Nice video! I agree - I wish Tudor would spend development dollars on more important things. Here’s another idea for them - make the adjustable clasp available as a kit for a all the BB watches and charge people for it and make the new watches with it out of the box. Like, bring people into the tent rather than working so hard to keep the out
Yeah i agree with all your points! They might as well make some money on the side by selling these clasps for like 300-400 dollars! so far the quotes for a BB Pro bracelet on its own is $850 so if they push clasp production a bit more they can make quite a bit of money. I kinda wish they made the BB Pro with an oyster style bracelet bc at that point incompatibility would make more sense and i think it would have looked pretty awesome too!
Great video. I find the move on Tudor to be petty. They anticipated that bb58 owners would want the updated bracelet of the Pro, so instead of rewarding good customers, they placed preventative measures. I’m a fan of Tudor watches, but they seem to purposefully nerf their products to not compete too heavily with Rolex. This is a clear example of purposely making their product worse so that they can avoid the sales of bracelets along with forcing people to have to buy a BBPro, which doesn’t compete with the BB58. Its similar to when a company puts security screws on their product because they don’t want the community to fix components. It sours my feelings toward Tudor.
once ive adjusted a strap properly ive never needed to adjust it any time of the year, people just want for the sake of having it, same as i did on a seamaster, but i never got to use it cos i did the bracelet properly to start with!
I really hope that Tudor introduces the glide lock clasp on the BB58 like they have on the Pro. Also it would be nice to have the same crown. I just picked up the Pro and love it. The clasp and the crown really make this watch stand out against the BB58. If they make those changes I'll definitely pick one up. Thank you for your vids really informative.
Great content as is definitely something a lot of BB58 owners wanted to know, me included. The Pro is a strap monster with the black, steel and soft tone of the lume but I do think without the bracelet, the then visible case side between the lugs makes it look too tall proportionatley. I personally don't like the overlapping lume pips too, it could have been done and avoided that, like the BB GMT is. If Tudor end up doing a BB58 GMT with a thinner movement, the Pro would become the BB Black sheep...... 😉
Thanks for the video. I was waiting for someone to do a video about this and even inquired w/ my AD when the BB Pro launched about using the adjustable clasp on the BB58 and they said that it wasn't possible and that Tudor wouldn't allow it. Now I see that they actually went as far as making subtle changes to prevent swapping clasps.
Great video! I had read this already, but it was nice to see all the measurements and have it laid out in a video. I have a 58 and the Pro bracelet on order separately. My current plan is to buy the Uncle Seiko half-link and file that down to hopefully fit between the TFIT clasp and the 58 bracelet.
Sure thing, I'm all about detailed dimensions!! Your uncle Seiko half link idea is an awesome one bc $60 is totally worth the risk especially if it means that you can use the awesome clasp (also it'll make the most use of your bracelet order lol!) Btw how much did the bracelet alone cost? I heard it's $850 from one person but ADs often charge different prices
@@thewatchidiot Agreed, definitely worth the risk of getting it to fit at this price. I actually talked to him about the idea of making a link specifically for connecting them and he wasn’t opposed to it. They didn’t have an exact price yet when I ordered it, but yeah they quoted me $850.
Hopefully the comments section serves as an impromptu petition! I did it for my beloved Seiko SNE569 I just need to send it over to Larry. Good to hear that he's open to making a conversion link bc his BB58 half link was a life saver for me so hopefully he can make the BB58 even better!
In case you wanted more confirmation that it's deliberate, my BB58 bronze doesn't have the notch on the end links and the mid links are 9mm. They didn't bother because they were different materials.
For the issue you mentioned at 2:28, I am confused. Are you trying to swap the bracelet by removing the center link but not the whole bracelet that attached to the lugs? From the video seems the notch is only on the outside of the center link but not the actual lug itself, wouldn't it be much easier to remove the whole parts that attach to the lugs and swap it?
