As a brand, Tudor needs no introduction. 

Although for years the company had labored under Rolex’s shadow, since its relaunch in the U.S. roughly a decade ago, it has attained an identity all its own. Part of the appeal lies in watches like this one, the Black Bay, which bridges the gap between vintage and contemporary in a way that’s hard to argue with — even for purists like us.

The Black Bay is, along with the Pelagos, the brand’s take on classic Rolex and Tudor dive watches. In creating it, Tudor started at the very beginning of Tudor and Rolex dive watch history: It incorporates the “big crown” of the first reference of Tudor Sub, the Reference 7922, which had an 8mm crown like its Rolex counterpart. For the hands, the Black Bay makes use of the same handset as the most famous of vintage Tudor Subs, the Reference 7021 “Snowflake.”

This particular piece, a Black Bay S&G, features a 41mm two-tone construction with a sapphire crystal, a signed crown, a unidirectional rotating dive timing bezel with a crisp black insert, a lovely luminous sunburst gold dial with a matching 'Snowflake' handset, and a Tudor signed distressed brown leather strap with a matching signed steel deployant clasp.

This piece is works very well in two-tone. It is 'elevated,' yet doesn't shout about it.

We think that is pretty cool.