Tudor feels like everyone’s best friend. At least, Tudor feels like everyone’s most reliable friend. Need to move a sofa? Call Tudor. Need a ride to the airport? Call Tudor.
The brand has earned a reputation for watches that just work, and if you look at the Pelagos, if you look at the Black Bay, if you look at really any Tudor on the market, that’s exactly what you’ll find. Rolex has comfortably leaned into the luxury aspect of its business by emphasizing precious metals and exacerbating demand for key models. All the while, Tudor has delivered watches that do exactly what they’re supposed to and don’t make a big fuss about it.
Tudor has also been a leader in the trend towards smaller case sizes. Their Black Bay Fifty-Eight was a watch that tipped the scales towards more flexible case diameters, and they’ve earned fans because of it. They’ve been on a roll the last few years by leading with their value proposition and creating watches that people actually want to buy. Today, we honor the top 5 best-selling Tudor watches under 40mm on Chrono24. Let’s see where your favorites fall on the list!
Tudor Black Bay Fifty-Eight M79030N-0001
You’ll hear many call 39mm the sweet spot for a watch case diameter. Really, it’s all relative, but the Tudor Black Bay Fifty-Eight is considered the watch that nudged public opinion below 40mm. Unofficially modeled after the Rolex Submariner “Big Crown” ref. 6538, the BB58 is one of the best examples of bringing vintage design cues into the modern world. It’s rugged without being too bulky, and it’s attractive without being too flashy. The Tudor Black Bay Fifty-Eight is one of the best all-around watches for the money, and it’s the #1 watch on this list.
Tudor Pelagos 25407N
Titanium seems to be the case material of the year for 2024 as brands across the industry embrace it for its lightness and scratch-resistance. However, Tudor has long been a fan of titanium, and a key example is its smash hit Pelagos 39. With this watch, Tudor took the 42mm Pelagos’ recipe for success and boiled it down into the ultimate daily diver. Sure, the 39mm version is not quite as robust or resilient as the 42mm, but it’s more than capable of taking on everyday challenges, and it’s undeniably comfortable to wear, even on smaller wrists. Design-wise, the blocky snowflake hour hand has always been a divisive element, but here it finds harmony with the equally angular hour markers, making for a more cohesive package.
Tudor Black Bay 54 79000N
If you’ve ever been interested in a smaller diver, then this watch is for you. Named after the debut year of the original Tudor Submariner (1954), the Black Bay 54 includes mid-century touches like a 37mm stainless steel case, gilt printing on the dial, and a minimalist bezel. The watch is available on either a stainless steel bracelet or a rubber strap, and the bracelet is equipped with Tudor’s signature T-fit clasp for easy, on-the-go adjustment.
Tudor Black Bay Pro 79470
The Tudor Black Bay Pro is another example of the brand finding success at its 39mm sweet spot. The design of this watch is based on the vintage classic Rolex Explorer II ref. 1655 as seen with its black-on-steel bezel and its brightly colored GMT hand. It’s also worth pointing out that this is the only watch on this list with a date window. The Black Bay Pro adds GMT functionality to what was already a solid go-anywhere-do-anything watch formula. The only pushback here from Tudor fans, however, is that at nearly 15mm thick, the Black Bay Pro isn’t the best at sliding underneath a shirt cuff.
Tudor Ranger M79950-0001
This one is for the vintage enthusiasts. The original Ranger of the 1960s served as Tudor’s answer to Rolex’s ultimate field watch, the Explorer ref. 1016. Both share similar dial layouts and similar case and bezel architecture. The Ranger’s distinctive hour hand remained part of the design as the watch transitioned from 34mm to 39mm in 2022, and its function-forward identity is as relevant now as it was 70 years ago. It’s simple, it’s straightforward, and it’s ready for anything you can throw at it.