I'm happy with my Omegas and my Seiko divers, but if Tudor one day get their act together and put a T-fit on the standard BB58 then I'll probably dive in. I used to have the original Black Bay and it sat too awkwardly high, and quite often I couldn't get the right fit, so yeah BB58 with T-fit would be *chef's kiss*
Wow! Tudor/Rolex went to some great lengths to make sure the TFIT clasp can not be retrofitted. Pretty lousy of them. But par for the course for how Rolex treats its customers, so I am not surprised (I love my Tudor and Rolex watches, just not a fan of the company).
Yeah for sure however i was hoping that it would be like when Rolex said that the new Batmans with the jubilees wouldnt work with the oyster bracelets, but we saw people switching anyway! But it just rubbed me the wrong way more so bc the bracelets are identical. I wish they made the BB Pro with an oyster style bracelet and then made it incompatible 😂
Could you just file the notch off of the pro bracelet and fit the 58 endlinks to the pro that way? If the mid link of the pro bracelet is 0.2mm smaller, I would think it’d fit?
This is exactly what I was thinking. It would take ~15 mins. Just file off the notch and swap. Even if you didn’t do a good job (worst case scenario) it would be on the underside of the watch. If you have a fine wheel on a bench grinder this is such an easy job with extremely minimal risk.
Looks great on all the straps which is no surprise because all Tudor tool watches are strap monsters, but on that grey Suede…my goodness. I’ve just ordered one for mine, super excited!!
I get that it may not be very profitable, but I’m surprised there isn’t a niche industry around making clasps, links, endlinks, and other parts that solve common issues with stock manufacturers bracelets. Imagine if you could buy 3rd party on the fly micro adjustable (OTFMA) claps for Sinn, or get a new non-gappy OTFMA clasp for the SARB033, or Tudor BB58, etc. Unfortunately, most solutions to these problems end up coming in the form of buying an entire after-market bracelet, and if we’re being honest, most of those options are worse than the original and introduce other problems that need fixing.
Agree all around. No one makes a good aftermarket quick adjust clasp. Strapcode has a diver extension clasp but it's HUGE. If you want to see the best functioning quick adjust clasp on the market at any price point go look up the Citizen PMD56-2952. Ignore the very plain clasp body the mechanism is installed in, and focus on the functionality. It's advantages over other clasps on the market: You can adjust it either direction without opening the clasp or removing the watch from you wrist like you have to do with some (like the Tudor, Rolex, and Christopher Ward clasps among others I'm sure) Since it has an extra set of pushers that only work the quick adjust function you don't run the risk of opening the clasp while adjusting it like some clasps that use only a single set of pushers to adjust the quick adjust AND open the clasp like those found on other Citizen, Casio, or Seiko watches. Not only is it functionally great, but it's also a very simple and easy to manufacture mechanism. That Citizen that uses that clasp cost about $500 FWIW. There's no excuse for any high end watch to not have a good quick adjust system.
@@dustingaddis2423 That feature on the Citizen is damn near perfect - wow! Can't understand why brands don't use that method more frequently. I mean, most diver's extensions are just useless unless you want to wear the watch over a wet suit or over your clothes - the length that it adds is ALWAYS too big for the simple swealing of the wrist. Then you have the way Rolex and others do it - it is great, but yeah you have to remove to watch from the wrist to adjust. That is fine by me, but I was seriously impressed with the Citizen. Mido and Certina offer a great clasp as well, with quick adjust. Pretty much the same as the StrapCode or the Long Island Watch versions, but smaller and better fitting on the bracelet (doesn't leave the huge gaps between the clasp and bracelet). Just cheak the Ocean Star 200c or the DS Action Diver 43mm as examples. But they are bviously specific to their bracelets - they aren't supposed to be swapped. And the Citizen's versions seems like a better way.
