Compare and Contrast: The Tudor Black Bay and The Rolex Explorer II

Today we are taking a look at two watches, each with their own charm. You are probably thinking to yourself that these two watches are so different they really should not be compared. Yes, we agree with you! But let’s see what we can tell when we have both of them in our hands at the same time.

The two watches we are looking at are the Rolex Explorer II reference 16570 and the Tudor Black Bay reference 79230N. Both of these watches follow hit home with the steel sports watch enthusiasts. They oyster cases create some really solid watches that will not get hurt if you have to be a bit more rough with the watch. Both of them also have water resistance which is always a benefit. Both of the watches also come on steel bracelets, but are great watches if you are looking for something to mix and match straps with.

The complications between the two watches vary. The Tudor Black Bay is a true dive watch, so it only has hours, minutes and seconds. The Explorer II features a GMT hand for a second time zone and the date complication at 3 o’clock. They both run on in-house movements for those looking for a watch that was developed mainly by the manufacture. It is hard not to do this compare and contrast without talking about price. The Tudor is a far more affordable option, with this reference currently selling for around $3,000 to $4,000. The Explorer II on the other hand you can typically find for between $7,000 and $9,000 depending on condition.

Enjoy!