Tudor was founded by Hans Wilsdorf (Rolex's founder) in 1926 to offer Rolex quality at more accessible prices. For decades, Tudor shared Rolex cases and bracelets but used third-party movements. The brand's modern renaissance began in 2012 with the Heritage Black Bay, and today Tudor is among the hottest value propositions in luxury watches.
Trading near its retail price on the secondary market, this reference offers good value for buyers. The parity between retail and market pricing suggests balanced supply and demand, making it accessible without excessive premiums or lengthy dealer waitlists.
Our WVS Value Score of 75/100 places this in the upper range of luxury watches. The score reflects a solid balance between value retention, brand recognition, specification quality, and market availability.
The annual cost of ownership comes to $210 per year — roughly the cost of a gym membership. This factors in depreciation, periodic servicing, and insurance, and represents good value for a watch of this caliber.
Understanding the true cost of owning a luxury watch requires looking beyond the purchase price. Our cost-of-ownership model calculates the annual net expense of keeping the Tudor Black Bay M79830RB-0001 on your wrist, factoring in three key components.
First, depreciation: based on historical pricing data for this reference and similar Tudor models, we estimate annual value change at 2%. This low depreciation rate means the watch holds its value exceptionally well compared to most luxury goods. Second, servicing: Tudor recommends periodic maintenance to ensure accuracy and water resistance. We amortize the estimated service cost across the recommended interval, arriving at $80 per year. Third, insurance: at approximately 1.5% of market value, annual insurance costs $56 to protect against theft, loss, or accidental damage.
Combining these factors yields a net annual cost of $210. That's roughly $0.58 per day — less than a daily cup of coffee.
Estimated market price trend based on aggregated public listing data. Prices reflect average asking prices for complete sets in excellent condition. Updated monthly.
Our proprietary score rates every luxury watch on a 0-100 scale across five dimensions. Scores above 85 indicate exceptional value retention and market positioning. The formula is transparent and weight-based.
When considering the Tudor Black Bay M79830RB-0001, it helps to understand how it compares to alternatives in the dive watch category. The highest-scoring alternative is the Rolex Explorer with a Value Score of 89/100, slightly above the M79830RB-0001's 75/100. The comparison table below provides a detailed side-by-side analysis of all key metrics.
| Watch | Market Price | Size | WR | Own/Yr | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tudor Black Bay M79830RB-0001 | $3,200–$4,200 | 41mm | 200m | $210/yr | 75 |
| Rolex Explorer 124270 | $8,500–$11,000 | 36mm | 100m | $100/yr | 89 |
| Rolex Air-King 126900 | $8,000–$11,000 | 40mm | 100m | $99/yr | 88 |
| Omega Seamaster Diver 300M 210.30.42.20.01.001 | $4,200–$5,500 | 42mm | 300m | $444/yr | 74 |
| Omega Seamaster Diver 300M 210.30.42.20.03.001 | $4,200–$5,500 | 42mm | 300m | $444/yr | 74 |
| Cartier Santos WSSA0018 | $6,000–$7,800 | 39.8mm | 100m | $598/yr | 76 |
Originally designed for professional underwater use, modern dive watches are equally at home on a desk as they are at depth. The rotating bezel tracks elapsed time underwater, while the high water resistance and luminous markers ensure readability in low-light conditions.
Key specifications for a dive watch include water resistance (minimum 200m for ISO 6425 certification), unidirectional rotating bezel, luminous hands and indices, screw-down crown, and robust bracelet with dive extension. Higher-end models feature helium escape valves for saturation diving.
Dive watches are the most versatile luxury watch category. They pair equally well with a suit, casual wear, or technical gear. The sport-luxury aesthetic makes them appropriate for virtually any situation, which is why models like the Submariner and Seamaster are among the best-selling luxury watches globally.
Tudor watches are readily available at Rolex authorized dealers and Tudor boutiques. Pricing is relatively stable with occasional modest discounts. The Black Bay line offers the closest alternative to Rolex quality and design language at roughly one-third the price — making it the ideal entry into luxury watchmaking.
Tudor now manufactures its own movements, including the MT5602 (time-only, 70hr power reserve) and MT5813 (chronograph, developed with Breitling). These movements are COSC-certified and offer specifications comparable to watches costing 2-3x more. The Pelagos features an in-house calibre with silicon hairspring.
Tudor recommends servicing every 10 years (same as Rolex). Service costs are substantially lower at $400-$600 for standard models. The 5-year warranty with registration is generous for the price segment and provides peace of mind.
Tudor watches hold value well relative to their price point, typically retaining 70-85% of retail value. The Black Bay 58 and Pelagos models hold value best. While Tudor won't appreciate like Rolex, the low entry price and strong retention make the cost of ownership remarkably low.
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Every current reference ranked by Value Score. Click any model for full analysis.
| Ref | Variant | Retail | Score | Own/Yr | Market |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M7941A1A0RU-0001 | Steel/Black 41mm | $3,575 | 75 | $199/yr | $3,000–$3,800 |
| M79360N-0002 | Chrono Steel/Black | $5,425 | 74 | $466/yr | $4,500–$5,800 |
| M79830RB-0001 | 58 Steel/Blue 39mm ◂ | $3,775 | 75 | $210/yr | $3,200–$4,200 |
Value Score 75/100 · $210/year to own · 98% retention