" For every problem, there's at least a solution, " and this is no exception. The easiest, least fuss way to get that T-fit / glide lock clasp to fit onto different mid links bracelets is to use the bracelet disassembly repair tool kit / set. However, these specialized tools are not cheap as it's meant for watch bracelet repairers. This method solves the main issue. However, there will be minor gaps in between joined different links on its sides with slightly different tappering profile near the clasp. An alternative method to the mentioned is to use manual hand stretching. You need two pliers to do the job of stretching the targeted side links in order to fit the mid link from clasp. As precaution, both pliers teeth and targeted side links must be wrapped to avoid possible surface damages during stretching. Another alternative method would be to get an OEM bracelet that would accommodate the clasp, which isn't an issue. The final option to consider is to get different female endlinks for either a modified or OEM bracelet. Just bear in mind that these options aren't perfect solutions yet do provide best possible solutions for its just a matter of perspectives. Hope these provided options would be purposeful into your understanding of possible solutions to your bracelet - clasp issues. Best regards 😎⌚👍
Thanks for the thorough and thoughtful comment! yeah a bracelet repair kit would be effective and actually it would actually be pretty fun to try using the tools on a spare or cheap bracelet! Although i would be too scared to use it on my BB Pro bracelet lol I'll leave it to the pros in this case😂 Actually another way that I thought of before was trying to file down the edges of the midlinks by 0.1mm on either side to help it slip in which would be the cheapest (free) way of potentially solving the issue, but of course that too would involve risk as well. Either way lets see what happens next! Take care!
Don't be scared of trying for these parts are meant to be easily accessible and serviceable@@thewatchidiot. Filing is the worst possible option because you still need to disassemble the links before any filing can be done or unintended damages will happen as it's not exactly accurate and problematic.
I think these little size differences are from the Rolex boardroom. They probably don’t want bb pros floating around with bb58 clasps and vice versa. It also shows that the faux rivets are here to stay mainly to prevent Tudor from stealing sales from Rolex.
It could be 0.2mm thickness change is needed for the clasp to work, try measuring the pelagos mid links and then check the ratios as well. There could be an annoying technical reason to explain it
Even though I'm not a fan of the riveted bracelet, I love the Black Bay Pro 😎 Lately I've been having a blast with "animating" these Tudors in the browsers: wanted to share one I made of this model, but all my comments were taken down, so I gave up
I have the BB Pro, BB58 Black, and BB58 Bronze... For me, the sizing on the BB58 Black isn't the issue... its the way the clasp fits within the bracelet. My issue is a non-issue for someone with larger wrists... but the way the clasps sits, it kinks out a the bottom... if you hold it upsidedown by the clasp, you will see it sits wider than the watch case. Hard to explain, easy to show... This problem does not exist on the Bronze or the Black Bay Pro...
Excellent video, I must say that sounds like Tudor is playing a few little games here I was at an AD last week with my BB58 on the wrist, I tried on the Pro and asked if they would just sell me the clasp, (is it something I could order) They told me I can purchase the bracelet if I want to....wait for it...$1000 😳 Thanks for sharing this video, top stuff
yeah Tudor definitely did that so you would have to buy a whole new watch if you want that bracelet. I was thinking about getting a black Bay 58 until they showed off this new bracelet and I'm like yo I'm going to wait for that to come to the 58
Omega did the same thing with the speed master 3861 and the chronoscope… I purchased the chronoscope clasp with the quick adjust and milled the clasp link 2mm and it worked 😂
Looool and here I was thinking that I could outsmart them! I wish the bracelets were different bc it would have made me feel better about the incompatibility 😂
Have you noticed the t fit on the pro bracelet moving while wearing the bracelet? Wondering if anyone else experienced this, as mine adjusts while wearing, kind of annoying
Can you please do a video sharing how do you manage wearing/rotating your watch collection? I used to have just one watch and enjoyed the simplicity of it. After I became obsessed and started to add more watches, I have this issue with unable to decide which watch to wear every day. It almost feels like a curse in the blessing. Every watch enthusiast must have gotten through this experience and dilemma as their collection grows. I'm interested in what is the next progression of this hobby. Thanks again for your help.
