Tap the image to enlarge
Tudor Black Bay One 41mm Stainless Steel and Yellow Gold M79683-0001
Ref. 79683
See more premium optionsHide
Stepping up in Tudor's range
The Black Bay One belongs to a line Tudor relaunched in 2022, drawing its proportions and temperament from the brand's 1950s dive watches. The 79683 takes that foundation and adds an 18ct yellow gold fixed bezel against polished and satin-finished steel — a combination that reads less as decoration than as a deliberate nod to the dresser two-tone pieces that ran alongside the tool watches of that era. The snowflake hour hand, a Tudor signature from the 1960s and 70s, anchors the black dial in something genuinely historical rather than retro for its own sake. The movement inside is the MT5601, developed by Kenissi and certified by COSC, with a silicon balance spring and 70 hours of power reserve. It is Tudor's own calibre in the fullest sense — designed and built within the group — and it shows in the architecture: robust, non-magnetic, and accurate beyond what a chronometer certificate strictly requires. The bracelet carries the two-tone logic through, with solid yellow gold elements paired with gold-capped steel links, and the T-fit clasp allows tool-free sizing adjustments at the push of a button — useful on a watch that will credibly go from a desk to a swim without a strap change.
- Reference
- 79683
- Brand
- Tudor
- Collection
- Black Bay
- Case size
- 41mm
- Case thickness
- 12.2mm
- Lug width
- 22mm
- Case material
- Two-tone
- Case shape
- Round
- Dial
- Black
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Bezel
- Fixed
- Movement
- Automatic
- Calibre
- MT5601
- Water resistance
- 100m
- Bracelet / strap
- Stainless steel bracelet
- Strap colour
- Two-tone
- Clasp
- Folding clasp
- Lume
- Luminous
- Condition
- Pre-owned
- Retailer
- Mappin & Webb
Additional specifications
- Power reserve
- 70 hours
- Gem set
- Yes
Learn more about Tudor
Tudor exists because Hans Wilsdorf wanted to sell a Rolex to people who could not afford one. He registered the name in 1926 and relaunched it properly in 1946 as a separate company: Rolex cases, Rolex bracelets, Rolex crowns, but bought-in movements — usually ETA — at a fraction of the price.
For decades this made Tudor the practical choice for organisations buying in bulk. The French Marine Nationale issued Submariners to its divers. The US Navy tested them. Tudor's military history is arguably richer than Rolex's, because navies bought Tudors.
The watches developed their own identity regardless. The snowflake hands fitted to Submariners from 1969, specified by the French navy for legibility, became a signature the brand still uses. The Monte Carlo chronographs of the early 1970s, with their orange and blue dials, look nothing like anything Rolex made.
The brand withdrew from the US market in 1996 and spent a decade in relative obscurity before returning in 2013 with the Heritage Black Bay, which mined the archive rather than chasing modernity. It worked. Tudor now develops its own movements through a partnership with Kenissi, supplies calibres to Breitling, and holds METAS Master Chronometer certification — a technical position it never had when it was simply the affordable Rolex.
- 1926
- Hans Wilsdorf registers the Tudor name.
- 1946
- Montres Tudor SA is established as a separate company.
- 1969
- Snowflake hands appear on Submariners for the French navy.
- 2012
- The Black Bay revives the brand internationally.
- 2015
- The first in-house Tudor calibre is released.
Also in 4 collections
This watch appears in the Tudor Black Bay range (25), Automatic Watches (1,479), Two-Tone Watches (367) and Pre-Owned, Ex-Display & Vintage Watches (257).
2-year Goldsmiths warranty
Best of 2 retailers
What the specifications mean
A mechanical watch for everyday wear.
Strengths
- 100m water resistance covers swimming and watersports
- Sapphire crystal, which resists scratching
- 70-hour reserve survives a weekend off the wrist
- Luminous hands and markers for low light
Tudor Black Bay One alternatives
Watches from other brands at a similar price, style and size, so you can see what else your budget can buy.
| Specification | 79683 | A25310241K1X1 | BR0394 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £3,450 | £3,450 | £3,660 |
| Case size | 41mm | 42mm | 42mm |
| Water resistance | 100m | 100m | 100m |
| Movement | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic |
| Strap | Stainless steel bracelet | Leather strap | Rubber strap |
| Power reserve | 70 hours | 42 hours | — |
| This watch | Closely matched | Closely matched |
Your new watch
Frequently asked questions, and things you should know about this watch
Can I swim with it?
Yes. At 100m it is rated for swimming and snorkelling, though not for diving.
Water resistance explainedWill the glass scratch?
Unlikely. Sapphire is second only to diamond in hardness and shrugs off everyday marking.
Sapphire, mineral and acrylic comparedDoes it need a battery?
No. It is automatic — the motion of your wrist winds it, and there is no cell to replace.
Quartz, automatic and solar comparedHow long does it run for when it's not worn?
About 70 hours fully wound — enough to sit off the wrist over a weekend and still be running.
What size strap does it take?
22mm. Any strap of that width will fit, and on most modern watches quick-release bars make the swap a two-minute job with no tools.
Is it a men's or women's watch?
Listed as men's.
Cheapest place to buy
Both Goldsmiths and Mappin & Webb list it at £3,450, so choose on delivery and warranty rather than price.
More Tudor watches like the Black Bay One
In stock, and close on style and price
