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Tudor Black Bay GMT 41mm Stainless Steel
Ref. 79830RB
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Stepping up in the same colour and case shape
The Black Bay GMT grew out of Tudor's heritage diver lineage but answers a different question: what does a travel watch look like if it is built from the ground up rather than adapted from something else? The MT5652 has GMT architecture integrated natively into the movement, not stacked on top of it, and it carries COSC chronometer certification alongside a silicon balance spring that needs no magnetic shielding to stay accurate. The power reserve of 70 hours means a long weekend away does not require winding on return. On the wrist the watch reads unmistakably as a Black Bay — the snowflake hands, the domed markers, the slab-sided case — but the bidirectional bezel tells the fuller story, its burgundy and blue aluminium insert giving the classic Pepsi arrangement a slightly muted, matte character that photographs less dramatically than it wears. At 41mm the case sits with authority without overwhelming a mid-sized wrist, though 14.6mm of thickness means it will not disappear beneath a close-cut shirt cuff. The riveted bracelet on this reference is a detail that rewards closer attention: the styling references early Tudor sports bracelets without being a copy of one, and the clasp carries micro-adjustment holes that allow fit to be dialled in without removing links — useful when a wrist changes slightly between morning and evening on a long flight, which is precisely the kind of travel this watch was made for.
- Reference
- 79830RB
- Brand
- Tudor
- Collection
- Black Bay
- Case size
- 41mm
- Case thickness
- 14.6mm
- Lug width
- 22mm
- Case material
- Stainless steel
- Case shape
- Round
- Dial
- Black
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Bezel
- Bidirectional rotating
- Movement
- Automatic
- Calibre
- MT5652
- Functions
- GMT, Date
- Water resistance
- 200m
- Bracelet / strap
- Stainless steel bracelet
- Strap colour
- Brown
- Clasp
- Folding clasp
- Lume
- Super-LumiNova
- Condition
- Pre-owned
- Retailer
- Mappin & Webb
Additional specifications
- Lug-to-lug
- 50mm
- Power reserve
- 70 hours
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 6 collections
This watch appears in Stainless Steel Watches (2,616), Automatic Watches (1,362), Sports Watches (675), Dive Watches (469), Pre-Owned, Ex-Display & Vintage Watches (235) and GMT Watches (178).
What the specifications mean
A mechanical watch built to be worn hard and got wet.
Strengths
- 200m water resistance, rated for actual diving
- Sapphire crystal, which resists scratching
- 70-hour reserve survives a weekend off the wrist
- Luminous hands and markers for low light
- Second time zone for travelling
Worth knowing
- 14.6mm thick, so it will not disappear under a cuff
Compare alternatives
Watches from other brands at a similar price, style and size, so you can see what else your budget can buy.
| Specification | 79830RB | WBP2150.FT6210 | BR03A-GB-ST/SCA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £3,050 | £3,360 | £2,650 |
| Case size | 41mm | 40mm | 41mm |
| Water resistance | 200m | 200m | 100m |
| Movement | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic |
| Strap | Stainless steel bracelet | Rubber strap | Leather strap |
| Power reserve | 70 hours | 38 hours | 54 hours |
| This watch | Closely matched |
|
Your new watch
Frequently asked questions, and things you should know about this watch
Can I swim with it?
Yes. At 200m it is rated for swimming, snorkelling and recreational diving.
Will the glass scratch?
Unlikely. Sapphire is second only to diamond in hardness and shrugs off everyday marking.
Does it need a battery?
No. It is automatic — the motion of your wrist winds it, and there is no cell to replace.
How 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.
Will it fit my wrist?
Lug-to-lug is 50mm, which suits wrists from roughly 16.5cm (6½ inches) upward.
Lug-to-lug decides fit more than case diameter does.
Is it a men's or women's watch?
Listed as men's.
Cheapest place to buy
Mappin & Webb at £3,050, pre-owned. No UK retailer we track lists this reference new.
Is this available new?
Not from the UK retailers we track. This reference is listed as pre-owned only, at £3,050 from Mappin & Webb. A pre-owned watch has been worn, and is normally sold under the retailer’s own warranty rather than the manufacturer’s.
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