Thanks for the review. Good point on the bracelet notch. TFIT non-fit is a disappointment. What a shame. I do hope US comes up with a link to enable integration of the TFIT to BB58 bracelet. Assuming the TFITs can be purchased separately.
I think the BB pro maybe a prerequisite to a BB58 GMT. Actually I don’t really think that! I wish that! I would love a BB 58 GMT watch in 39mm and thinner than the current BB GMT.
Given that the BB Pro and BB 58 both have 20mm lug widths, can you just purchase a 'replacement BB Pro bracelet' from your local AD then just fit that to your 58?
if it was possible to buy the T-Fit clasp on it's own form an AD and Uncle Seiko could make a conversion link that would be absolutely awsome...I doubt Tudor will sell the clasp though....
They're not concerned about cannibalizing sales between the BB58 and the BB Pro. They're concerned about cannibalizing sales of the inevitable stainless steel BB58 v2 with T-fit clasp. 👍
Oh wow that's disappointing to see and I agree it does almost have an air of pettiness 😂 either way at least they came out with the clasp I'm hoping this means that the clasp will come out on the BB58 next year. Not to be compatible with the BB Pro of course hahah
Yeah agreed! And in the end I'm happy that the BB Pro has the TFIT clasp and the BB58 is still pretty comfy albeit it can be a nuisance in the summer. Fingers crossed that they upgrade the BB58 next year and I'll try swapping and most likely fail once again!
Thank you so much glad you enjoyed the video! Yeah its pretty wild to see how big an issue this is for them, they arent going to spend money for nothing!
I can only assume they may well update the 58 clasp and are not wanting people to be able to swap. i.e you buy one of the watches on a strap to save some money.
When I had to send my BB58 back for service (bezel misalignment) the AD said we have to take the 3rd party strap off it and put back the Tudor original otherwise they'll just throw mine out! Tudor must be very insecure about their straps/bracelets
I got the call to pick mine up this week. Absolutely love the watch, although learning this about the bracelet really is annoying. I’m curious… are the links themselves thicker? The watch head seems a fair bit heavier than the standard 58 so I wonder if they made the links a bit thicker to help with the balance of the watch. I don’t have my 58 blue anymore, so I can’t say for sure, but I feel like the Pro’s bracelet might be a bit thicker. 🤔
Thats so awesome man, congrats on the new pickup!! SO excited for yo uand so glad to hear that you're enjoying it as much as you are. Surprised to hear that the BB58 Blue has left the collection though! Was it a one in one out kind of situation or did the BB58 just fade away? So thats the one thing I forgot to include in the recording but the thickness of the links are exactly the same! Literally the only difference is 0.1mm on either side of the midlinks!!! I'd have felt a lot better if it came with an oyster style bracelet and then i found out they were incompatible lol. I think it would have looked a bit better too!
@@thewatchidiot thanks man! The watch has far exceeded my expectations and I think you perfectly summarized the pros and cons of the watch in your review. Even still, I was surprised by how much more good-looking the watch is in the metal… I’m usually not a fan of fauxtina, but the tones of the dial somehow make sense with the vintage aesthetic of the case and bezel. I learned something cool about the lume application process, which I’ll share with you via DM on Instagram… I ended up trading my BB58 Blue for the BB58 925. The decision was driven more by sentimental factors… I originally bought the blue as a tribute to my grandfather, shortly before the 925 was announced… he was Scottish and the last few times we visited him were where he lived, right near the town of Stirling. My last memories of him are of having lunch at the foot of Stirling Castle. He also worked in the silver mines when he was a student, so it just made sense to swap the blue for the 925 from those perspectives. It took me a year or so to decide that it was the right thing to do. Re: the bracelet, given that the thickness is the same, that is an incredibly disappointing and petty move by Tudor and I’m glad you’re calling them out. Zero need for them to do that.
So the endlinks are different which makes sense due to the increased midcase height but as far as I can tell the spring bars are placed right around the same place as the BB58 spring bars bc NATO straps slip through just as easily! I usually go off the midlink widths to try and switch bracelets which made this 0.2mm change so irritating lol!
