
Everyone tells me that, as a taller guy, I should be wearing bigger watches. I’m 6’2” with a 7.5″ wrist, and yeah, I get it — I can “pull off” the larger stuff. But one of the first serious watches I ever bought was the Tudor Black Bay 41 (original burgundy bezel, smiley dial, perfect color combo!), and honestly, I loved that watch, but something was just a little off. It was ever so slightly big lug to lug (50mm). My sweet spot to not upset my wrist bone is 47-49. To me, the 58 is the perfect Black Bay size. And I know I’m not alone. So when Tudor dropped the Tudor Black Bay 68 in 43mm, I had mixed feelings.
On one hand, I get what it’s doing. People have been asking for more variety — more sizes, micro-adjust clasps, drop the rivets, more colors (me…) — and Tudor is clearly listening. The new T-Fit clasp and clean, rivet-free bracelet are standout upgrades. And the brand retained what makes the Black Bay lineup so enduring: strong lume, snowflake hands, domed sapphire crystal, and dependable in-house performance. But on the other hand… this thing is big. Not slightly bigger — this is Tudor’s largest Black Bay. At 43mm, it’s even larger than its GMTs and chronographs, which at least had complications to justify the size.
Still, it doesn’t wear as awkwardly as you might expect from the specs. The proportions feel right, just upscaled from the classic Black Bay. It avoids feeling too thick or slab-sided, which surprised us during hands-on testing. At 13.6mm tall, it appears no thicker than the existing 41mm versions. One note: Tudor has not released lug-to-lug measurements yet; I assume it’s a bit longer than the 41mm. I have always said, “The 58 is the near perfect watch for me — and that’s coming from someone with a 7.5-inch wrist.” So, even for bigger-wristed folks, the size jump isn’t automatically a win.
That brings us to the bigger question: Why does this watch exist? When the BB54 already hits that perfect mark for so many collectors, it’s tough to see a 43mm diver as the answer. But maybe that’s the point. One of our team members put it well: This feels like Tudor’s move toward the Sea-Dweller segment — giving folks who want a bit more visual heft something to reach for without stepping into precious metal or overbuilt territory. Is Tudor bucking the “smaller is better” trend or just expanding the portfolio? It might be a bit of both.
Another win is the bracelet. It’s the familiar three-link stainless steel with brushed and polished elements, but the big improvement is the absence of faux-rivets. I loved the original Black Bay bracelet; it was just missing that micro adjuster. Combined with the on-the-fly adjustable T-Fit clasp, it makes for one of Tudor’s most wearable large watches yet. Still, it’s curious that there are no strap options at launch. With 22mm lugs, there’s plenty of aftermarket potential, but it feels like a missed opportunity not to offer a rubber or hybrid strap from the get-go — especially for a watch that feels ready for adventure.
Of the two dial variants — blue and silver — the blue is definitely the flashier of the two, with a high-contrast black bezel that grabs attention. But it’s the silver dial that ended up being more compelling to us in person. Under softer lighting, it picks up warm tones that contrast nicely with the gloss black markers and snowflake hands. It feels a little more subtle, almost vintage in certain light, and doesn’t scream for attention like the blue. That said, it might be too subdued for some — the silver dial doesn’t pop in the same way, but for those looking for something more under-the-radar in a larger format, this might be the better pick.
Powering the BB68 is the METAS-certified MT5601-U movement — the same rock-solid caliber we’ve seen in recent releases. It offers a 70-hour power reserve, a 4Hz beat rate, and 200 meters of water resistance. Given the bump in case size, we were half-expecting an increased depth rating, but that’s not the case here. It matches the same 200m spec as its smaller siblings.
So, is this the perfect watch for me? No, but it’s closer than I expected. Tudor has gone big with the Black Bay 68, not just in size but in intent. It’s not for everyone, but it doesn’t have to be. For the collectors and enthusiasts who want a more substantial Black Bay without giving up refinement, this might just be the one. It’ll be quite interesting to see how this does for Tudor, and I personally already know someone who has picked one up. So, to me, it seems like the market is there. The Tudor Black Bay 68 is priced at $4,700 USD. For more information, visit Tudor’s website.