Tudor Black Bay Fifty-Eight Ref. 79030N - 'HODINKEE Friends & Family' Full Set - LNOS

Our roots and indeed our passion for watches are firmly planted in the world of vintage — of course. And while there are modern collections that capture that vintage soul and aesthetic, there are few as well executed as Tudor's Black Bay family.

Introduced in 2012 along with the Pelagos line, the Black Bay aimed to tribute divers from both Tudor and Rolex from the late 1950s-1960s, and to say that it was an immediate success would be a drastic understatement. What began as a simple black-dial, stainless steel model has since evolved into a more adventurous lineup, now offered in a wide variety of sizes, dial colors, and even materials like bronze, solid gold, and sterling silver. It has no doubt become Tudors most known family of watches, particularly the 39mm 'Fifty-Eight.' Released a few years after the original 'Heritage' Black Bay, the 'BB58' drew nearly everything from the original Black Bays 41mm size, are repackaged it in a more sleek, remarkably wearable size and with an updated movement.

The example that we have here, a Ref. 79030N, is probably exactly what comes to mind when you hear "Black Bay." However, look a little closer and you'll note the additional white text on the dial that reads: "HODINKEE"

In 2019, HODINKEE distributed 100 of very special Black Bay Fifty-Eights exclusively to 'Friends & Family' of the leading watch publication. This is one of those watches. Like any other steel BB58, it features a 39mm case with beautiful lug chamfers, a Tudor 'rose' signed screw-down crown with no crown guards in sight, a METAS-certified automatic-winding movement, a beautiful satin black 'gilt'-like dial with applied luminous plots and a 'Snowflake' handset, and a 'rivet'-style Oyster bracelet with a fliplock clasp.

Complete with its boxes, booklets, and warranty card, this is perhaps the grail and most sought-after of all Black Bays, and they very rarely surface on the open market.