@@thewatchidiot That's so unfortunate that Tudor intentionally made those minor differences in the bracelet to prevent people from utilizing such a good bracelet and clasp.
I am not supporised that the bracelet swap is prevented. Tudor makes business by selling watches, not by selling parts. They also don't want to kill a existing model by introducing a new one, this is why Pro was introduced instead of a down sized Pepsi GMT.
Hey Watch Idiot - I’m curious if the Uncle Seiko half-link for the 58 bracelet would work on the Pro bracelet. Maybe you could give it a try for a video? With my extension all the way in, the bracelet isn’t snug enough, but when I remove a link and put the extension all the way out, it is still very snug on a sweltering day. Feels like half link would allow me to swell/contract and use the full range of adjustment.
Was going to go to the local Tudor AD to try and get the bracelet OEM to do this myself but glad to know I can’t. Also shame on Tudor for not just offering the T-Fit for customers as an aftermarket for BB58 owners. This kinda pisses me off but is so Rolex-esq it’s not even funny.
Well I've been debating buying a forstner jubilee and now it looks like that's what I'll be doing. Honestly kinda tired of this shit from Rolex family because the 58 won't fit my wrist due to the clasp. But idk what do I know I haven't worn it my 58 in 2 months because I can't stand it cutting into my wrist. Anyways I'm glad you made this video man, take care and I'll be looking forward to the next video!!
Forstner makes great bracelets for sure however if you want to spend less you can check out Uncle Seiko's half link for $30 if you think that loosening the bracelet will do the trick! Of course thats assuming you are ok with the look of the oem bracelet. ! I did a video here: ruclips.net/video/6mWWx4hrAI0/видео.html Yeah I'm tempted to file down some links to get it to fit so lets see what happens. Still not quite sure bc there will be no going back after trying to file it down! Thanks for the support!!
Get an Uncle Seiko BB58 half link and file it down if you don't want to use an original link. That way if you stuff it up, the half link is cheap. Sounds like a 5 minute job. Easy.
Yeah its in the works! I've got a half link on my BB58 bracelet now but i actually need it to make the bracelet work lol. Its still irritating that someone would need to buy links and risk wasting money just to get the clasp to work on the BB58!
Mind-boggling. I guess this is to avoid owners buying only one bracelet watch, and then spending less by purchasing further BBs on stars. Petty, as you said.
@@thewatchidiot My plan is the buy the Uncle Seiko half-link for the 58 and file that down to hopefully use it as a connecting link between the 58 bracelet and the TFIT clasp.
It looks to me like they’re just trying to insure maximal sales of the next generation of the BB58, which undoubtedly will have the T-Fit clasp. Kind of a weasely way to do it, though.
Unfortunately the endlinks are different due to the different midcases so it wouldnt work. the only swap that is possible without modification between the two is putting the standard BB58 clasp onto the BB Pro lol! 😬
Business wise I understand their decision but I dislike their attitude by saying « we can’t make a thinner gmt movement for that price but we can spend money to make sure you can’t use your BB 58 bracelet » 😁🤦🏻♂️ Thks for the video, this combo is so cool... but this Pro is saddly too thick for me. My search for a sporty gmt is still on !
Well watching this was slightly annoying to see Tudor's efforts to stop you swapping the clasp. I have the Black Bay 58 Bronze which also has a T Fit clasp and this bracelet is 100% the same measurements as the standard 58 bracelet going off your measurements. So they already can make a 58 sized clasp and bracelet. But as the Pro is steel they have made efforts to stop you swapping. I'm assuming the end links are too thick to fit on the 58?
Yeah definitely disappointing to see that it was purposely designed to stop swapping! Yes unfortunately due the thicker midcase the BB Pro endlinks wont work here. Thanks for sharing that your BB58 bronze's midlinks are 9mm like the other BB58s because it further shows the intent. That being said, I cant help but think of how insane the BB Pro would look with a full bronze bracelet!😂😂 I need to make this happen one day!
