Tudor Predictions 2026: Black Bay 58 Expansion

The Black Bay 58 has been one of Tudor's most important watches since it launched in 2018. The design pulls from and Tudor's vintage Submariner history, specifically the ‘Big Crown’ references of the late '50s. At 39mm, it occupies a sizing sweet spot that fits a wide variety of wrists. It's a wearable dive watch with a classic design from a historic brand at a competitive price point (just under $5,000 in steel). It’s a cornerstone of Tudor's modern catalog, defined by the vintage-inspired Black Bay line and decidedly modern Pelagos line.

Tudor Black Bay 58. Image Source: Analog:Shift

In 2025, Tudor updated the beloved BB58. The new-generation brought METAS Master Chronometer certification, a slimmer profile, updated bezel knurling, a new crown, revised dial proportions, and the five-link bracelet as an option — along with the T-fit clasp that collectors had been asking for. It's a meaningful upgrade across the board. But it launched in just one color: burgundy red.

Why Burgundy Came First

2025 Tudor Black Bay 58 Master Chronometer

The burgundy colorway is a direct homage to a prototype Tudor Submariner 79190 from the '90s that never made it to production — a matte burgundy bezel paired with a bright red sunburst dial. It's a very cool watch, and I love seeing Tudor pull from its archives to inspire modern references, especially something as significant as a next-gen Black Bay 58. If you're interested in a closer look at the new Black Bay 58, check out our hands-on review alongside the new 43mm Black Bay 68.

Macro shot of the 2025 Black Bay 58's sunburst burgundy dial.

Personally, I think the sunburst dial is specific to this first colorway, tied to that prototype vintage Tudor Submariner. When Tudor releases the new Black Bay 58 in the traditional black gilt dial, which is pretty much a certainty, I expect a matte finish similar to the original BB58.

The Matte Dial Argument

Render of METAS Black Bay 58 with matte black dial (not a real watch)

Think about what a black-dial BB58 would look like with a shiny sunburst dial. It wouldn't really work. The Black Bay's entire visual design language is rooted in matte-dialed vintage Submariners from the '50s and '60s — specifically the ref. 7924. A reflective, satin-y, black sunburst dial breaks up that aesthetic entirely. The same reasoning applies to a potential blue version. When I think of a blue dive watch, I think of vintage Tudor subs, the Tudor Pelagos, and the past Black Bay 58 Blue — all have matte dials.

Tudor's Current Black Bay 58 Collection

Black Bay 58 Blue, Sterling Silver, 18k yellow gold, and bronze (left to right). Image Source: Teddy Baldassarre

Tudor hasn't discontinued the previous-generation Black Bay 58. The old-gen still ships in black, blue, green (18K gold case), brown (bronze case), and taupe (925 silver case) alongside the new burgundy reference — two generations of the same watch, available simultaneously, at effectively the same price point in steel ~$5,000 retail.

The natural question is how long that lasts. Tudor likely has meaningful inventory of the outgoing references, and pulling them from ADs probably doesn't make much sense until stock clears. But once new-gen versions of other colors arrive — namely black or blue — the case for keeping the old-gen versions weakens.

The Prediction

Render of METAS Black Bay 58 with blue dial (also not a real watch)

A new color of the METAS Black Bay 58 is coming in 2026. My money is on a matte black gilt dial. Black is Tudor's highest-volume colorway in this line — the gilt version of the outgoing BB58 has been one of the brand's most consistent sellers — and it's the logical next step to bring the core of the lineup up to METAS certification.

I hope blue follows after that. The original BB58 Blue was a hit when it launched in 2020 and still gets plenty of love today. I'd love to see a METAS BB58 Blue on a five-link bracelet, like pictured in our render below.

As for the old-gen: I predict Tudor phases out any old-gen color once the new-gen receives it. I expect the precious metal versions to stick around the longest, as production volumes and demand are likely lower than the steel versions.

We'll know for sure next month. Watches & Wonders 2026 opens on the 14th, and no matter what Tudor releases, we'll be there day one for hands-on coverage.