At Rubber B, our desire to consistently produce high-quality custom rubber watch bands is born, at least in part, from our belief that competition, in the right amount, is healthy and helps people produce their best work. This is particularly true in the world of horology, where precision is not an option – it is an absolute requirement of being successful at the task at hand.
To that end, we have decided to undertake an exercise that we are fond of engaging in from time to time – comparing the technical specifications of two popular watches to see how they compare when they are stacked up against one another. For the purposes of this article, we have decided to compare the Tudor Black Bay 58 to the Breitling Chronomat B01 42 and see how they each fare.
What Is Important to Know About the Tudor Black Bay 58?
The Tudor Black Bay 58, which was released earlier this year, is the most recent addition to the Black Bay line up. The case of the watch has a thickness of 39 mm and measures 47 mm from tip to tip, with an overall thickness of 11.9 and 20 mm lugs. The bezel, which is both unidirectional and rotatable, is set in steel. It also contains a 60-minute graduated disc. It is finished in a matte blue style, with anodized aluminum, and also contains silver gilded markings and numerals.
The dial is available in a couple of different color schemes. It can be purchased in either black or blue and is displayed in a domed style. The crystal sapphire on the dial is also domed as well. The winding crown on this timepiece prominently displays the Tudor rose in relief. On a more technical note, the movement for this piece is an MT 5402 with a 70-hour power reserve. Additionally, this timepiece is waterproof for up to 200 meters.
With regards to the bracelet, it is made of riveted steel and is elegantly polished with a satin finish. It is secured with a folding clasp and safety catch to ensure that the watch never leaves your wrist. It is also waterproof for up to 200 meters.
The price of the Tudor Black Bay 58 retails for about $3900. Due to its generally limited availability, this piece can be somewhat difficult to procure, and it is unlikely that a collector can expect to pay significantly less than the market price for it.
What Is Important to Know About the Breitling Chronomat B01 42?
The Breitling Chronomat B01 42 is a significant contrast to the Tudor Black Bay 58 in several different ways, though they also bear some similarities as well. One of the most immediately notable ways in which they differ is that this timepiece is considerably bigger, as it measures at 42 mm instead of 39 mm.
The bezel for this watch is unidirectional, however, it is ratcheted instead of being rotational. The dial for this watch is available in two different color patterns: blue and white or black on black. The crystal is a cambered sapphire that has been glareproofed on both sides. The winding crown is screw-locked and contains two gaskets.
From a technical standpoint, this watch operates on the Breitling 1 caliber, and it also utilizes a 1/4th second chronograph with 30-minute and 12-hour totalizers that has also been used by Tudor. Additionally, it is also waterproof for up to 200 meters. This watch has a power reserve of up to 70 hours.
As for its bracelet, the Breitling Chronomat B01 42 contains a Rouleaux bracelet made of riveted steel and a satin finish. It utilizes a similar folding clasp and safety catch design as well.
Generally speaking, this watch is easier to find than the Tudor Black Bay 58, as it is not a limited production piece. However, there is a Frecce Tricolori Limited Edition version of this watch, and that particular version is very exclusive and, thus, hard to locate most of the time.
What Is The Overall Takeaway After Comparing Both Watches?
After looking at both of the timepieces together, the main points of contrast seem to be threefold: size, exclusivity, and pricing.
If you are looking for a smaller watch, or something that is more exclusive, then you are more likely going to be interested in the Tudor Black Bay 58 watch. However, if you are looking for something with more heft to it, or that is easier to find and costs a little bit less, then the Breitling Chronomat B01 42 will likely be better suited to your needs.
Ultimately, these kinds of comparisons don’t ultimately yield a “right” or “wrong” answer – Rubber B undertakes them because we hope to provide questions that you can ask yourself when thinking about finding a timepiece that suits your personal style.
Are You Looking for Rubber Watch Bands For Your Tudor or BreitlingTimepieces? Visit Rubber B Today
If you are looking for a reliable rubber watch band for your Tudor Black Bay 58, or a replacement Breitling Chronomat B01 42 strap, Rubber B will be happy to assist you in finding a custom rubber watch strap that suits your needs and reflects your personal style. We carry various watch straps for name brands like Breitling and Tudor, along with several others, and you can see our complete catalog of custom rubber watch bands in full on our website.