@@thewatchidiot Well I am on the wait list for the pro. I was told 8 more people in front of me so hopefully it's not going to be too long left to wait. I should try and mock it up with that combo 😂(shame the bracelet won't actually fit though).
When it comes to the thin movement. There’s no way anyone can tell me they can’t make a thinner movement, they have the resources to do so, the issue is if they do it will take away sales from the bigger brother
oh yeah 100% they had 4 years since the launch of the BB41 GMT which is more than enough time to develop a thinner gmt movement based off of the BB58 movement. In pretty much every situation the idea of not wanting to take away sales from a sibling company would apply, but in this case even if Tudor did take away some sales, Rolex would still have multi year waitlists, which makes it sadder that the jump hasnt been made! Fingers crossed that Tudor is working on a thinner gmt as we speak for a BB58 GMT releases soon!
@@thewatchidiot Exactly, I’m pretty shocked they even let us have the BB58 but I guess the BB41 was too big and there was a gap in the wider market. A BB58 GMT would take sales from Rolex.. otherwise they would of made it by now. That’s my thoughts
Yeah lets see what happens in 2023 bc i really dont think that this clasp should be something that is only saved for special black bays. Its such a useful feature and the BB58 deserves one! Until then I'll keep my fingers crossed lol!
Join the discussion on my Black Bay Pro post on WatchCrunch! www.watchcrunch.com/the.watch.idiot/posts/bb-pro-gray-nato-just-too-good-8730
Glad they did
Tudor going out of their way to make the bracelet and clasp not interchangeable was extremely petty and such a slap to the face to previous customers.
Exactly what rolex is doing with their customers. They could easily offer oysterflex or jubilee to buy as aftermarket strap, but....no. just no.
Nice video!
I agree - I wish Tudor would spend development dollars on more important things. Here’s another idea for them - make the adjustable clasp available as a kit for a all the BB watches and charge people for it and make the new watches with it out of the box. Like, bring people into the tent rather than working so hard to keep the out
Yeah i agree with all your points! They might as well make some money on the side by selling these clasps for like 300-400 dollars! so far the quotes for a BB Pro bracelet on its own is $850 so if they push clasp production a bit more they can make quite a bit of money. I kinda wish they made the BB Pro with an oyster style bracelet bc at that point incompatibility would make more sense and i think it would have looked pretty awesome too!
Great video. I find the move on Tudor to be petty. They anticipated that bb58 owners would want the updated bracelet of the Pro, so instead of rewarding good customers, they placed preventative measures. I’m a fan of Tudor watches, but they seem to purposefully nerf their products to not compete too heavily with Rolex. This is a clear example of purposely making their product worse so that they can avoid the sales of bracelets along with forcing people to have to buy a BBPro, which doesn’t compete with the BB58. Its similar to when a company puts security screws on their product because they don’t want the community to fix components. It sours my feelings toward Tudor.
once ive adjusted a strap properly ive never needed to adjust it any time of the year, people just want for the sake of having it, same as i did on a seamaster, but i never got to use it cos i did the bracelet properly to start with!
I really hope that Tudor introduces the glide lock clasp on the BB58 like they have on the Pro. Also it would be nice to have the same crown. I just picked up the Pro and love it. The clasp and the crown really make this watch stand out against the BB58. If they make those changes I'll definitely pick one up. Thank you for your vids really informative.
You have to love it when a company will actively spend money to stop you giving them money and in the process make themselves look utterly ridiculous.
Great content as is definitely something a lot of BB58 owners wanted to know, me included.
The Pro is a strap monster with the black, steel and soft tone of the lume but I do think without the bracelet, the then visible case side between the lugs makes it look too tall proportionatley.
I personally don't like the overlapping lume pips too, it could have been done and avoided that, like the BB GMT is. If Tudor end up doing a BB58 GMT with a thinner movement, the Pro would become the BB Black sheep...... 😉
Keep these videos coming man. Thanks for answering this question! A T-Fit clasp is what the BB 58 needs.
