Thoughts on The Pelagos vs The Black Bay?
Earlier this year I took the leap and purchased my first luxury watch - a Tudor Pelagos. I fell in love with this watch the moment I discovered it 5 years ago when I first dove into this hobby, and I somehow love it more and more each day I get to enjoy it on my wrist.
I have been a bit curious though as to the general opinion of the Pelagos vs the Black Bay. My perception is that the Black Bay gets way more attention than the Pelagos, and as someone who finds the blue Pelagos one of the most gorgeous colors I've ever laid my eyes on, I've always wondered what factors lead to this(perceived) distribution of interest.
Is it simply because the Pelagos (until recently) is 42mm and people find that too large? Is it the color options offered between the two that lead people to often focus on the Black Bay? Is it the price difference between the two that really seals the deal? Or is it something else?
I'd love to hear some opinions and different perspectives!
It all started with a Seiko SARB033...
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The date on the older Pelagos' kind of kills it for me. I think the square indices work a lot better with snowflake hands than the BBs circular ones.
The date on the older Pelagos' kind of kills it for me. I think the square indices work a lot better with snowflake hands than the BBs circular ones.
Oh wow I never considered this, and I'd probably agree with you regarding the indices.
So you prefer a no date Pelagos? Personally I love having the date window, but there's just something about the total aesthetic that I'd probably still love it either way haha.
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Couldn't agree more 👍🏼
It is more of a tool watch than in BB but for me much more versatile and forceful.
It is more of a tool watch than in BB but for me much more versatile and forceful.
Maybe I'm just more drawn to tool watches, but something about the Pelagos just radiates charm to me.
It even looks incredible in black 🔥. Where it in good health!
Maybe I'm just more drawn to tool watches, but something about the Pelagos just radiates charm to me.
It even looks incredible in black 🔥. Where it in good health!
I chose the Black Pelagos because it is much more combinable and I even wore it with a suit and tie for work, I am also a sports watch/tool watch
After gifting a 15 year old fully serviced Breitling to my older daughter, the Mrs strongly suggested I give watches to our younger daughter and her husband as well, I was not opposed but the young couple cannot quite support my older watches since their wrists are more slender. Finding a watch from my stash for my son in law was troublesome but my daughter was very much attracted to my quite new blue dial Pelagos, had to settle for an equally new BB58 that was not getting much wrist time from me due to its smaller size. She continues to pester me for my Pelagos but I still wear it occasionally, not ready to surrender it just yet. With watches as with most things it comes down to personal preference.
I chose the Black Pelagos because it is much more combinable and I even wore it with a suit and tie for work, I am also a sports watch/tool watch
That totally makes sense. I was honestly worried about the matchability of the deep blue, but even when it's not really a good match it still looks great to me. I even wore it to a wedding this summer, which I never thought I'd do haha. I haven't really been able to separate myself from this beauty since I got it 😅
After gifting a 15 year old fully serviced Breitling to my older daughter, the Mrs strongly suggested I give watches to our younger daughter and her husband as well, I was not opposed but the young couple cannot quite support my older watches since their wrists are more slender. Finding a watch from my stash for my son in law was troublesome but my daughter was very much attracted to my quite new blue dial Pelagos, had to settle for an equally new BB58 that was not getting much wrist time from me due to its smaller size. She continues to pester me for my Pelagos but I still wear it occasionally, not ready to surrender it just yet. With watches as with most things it comes down to personal preference.
Such an awesome story! It's always fun to see passions continue through the generations as something to enjoy together.
So it sounds like you personally, as well as your daughter, both prefer the Pelagos over the Black Bay?
Maybe my perception isn't exactly accurate to the general consensus then, as everyone in this thread has preferred the Pelagos over the Black Bay haha.
If you don't mind me asking - what lead to your decision to buy both a Pelagos and Black Bay?
Such an awesome story! It's always fun to see passions continue through the generations as something to enjoy together.
So it sounds like you personally, as well as your daughter, both prefer the Pelagos over the Black Bay?
Maybe my perception isn't exactly accurate to the general consensus then, as everyone in this thread has preferred the Pelagos over the Black Bay haha.
If you don't mind me asking - what lead to your decision to buy both a Pelagos and Black Bay?
I own 7 modern Tudors, lol. They are decent watches reminds me of when I first started collecting a million years ago. Have a great day! Watches have kept entertained for a lot of years. ❤️
Black Pelagos 39 would my choice. I love either of them but, if I had the money can choose only one.. the 39 is on my radar. The 58 mostly because of the size the 42 because of style.. 39 provides both .for me.
Black Pelagos 39 would my choice. I love either of them but, if I had the money can choose only one.. the 39 is on my radar. The 58 mostly because of the size the 42 because of style.. 39 provides both .for me.
