The History
Tudor was established by Rolex founder Hans Wilsdorf in 1926 as a more accessible alternative to Rolex — same Swiss quality standards, lower price point. The brand's dive watch lineage dates to 1954 with the Oyster Prince Submariner, and Tudor watches were issued to the French Navy, the US Navy, and various marine research institutions through the 1960s and 70s. That real working history distinguishes Tudor from any number of brands claiming maritime heritage they never actually had.
The Black Bay 58 launched in 2018 as a tribute to Tudor's 1958 reference 7924 — the brand's first dive watch rated to 200m, known among collectors as the "Big Crown." The BB58 took the proportions of that original (39mm, prominent crown, domed crystal, gilt accents) and paired them with a modern in-house movement and current finishing standards. It immediately became the brand's bestselling reference and one of the most critically praised sport watches of the decade. The version you're looking at here — M79030N on the steel bracelet — is the canonical Black Bay 58, the one every serious watch buyer considers before spending three times as much on a Submariner.
Why Buyers Want It
The BB58 sits at an intersection that almost no other watch occupies. The movement — Tudor's in-house MT5402 — is COSC-certified, beats at 28,800 vph, offers a 70-hour power reserve, and runs a silicon hairspring that makes it antimagnetic and removes a significant long-term maintenance concern. At under $4,000 pre-owned, there is nothing that competes on movement quality at this price point.
The 39mm case is the other major selling point. The Submariner grew to 41mm in 2020, which is too large for a meaningful portion of wrists. The BB58's 39mm diameter and 11.9mm thickness sit right in the sweet spot for wear comfort and proportion. Buyers who tried on a current Sub and found it too big come to the BB58 and never look back.
Pre-owned BB58 values have held up exceptionally well given Tudor's production volume. The watch retails at $3,800. Pre-owned examples with full kit trade at $3,000–$3,400, a modest discount that reflects genuine value rather than distressed resale. If you hold for two or three years and the market stays rational, you'll lose very little on a clean exit.