Thanks for the video. I was waiting for someone to do a video about this and even inquired w/ my AD when the BB Pro launched about using the adjustable clasp on the BB58 and they said that it wasn't possible and that Tudor wouldn't allow it. Now I see that they actually went as far as making subtle changes to prevent swapping clasps.
Conversion link is a great idea!
Hopefully the comments section becomes an impromptu petition lol! I would buy it in a heartbeat!
Great video! I had read this already, but it was nice to see all the measurements and have it laid out in a video.
I have a 58 and the Pro bracelet on order separately. My current plan is to buy the Uncle Seiko half-link and file that down to hopefully fit between the TFIT clasp and the 58 bracelet.
Sure thing, I'm all about detailed dimensions!! Your uncle Seiko half link idea is an awesome one bc $60 is totally worth the risk especially if it means that you can use the awesome clasp (also it'll make the most use of your bracelet order lol!) Btw how much did the bracelet alone cost? I heard it's $850 from one person but ADs often charge different prices
@@thewatchidiot Agreed, definitely worth the risk of getting it to fit at this price. I actually talked to him about the idea of making a link specifically for connecting them and he wasn’t opposed to it.
They didn’t have an exact price yet when I ordered it, but yeah they quoted me $850.
Hopefully the comments section serves as an impromptu petition! I did it for my beloved Seiko SNE569 I just need to send it over to Larry. Good to hear that he's open to making a conversion link bc his BB58 half link was a life saver for me so hopefully he can make the BB58 even better!
In case you wanted more confirmation that it's deliberate, my BB58 bronze doesn't have the notch on the end links and the mid links are 9mm. They didn't bother because they were different materials.
For the issue you mentioned at 2:28, I am confused. Are you trying to swap the bracelet by removing the center link but not the whole bracelet that attached to the lugs? From the video seems the notch is only on the outside of the center link but not the actual lug itself, wouldn't it be much easier to remove the whole parts that attach to the lugs and swap it?
I'm happy with my Omegas and my Seiko divers, but if Tudor one day get their act together and put a T-fit on the standard BB58 then I'll probably dive in. I used to have the original Black Bay and it sat too awkwardly high, and quite often I couldn't get the right fit, so yeah BB58 with T-fit would be *chef's kiss*
Wow! Tudor/Rolex went to some great lengths to make sure the TFIT clasp can not be retrofitted. Pretty lousy of them. But par for the course for how Rolex treats its customers, so I am not surprised (I love my Tudor and Rolex watches, just not a fan of the company).
Yeah for sure however i was hoping that it would be like when Rolex said that the new Batmans with the jubilees wouldnt work with the oyster bracelets, but we saw people switching anyway! But it just rubbed me the wrong way more so bc the bracelets are identical. I wish they made the BB Pro with an oyster style bracelet and then made it incompatible 😂
Could you just file the notch off of the pro bracelet and fit the 58 endlinks to the pro that way? If the mid link of the pro bracelet is 0.2mm smaller, I would think it’d fit?
This is exactly what I was thinking. It would take ~15 mins. Just file off the notch and swap. Even if you didn’t do a good job (worst case scenario) it would be on the underside of the watch. If you have a fine wheel on a bench grinder this is such an easy job with extremely minimal risk.
I’ve seen another video showing that the new Tudor Ranger bracelet which has quick adjust fits the BB58
Thanks for testing this!
Thank you again for doing this video! Obviously we all had our suspicions before hand that this would not work, but the confirmation was badly needed.
Looks great on all the straps which is no surprise because all Tudor tool watches are strap monsters, but on that grey Suede…my goodness. I’ve just ordered one for mine, super excited!!
I get that it may not be very profitable, but I’m surprised there isn’t a niche industry around making clasps, links, endlinks, and other parts that solve common issues with stock manufacturers bracelets. Imagine if you could buy 3rd party on the fly micro adjustable (OTFMA) claps for Sinn, or get a new non-gappy OTFMA clasp for the SARB033, or Tudor BB58, etc. Unfortunately, most solutions to these problems end up coming in the form of buying an entire after-market bracelet, and if we’re being honest, most of those options are worse than the original and introduce other problems that need fixing.
