Case #663 — Tudor Black Bay Dark Ref. 79230DK

Case #663 — Tudor Black Bay Dark Ref. 79230DK

Status: Available
Condition: Very Good Pre-Owned
Scope: Box, Papers, and Cards

Case Notes

The Black Bay Dark takes one of Tudor’s most recognizable modern dive watches and removes almost every reflective surface from the equation.

The 41 mm steel case receives an all-black PVD treatment, matched by a black dial and black bezel insert. Against that monochrome foundation, the Snowflake hands, luminous markers, and small red accents become far more prominent.

It is a very different interpretation of the Black Bay formula.

Rather than leaning into vintage warmth through burgundy, gilt, or polished steel, the Dark pushes the design toward a much more contemporary, almost tactical character while retaining the same Tudor dive-watch architecture underneath.

This example dates from 2019 and presents in Very Good Pre-Owned condition. It includes its Box, Papers, and Cards and is currently configured to fit approximately a 7¾-inch wrist.

The Black Bay Dark has since been discontinued, and it is encountered significantly less frequently than the standard steel Black Bay references. It was never a numbered limited edition, so we would not describe it as one, but its shorter-lived all-black execution gives it a distinct place within the earlier 41 mm Black Bay family.

The Evidence

Reference: 79230DK
Model: Black Bay Dark
Year: 2019
Case: Stainless Steel with Black PVD Coating
Case Diameter: 41 mm
Thickness: Approximately 15 mm
Lug Width: 22 mm
Dial: Black
Crystal: Domed Sapphire
Bezel: Unidirectional Rotating Black Bezel
Crown: Screw-Down
Movement: Tudor Manufacture Calibre MT5602
Movement Type: Automatic
Certification: COSC Chronometer
Frequency: 28,800 VPH
Jewels: 26
Power Reserve: Approximately 70 Hours
Functions: Hours, Minutes, Central Seconds
Water Resistance: 200 meters / 660 feet
Fit: Approximately 7¾-inch wrist
Condition: Very Good Pre-Owned
Included: Box, Papers, and Cards

Collector Provenance

The Black Bay Dark occupies an unusual position in Tudor’s modern catalog.

The original Black Bay family established itself through vintage-inspired steel cases, colored aluminum bezels, Snowflake hands, and clear references to Tudor’s historic dive watches.

The Dark took that familiar design and deliberately broke with the vintage formula.

Its black PVD-coated case gave the Black Bay a much more modern personality, while the underlying specifications remained serious: a manufacture MT5602 movement, COSC certification, approximately 70 hours of power reserve, and 200 meters of water resistance.

The reference has since been discontinued.

That matters because the Dark was not simply replaced by another identical black-coated Black Bay. It represents a specific period within the original 41 mm Black Bay generation and is now encountered less frequently than the mainstream steel references.

It is not a numbered limited edition, and production totals are not publicly established, so “rare” should be understood here in the practical collector sense: a discontinued, less commonly encountered configuration rather than a formally limited watch.

Design Provenance

Black-on-black changes the Black Bay more than the specification sheet suggests.

The PVD case removes much of the visual contrast created by polished and brushed steel, allowing the dial, hands, bezel markings, and luminous plots to dominate.

The familiar Snowflake hand becomes especially prominent against the black dial, while the small red details provide just enough color to prevent the watch from feeling completely monochromatic.

At 41 mm, the Black Bay Dark has substantial wrist presence, but the dark case visually reduces some of that apparent size.

It feels purposeful rather than decorative.

Technical Provenance

Inside is Tudor’s manufacture Calibre MT5602.

The automatic movement is COSC-certified, runs at 28,800 vibrations per hour, and provides approximately 70 hours of power reserve.

That extended reserve was one of the defining upgrades of this Black Bay generation. The watch can be removed Friday evening and, under normal circumstances, still be running when picked up again on Monday.

The rest of the platform remains proper dive-watch territory: screw-down crown, unidirectional bezel, sapphire crystal, and 200 meters of water resistance.

From the Case File

The Black Bay Dark is for the collector who likes the Black Bay architecture but wants something noticeably less conventional than the standard steel versions.

Its discontinued status and comparatively limited presence on the secondary market give it a different collector profile from the much more common red, blue, and black steel references.

This 2019 example adds the things we want to see in a pre-owned Dark: Very Good condition, Box, Papers, and Cards, and sizing to approximately a 7¾-inch wrist.

The black coating is also particularly important when evaluating condition. Wear that might disappear into brushed steel can be more noticeable on a coated case, making a well-preserved example more meaningful.

BST Verdict

One of the more distinctive members of the original 41 mm Black Bay family.

The PVD-coated case, black dial, black bezel, manufacture MT5602 movement, 70-hour reserve, and 200-meter capability create a Black Bay that feels dramatically different from its steel siblings.

It is discontinued, significantly less common than the standard Black Bay configurations, and unmistakable on the wrist without being a numbered limited edition.

A complete 2019 example in Very Good condition makes Case 663 a particularly interesting Black Bay for the collector who already knows the usual suspects.

Every case deserves a closer look.