If the Pelagos 39 came in blue I probably would've checked it out, but since my wrist is fairly large I'm quite happy with my 42 Pelagos!
Thanks for the critique!
I think the BlabBay is a more vintage inspired piece, whilst the Pelagos is more of a “perfect modern diver”
Have both, Pelagos wins for me. Titanium, unique chapter ring, better specs, etc. wears well, even for 42.
Black bay has no date - boo! Pelagos better IMO. Also Ti for the win.
My beef is the slab like sides of both watches, but would still take pelagos 42 over BB any day 👍
The Black Bay line is a watch of the moment. They are mostly smaller, vintage-inspired divers. A bit of faux patina here, fake rivets there. They are handsome, but they owe too much to the Submariner. They are substitutes for what the Submariner represents.
The Pelagos, especially the original, stands on its own two feet. It is uniquely modern, and too toolish to fit into Rolex's roster. It's design language is consistent and unique.
I’m a BB fan all the way. Pelagos, not so much although it is a badass watch.
If they put snowflake indices and hands on a BB, it would be game over. It would basically be a snowflake Tudor submariner. I don't think Rolex will ever let them make it. It would destroy the Rolex Sub, IMHO.
I think it’s multiple reasons tbh..
Size is definitely one of them.
For some the color options maybe don’t work or maybe aren’t enough.
The Black Bay draws its design cues from the Rolex Sub Reference 6204 which is an incredibly significant Rolex in the brands history.
I actually prefer the Pelagos tbh - that blue looks absolutely amazing on you 👊🏼
The Pelagos are the only Tudors I actually like.
I think when it comes to titanium most people say it has to do with its weight. Most people have an idea in their head that when something is high-quality it’s also heavy and titanium throws that notion right out the window. Another reason with the Pelagos in particular is that the Grade 2 Titanium they use does not have the ability to be refinished/polished. If you scratch it, it’s there forever. That’s what made me turn away from the Pelagos 39 when it came out.
Haven't tried it but watched a YT video by You'reTerrific wherein he managed to take-out a scratch on his Pelagos LHD bracelet using a pen eraser. 😊
I’m probably the only weirdo who wishes there was a hybrid Pelagos/BB model:
Pelagos case shape, flat dial, and bracelet design; but instead of titanium, a stainless steel case and bracelet, and a domed sapphire crystal.
So yes I’d like a modernised Tudor 9411/0.
Haven't tried it but watched a YT video by You'reTerrific wherein he managed to take-out a scratch on his Pelagos LHD bracelet using a pen eraser. 😊
Whatever video you watched wasn’t dealing with a true “scratch” then. It was just a surface level abrasion on the oxidation layer. If there are any scratches that go deeper than the oxide layer, it won’t remove them.
Read up on the end users of the black dial. Lots of unit issue and personal procured out and about. And it isn't just hi-speed bearded folk. Colleges and other organizations have had custom Pelly's done too.
Watches of Espionage has written several articles on it.
Far as the tactical side of the house goes, the Pelly's have pretty much replaced the Subs. I can honestly say I've seen more than a handful, actually on wrists, in the field, at training, etc.
For me, the Blackbays are more accessible, stylish, heritage nodding designs. A lovely range of sizes and colours to suit.
The Pelagos is a bit more of a serious, purposeful tool watch. Function over fashion. 42mm makes it perfectly legible, but the height required for the reinforced water resistance make it quite a chunk for every day wear.
The Pelagos is way better imho than the black bay. It looks better and is more versatile imho.
I think it's because for many, tudor is their first or only luxury watch. People want that to look expensive, which the bb does.
Pelagos looks neat, but let's be realistic, for 99% of people, a watch that costs thousands isn't a tool, and most pelagos owners won't be treating it like their casio.
Is not a bad watch, heck is arguably superior than the bb, but any "luxury (pseudo) tool style watch" will naturally have a smaller niche in the market
I think the debate between the two styles means little to nothing. Like/love what you want to and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. I own a Tudor Ranger. Probably the most hated/loved watch on the internet. The debate between the pelagos vs the black bay? One is shinyer than the other. Pelagos 39 is gorgeous. Black bay 54….same thing. I’m lucky. With my 7.25 inch wrist I can wear just about anything. But I recently told my brother in law who owns a beautiful Omega, and was very self conscious about it, the man wears the watch…not the other way round. He wears it all the time now. Enjoy your wrist bling in good health.
For me the modern Tudor submarine is the Pelagos, specifically the FXD. The square indices paired with the snowflake hands sealed the deal for me.
The BB58 is handsome watch nonetheless. Just not a fan of the faux-rivet bracelet, but there are aftermarket bracelets like the Forstner Jubilee that make it look just👌