Sameera Gamage 
TUDOR takes the Black Bay 54 from vintage diver to vacation-ready with a fresh splash of lagoon blue!
The Tudor Black Bay 54 is arguably the most faithful dive watch tribute from the Swiss watchmaker, a compact timepiece that draws inspiration from the brand’s first-ever dive watch, released in 1954: the Reference 7922. The ref. 7922 laid the foundation for TUDOR’s reputation in creating reliable and effective underwater tool watches. With its clean dial, oversized crown, and 100m water resistance, the reference 7922 offered professional-grade reliability with a no-nonsense design.
This is the same blueprint that has been carried over to the modern reinterpretations of the reference 7922. Named the Black Bay 54 collection in reference to the year 1954, the timepieces offer the classic dive watch design that many of us love, from the clean rotatable bezel, snowflake hands, to the mix of circular and rectangular hour indices. These are all elements that have been carried over from the reference 7922 design, all except the hour hand, which over the years transitioned from the cathedral hand design of the original to the now signature snowflake design, which takes reference from the brand’s 1969 catalogue.
While TUDOR has presented us with many different versions of the Black Bay 54, this is the first time the brand is presenting it in such a vivid colour. Taking inspiration from the more recent Black Bay Chronograph models that featured stunning dials in rich colours such as pink and flamingo blue, it makes sense to continue this popular trend onto the brand’s other collections.
This latest edition to hit our shores is the “Lagoon Blue” delivered straight from paradise, as they say! TUDOR created this beautiful Lagoon Blue Black Bay 54 so that when you look at it on your wrist, your mind takes you to somewhere warm, where the sun shines onto waves of azure water and white sand beaches. With a perfectly proportioned case and that beautifully sand-textured dial, the timepiece captures the essence of a beachside escape.
Case Design
This Black Bay 54 Lagoon Blue edition retains the perfectly proportioned 37mm case, which is comfortable and extremely wearable, especially for those who have smaller wrist sizes. The case still features the no-crown guard design, which gives it a vintage-inspired aesthetic, while the various polished and satin-brushed finishes of the case give just the right amount of modern refinement. Unlike the current Black Bay 54 models in TUDOR’s catalogue, which feature an aluminum insert, this Lagoon Blue edition features a steel insert that matches the case nicely, while also being finished in a mirror polish to reflect all those sun-soaked surroundings!
While the case design of the Black Bay 54 Lagoon Blue remains unchanged, what it does bring is TUDOR’s 5-link bracelet to the Black Bay 54 collection for the first time! The Black Bay 54 is now fitted with an entirely satin-brushed 5-link steel bracelet, which comes complete with the TUDOR “T-fit” clasp, which gives the wearer the option of micro-adjustment (up to 8mm in five positions) on the bracelet. While the 3-link bracelet offers the more traditional look, this 5-link bracelet has always been my favourite, as it offers much better wearability (more links = more pivot points which means it’ll contour to the wrist a lot better) and the variation between satin-brushed and polished links gives the bracelet and timepiece a much more luxurious aesthetic!
Dial Design
The sand-textured dial in the striking shade of Lagoon Blue is a colour that instantly evokes clear tropical waters, open skies, and the relaxing, easy living of coastal life. This timepiece certainly livens up the Black Bay 54 collection, bringing a much more playful and relaxing feel to the lineup. Unlike the Black Bay Chronograph models I mentioned earlier with the eye-catching dials in pink and blue, what makes the Black Bay 54 stand out is the textured finish, making it not be just about the colour, but rather about depth, warmth, and making the watch feel alive on the wrist!
Movement
Powering the TUDOR Black Bay 54 Lagoon Blue is the brand’s Manufacture Calibre MT5400, a movement that has been built with everyday reliability in mind. This is a COSC-certified engine that has been designed to keep ticking away through those days in paradise, long-haul travels, and everything in between. The silicone balance spring adds greater resistance to magnetism in the movement, which means accuracy won’t be sacrificed through everyday magnetic fields. With a movement frequency of 4Hz (28,800 VpH), a high level of accuracy is ensured, while the 70-hour power reserve makes this timepiece perfect for daily wear!
Initial Thoughts
Personally, I love this new Lagoon Blue timepiece; it brings fresh new energy to the Black Bay 54 collection without going away from the line’s tool-watch roots. The colour is certainly easy on the eye, and works very well aesthetically with the white Superlumi-Nova indices and hands, along with the stainless steel case and bezel.
Where this timepiece becomes even more appealing is the 5-link bracelet. The newest addition to the Black Bay 54 collection (and much-awaited), this bracelet not only brings better comfort and wearability, but the aesthetics of the bracelet immediately make the timepiece a much more luxurious offering. Whether you’re already a fan of the collection or discovering it for the first time, this new release might just be the most fun one yet.
Specification: TUDOR Black Bay 54 Lagoon Blue (M79000-0001)
- Dimensions: 37mm x 11.2mm thick
- Case Material: Stainless steel with polished and satin-brushed finishes
- Dial: Sand-textured Lagoon Blue dial
- Water Resistance: 200m (20 Bar)
- Movement: Manufacture Calibre MT5400 (COSC)
- Movement Power reserve: 70 hours operating at 4Hz (28,800 VpH)
- Crystal: Domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating
- Bracelet/Strap: Five-link stainless steel bracelet with polished and satin finish, with TUDOR “T-fit” clasp
