Tudor Heritage Black Bay 79220R

The Tudor Heritage Black Bay Ref. 79220R holds a particularly important place in the brand's modern history as the original Black Bay that launched the collection in 2012. Drawing inspiration from Tudor's historic Submariner dive watches of the 1950s and 1960s, the 79220R features a 41mm stainless steel case with polished bevels, brushed surfaces, and an oversized screw-down crown bearing the vintage Tudor rose emblem. Its defining feature is the rich burgundy-red aluminum diving bezel, paired with a matte black dial featuring gilt accents, vintage-toned luminous hour markers, and Tudor's unmistakable Snowflake hands. The dial also carries the original Tudor rose logo at 12 o'clock and the curved “Self-Winding” text at 6 o'clock, affectionately nicknamed the “Smiley” dial by collectors. A domed sapphire crystal, unidirectional 60-minute diving bezel, and 200 meters of water resistance reinforce the watch's genuine diving heritage. The combination of its warm gilt details, burgundy bezel, and classic no-date dial gives the original Black Bay a distinctly vintage character that separates it from later generations.

Inside is the Tudor-modified ETA 2824-2 automatic movement, a proven Swiss caliber featuring 25 jewels, a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour, and approximately 38 hours of power reserve. Produced from 2012 until 2016, the original 79220R belongs to the highly regarded ETA-powered generation, before Tudor transitioned the Black Bay collection to its manufacture movements. This earlier construction also allowed for a slightly slimmer case profile than the first manufacture-powered successors. The 79220R is especially significant because it helped establish Tudor's modern identity, combining the brand's historic dive-watch design language with contemporary build quality and reliability. The original Black Bay went on to receive the Revival Prize at the 2013 Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève, further cementing its importance in Tudor's resurgence. With its discontinued rose-logo dial, distinctive curved “Smiley” text, burgundy bezel, and reliable ETA movement, the 79220R remains one of the most recognizable and collectible references from the early years of the modern Black Bay collection.

Reference: 79220R

Bracelet: Stainless Steel Bracelet

Case: 41mm - Stainless Steel

Lug Width: 22mm

Movement: ETA 2824 - Automatic

Functions: Hours, Minutes, Dive Bezel

Box and Papers: Inner/outer boxes(Incorrect newer box) and warranty card

Crystal: Sapphire

Bracelet size: 7.5”

Case has little to no wear. Bracelet has minimal wear. Dial, hands, and crystal have no wear.