Poor Man's James Bond Watch Tudor 79220R
Donald Grant
U.S.A.Posts: 2,251Quartermasters
When the Tudor Heritage Black Bay 79220R watch was introduced at Basel 2012, I was very excited. I knew I had to add one to my watch collection. After they started filtering out to customers, I called Rolex about the watch and was told that Tudor was no longer available in the U.S. I asked my watchmaker about this, a man who worked for over 20 years at Rolex and who still has contacts there. He said that U.S. customers were more focused on Rolex and that Tudor had suffered as a result. My good friend Bondtoys offered to pick up one for me in Germany, but I told him I was going to make a trip to Canada to pick one up. Later when I had discussed with my watchmaker the proposed trip to Canada to pick up a Black Bay (79220R) he said wait, he had been informed that Tudor was returning to the U.S.
Flash forward to roughly three weeks ago and I checked the Tudor website and it had listed U.S. dealers for the 79220R. I called a bunch of them and they all said the Tudors were coming back, but it would probably be 2 months before they had them in stock. Then, last week, one of the dealers I left my contact information with called and said the watch was in. I got down there just as fast as I could and scooped one up.
So how is this a poor man's James Bond Watch? Well the original Tudor 7922 Submariner was available, according to Tudorcollector.com, alongside the Rolex 6538 (one of the models thought to be worn by Connery) in either the small crown version, or the "big crown" version. So the Tudor 7922 was the contemporary poor man's James Bond watch made by the same maker, Rolex. But good luck with vintage 7922's today, they are about as pricey as 6538's if not more so. Anyway, I think Tudor knocked it out of the park with this re-edition. If only rolex would come out with it's own homage to the "big crown". In the mean time, I'll enjoy the hell out of the 79220R.
http://tudorcollectorsite.blogspot.co.uk/p/submariner-model-7922.html
http://www.tudorwatch.com/en/heritage-black-bay/
Here are some of my bad photos:
DG
Flash forward to roughly three weeks ago and I checked the Tudor website and it had listed U.S. dealers for the 79220R. I called a bunch of them and they all said the Tudors were coming back, but it would probably be 2 months before they had them in stock. Then, last week, one of the dealers I left my contact information with called and said the watch was in. I got down there just as fast as I could and scooped one up.
So how is this a poor man's James Bond Watch? Well the original Tudor 7922 Submariner was available, according to Tudorcollector.com, alongside the Rolex 6538 (one of the models thought to be worn by Connery) in either the small crown version, or the "big crown" version. So the Tudor 7922 was the contemporary poor man's James Bond watch made by the same maker, Rolex. But good luck with vintage 7922's today, they are about as pricey as 6538's if not more so. Anyway, I think Tudor knocked it out of the park with this re-edition. If only rolex would come out with it's own homage to the "big crown". In the mean time, I'll enjoy the hell out of the 79220R.
http://tudorcollectorsite.blogspot.co.uk/p/submariner-model-7922.html
http://www.tudorwatch.com/en/heritage-black-bay/
Here are some of my bad photos:
DG
So, what sharp little eyes you've got...wait till you get to my teeth.
"People sleep peacefully in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." Richard Grenier after George Orwell, Washington Times 1993.
"People sleep peacefully in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." Richard Grenier after George Orwell, Washington Times 1993.
Comments
Yeah those new chronographs are homages or re-editions of older models too. Been eying those as well. The Tudor Black Bay retails for $3,100.00 on leather strap with additional NATO style strap. On a bracelet it retails for $3,425.00 with additional NATO. Leather strap cost $180.00. I did not get a price for the separate bracelet. Like it better on the vintage style leather strap although I may buy the bracelet at a later date. Not cheap, but compare that to a Rolex Submariner and you'll see it's a great bargain with vintage style to boot. Try to get a discount, they are out there. I narrowed it down to two retailers and chose the best deal.
Edit: BTW the crown on the 79220R is 8mm, same size as the vintage Rolex "big crown"!
DG
"People sleep peacefully in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." Richard Grenier after George Orwell, Washington Times 1993.
That is nice!!! Congratulations. B-)
I am happy to see Tudor back with the heritage line and they have been the highlights for many Basel fair visitors in the last years. I do hope that this also reflects in their sales figures.
So, how does the ETA movement "feel" in your watch.
I am talking about the feeling when you are winding the watch. Is it more smooth like with the IWC Mark VXI watch or is it still very "grainy" like with an ordinary 2892 ETA?
How does the rotor sound? Smooth or like a coffee grinder like the usual ETAs?
