, we're all doing ok. And while I'm not generally one for gilt accents, the red helps to balance the coloring a bit, and I'm certainly pumped to see how it looks and feels on my wrist. 

You know the drill, stay tuned for more. Wishing your credit cards all the best. 

Brand: TudorModel: Black Bay 58 GMT Reference Number: 7939G1A0NRU

Diameter: 39mmThickness: 12.8mmLug-to-lug: 47.8mmLug width: 20mmCase Material: SteelDial Color: BlackIndexes: Applied, gilt, luminousLume: Hands and markersWater Resistance: 200 metersStrap/Bracelet: Steel bracelet or black rubber, both with T-Fit clasp extension (both are 20mm wide at the case)

Caliber: Tudor MT5450-U Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date, 24 hour handDiameter: 30.3mmPower Reserve: 65 hours Winding: AutomaticFrequency: 28,800 VPJJewels: 34Chronometer Certified: Yes, via both COSC and METAS - Master Chronometer

Price: CHF 4,100 (rubber) | CHF 4,300 (steel)Availability: April 2024