Introducing: The Tudor Black Bay Fifty-Eight 925, With A Silver Case & Sapphire Caseback

Quick Take The Tudor Black Bay Fifty-Eight 925 is Tudor's first-ever dive watch with a silver case (and one of two new precious metal Black Bay Fifty-Eight watches released today). It pairs that case with a warm taupe dial and bezel, which give the watch a look that is slightly softer overall than your usual steel-and-black diver. This isn't a watch that hits you over the head with how awesome and technical it is – rather, it whispers about how sophisticated and smart it is. The silver alloy case has the same general profile as that of earlier BB58 models (including the OG and last year's Navy Blue ), though it's a hair thicker at 12.7mm, versus 11.9mm. This is for good reason, though: This Black Bay Fifty-Eight 925 has a sapphire display back, letting you see the MT5400 manufacture movement inside. This isn't something we're used to seeing from Tudor (or its sibling, Rolex), but I think it's a fun idea for a watch like this. The BB58 925 is clearly not meant to be a tool watch in a literal sense, so opening things up and letting enthusiasts appreciate the caliber is smart. That movement, by the way, is technically the same as the caliber MT5402 that's in the closed-back BB58 models, but it has a slightly larger baseplate so that it properly fills the sapphire window. The Black Bay Fifty-Eight 925 is available on one of two straps – leather or fabric with a silver buckle – and is priced at $4,300. This means you're paying a $925 premium for the silver case and display back over a standard steel BB58 on strap or bracelet (and a $600 premium over one of those on a bracelet). On the other hand, that new gold BB58 will set you back a cool $16,800, making this silver model look like a serious bargain by comparison. Initial Thoughts I absolutely love this watch. Okay, love might be a strong word for something that I've seen on a computer screen for about 12 minutes, but I'm pretty damn excited about it. First off, sterling silver is a fantastic material for a watch case. All the "it's too soft" naysayers out there should check out how great it looks and feels on the wrist, not to mention the soft, warm patina that a silver case earns after years of wear. Also, this is a proprietary Tudor alloy, and I'm sure it will wear plenty tough for the desk-divers out there. (FYI, Tudor says that their silver alloy won't show the usual signs of aging, and that it's maximized for "luminance," so I'll be very curious to see what these look like in-the-metal today vs. 10 years down the road.) Pairing the case with the taupe dial and bezel will only amplify the silver's uniqueness. I also like that you get a hint of that vintage tropical effect without it veering into self-parody territory. From what I can see in the provided press pictures, the particular shade of taupe manages to feel both old-school and contemporary at the same time, which is a really smart move. Both vintage enthusiasts and people looking for a sleeker dive watch will get onboard. Now if only there were a sterling silver bracelet to complete the package... The Basics Brand: Tudor Model: Black Bay Fifty-Eight 925 Reference Number: 79010SG Diameter: 39mm Thickness: 12.7mm Case Material: 925 Silver (proprietary Tudor alloy) Dial Color: Taupe Indexes: Applied Lume: Yes, on hands and hour markers Water Resistance: 200 meters (660 ft) Strap/Bracelet: Brown grain leather strap or taupe and silver fabric strap with silver buckle The Movement Caliber: MT5400 Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds Diameter: 30.3mm Thickness: 5mm Power Reserve: 70 hours Winding: Automatic Frequency: 4 Hz (28,800 vph) Jewels: 27 COSC Chronometer Certified Pricing & Availability Price: $4,300 Availability: From today at Tudor retailers worldwide Limited Edition: No For more, click here.You had me at "Taupe Black Bay."