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Tudor Heritage Black Bay 41mm Stainless Steel
Ref. M79230R-0003
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Stepping up in the same colour and case shape
The Black Bay's bones go back to Tudor's diving watches of the 1950s, and the current generation wears that history without disguising it — the domed dial, the angular snowflake hands, the oversized crown all trace directly to those references. The MT5602 inside is Tudor's own work: a manufacture movement with a 70-hour power reserve, meaning a watch left on the nightstand Friday evening is still running Monday morning. At 41mm it sits comfortably on a wider range of wrists than the larger 43mm siblings, and the black dial reads cleanly at a glance in any light, the Super-LumiNova charge holding well into the dark. On leather rather than the steel bracelet, it sits lower and quieter on the wrist — closer to a field watch in feel than a dive tool, which suits the way most owners will actually use it.
- Reference
- M79230R-0003
- Brand
- Tudor
- Collection
- Black Bay
- Case size
- 41mm
- Case material
- Stainless steel
- Case shape
- Round
- Dial
- Black
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Movement
- Automatic
- Calibre
- MT5602
- Water resistance
- 200m
- Bracelet / strap
- Leather strap
- Strap colour
- Black
- Clasp
- Deployant clasp
- Lume
- Super-LumiNova
- Condition
- Pre-owned
- Retailer
- Mappin & Webb
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), Leather Strap Watches (834), Sports Watches (675), Dive Watches (469) and Pre-Owned, Ex-Display & Vintage Watches (235).
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
- Luminous hands and markers for low light
- Sits in the lower half of Tudor's range as we list it
Worth knowing
- Leather does not suit regular contact with water
Compare alternatives
Watches from other brands at a similar price, style and size, so you can see what else your budget can buy.
| Specification | M79230R-0003 | BR03A-GB-ST/SCA | WBP2150.FT6210 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £2,450 | £2,650 | £3,360 |
| Case size | 41mm | 41mm | 40mm |
| Water resistance | 200m | 100m | 200m |
| Movement | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic |
| Strap | Leather strap | Leather strap | Rubber strap |
| Power reserve | — | 54 hours | 38 hours |
| This watch |
|
|
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.
Is it a men's or women's watch?
Listed as men's.
Cheapest place to buy
Mappin & Webb at £2,450, 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 £2,450 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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