Are you gonna replace the red bezel insert with a black one?
Enjoy your watch and very well done {[] {[]
Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
Thanks Markus. To tell you the truth I have not worn the 79220R much yet. I was notified last week that it was in and then went to my dealer on Saturday to look at the two variants (bracelet version & strap version) and get pricing. I spent Sunday trying to decide which version I wanted and Monday calling other dealers in my region. By Monday night I decided the dealer that notified me first had the best deal and called them back, but the 79220R's were out of stock. They had sold out that quick. Later Monday night the dealer said they had tracked one down and that I could have it by Tuesday. I picked up the 79220R on Tuesday.
On Tuesday I put it on briefly to look at it and wind it and again yesterday for pictures. But it has been primarily in the box. Saturday it will debut on my wrist and I'll probably wear it the balance of the weekend. So I'll have more to tell. The movement is the 2824. It is one of the workhorses of Swiss watchmaking world and winding it felt smooth to me. As for replacing the red bezel insert, I don't think I will. I like it with the red. It's bold and I think Tudor is going to do very well with it's heritage line. I like the new chronographs and of course the titanium Pelagos.
DG
"People sleep peacefully in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." Richard Grenier after George Orwell, Washington Times 1993.
I did hear that Tudor were being made available in US a while back but didn't realise they now were!\
Congrats!!!
Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
Looking forwards for your feedback on the movement. I have recently purchased the IWC Mark XVI and had massive concerns regarding the ETA base movement.
But I must say, that IWC managed to modify to a degree that I could not notice that an ETA was inside without opening the case.
Hope that it's the same with your Tudor.
And these Tudor Chronos are gorgeous. Have you been thinking about getting this kind of strap?
Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
I like hamburger more
I have been reading that the Daytona looks better on a woman's wrist
Well, as you can see my pictures are not the best. Part of it comes from using my iPad and iPod to take pictures. It is easier than using my camera which requires many more steps. I need some kind of macro lens for either device before I start posting pictures of all my other watches. However some of them are already on here in different threads.
DG
"People sleep peacefully in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." Richard Grenier after George Orwell, Washington Times 1993.
Bondtoys, for the short time I wore my 79220R, I did not hear the sound of the rotor. I'm pretty anal about my watches, and I'm sure I would have noticed. However, when I wear it this weekend, I'll listen carefully and let you know. As for the strap, yes I like that very much and have seen them available in a couple of places. The 79220R lends itself well to strap changes. I can very easily see it on a Bond strap too.
DG
"People sleep peacefully in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." Richard Grenier after George Orwell, Washington Times 1993.
DG
"People sleep peacefully in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." Richard Grenier after George Orwell, Washington Times 1993.
This thing is beautiful in real life - DGs pics are an insult to the watch!
Love the toned lume very much!!!
Did not hear the rotor, the winding is smooth - Good job Tudor.
Now should I get a Black Bay or a Pelagos?? ?:)
Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
Yeah my pictures suck, that's why I included pictures from the Tudor website at the bottom. Glad you liked the Black Bay. It's a great piece. It's tough to choose between the Black Bay and the Pelagos. While the Black Bay looks to the past, the Pelagos is a thoroughly modern tool watch. The only thing about the Pelagos that harks back to the past are the snowflake hands. Either way you can't lose.
DG
"People sleep peacefully in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." Richard Grenier after George Orwell, Washington Times 1993.
Incredible watch - the only thing that disturbs me is that it's a bit higher than a Sub.
But before I'd go with a PO, I'd certainly go for the Pelagos!!!
Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
You mean the case of the Pelagos is thicker than the Sub? SubC perhaps?
DG
"People sleep peacefully in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." Richard Grenier after George Orwell, Washington Times 1993.
in my opinion, the Pelagos sits higher on the wrist than both - the traditional Submariners and the Sub C.
Probably the crystal and the case bottom have to be thicker because of the 500 meters wr rating.
Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
EDIT: sorry, should have read the original post again.
I see the edit. However, just to make it more succinct. The original 7922 in "big crown" configuration shares the same case as the Rolex Submariner that Connery wore. It just had a different (less expensive) movement apart from Tudor dial markings. It was at the time Tudor's contemporary "poor man's James Bond watch".
The 79220R (Black Bay) is the re-edition of the 7922 regardless of bezel insert color. In terms of price, it is not inexpensive. However if you compare it to a new Rolex Submariner, it is.
DG
"People sleep peacefully in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." Richard Grenier after George Orwell, Washington Times 1993.