Agree all around. No one makes a good aftermarket quick adjust clasp. Strapcode has a diver extension clasp but it's HUGE.
If you want to see the best functioning quick adjust clasp on the market at any price point go look up the Citizen PMD56-2952. Ignore the very plain clasp body the mechanism is installed in, and focus on the functionality. It's advantages over other clasps on the market:
You can adjust it either direction without opening the clasp or removing the watch from you wrist like you have to do with some (like the Tudor, Rolex, and Christopher Ward clasps among others I'm sure)
Since it has an extra set of pushers that only work the quick adjust function you don't run the risk of opening the clasp while adjusting it like some clasps that use only a single set of pushers to adjust the quick adjust AND open the clasp like those found on other Citizen, Casio, or Seiko watches.
Not only is it functionally great, but it's also a very simple and easy to manufacture mechanism. That Citizen that uses that clasp cost about $500 FWIW. There's no excuse for any high end watch to not have a good quick adjust system.
@@dustingaddis2423 That feature on the Citizen is damn near perfect - wow! Can't understand why brands don't use that method more frequently. I mean, most diver's extensions are just useless unless you want to wear the watch over a wet suit or over your clothes - the length that it adds is ALWAYS too big for the simple swealing of the wrist. Then you have the way Rolex and others do it - it is great, but yeah you have to remove to watch from the wrist to adjust. That is fine by me, but I was seriously impressed with the Citizen.
Mido and Certina offer a great clasp as well, with quick adjust. Pretty much the same as the StrapCode or the Long Island Watch versions, but smaller and better fitting on the bracelet (doesn't leave the huge gaps between the clasp and bracelet). Just cheak the Ocean Star 200c or the DS Action Diver 43mm as examples. But they are bviously specific to their bracelets - they aren't supposed to be swapped. And the Citizen's versions seems like a better way.
" For every problem, there's at least a solution, " and this is no exception.
The easiest, least fuss way to get that T-fit / glide lock clasp to fit onto different mid links bracelets is to use the bracelet disassembly repair tool kit / set. However, these specialized tools are not cheap as it's meant for watch bracelet repairers. This method solves the main issue. However, there will be minor gaps in between joined different links on its sides with slightly different tappering profile near the clasp.
An alternative method to the mentioned is to use manual hand stretching. You need two pliers to do the job of stretching the targeted side links in order to fit the mid link from clasp. As precaution, both pliers teeth and targeted side links must be wrapped to avoid possible surface damages during stretching.
Another alternative method would be to get an OEM bracelet that would accommodate the clasp, which isn't an issue.
The final option to consider is to get different female endlinks for either a modified or OEM bracelet. Just bear in mind that these options aren't perfect solutions yet do provide best possible solutions for its just a matter of perspectives.
Hope these provided options would be purposeful into your understanding of possible solutions to your bracelet - clasp issues.
Best regards 😎⌚👍
Thanks for the thorough and thoughtful comment! yeah a bracelet repair kit would be effective and actually it would actually be pretty fun to try using the tools on a spare or cheap bracelet! Although i would be too scared to use it on my BB Pro bracelet lol I'll leave it to the pros in this case😂
Actually another way that I thought of before was trying to file down the edges of the midlinks by 0.1mm on either side to help it slip in which would be the cheapest (free) way of potentially solving the issue, but of course that too would involve risk as well. Either way lets see what happens next! Take care!
Don't be scared of trying for these parts are meant to be easily accessible and serviceable@@thewatchidiot.
Filing is the worst possible option because you still need to disassemble the links before any filing can be done or unintended damages will happen as it's not exactly accurate and problematic.
I think these little size differences are from the Rolex boardroom. They probably don’t want bb pros floating around with bb58 clasps and vice versa. It also shows that the faux rivets are here to stay mainly to prevent Tudor from stealing sales from Rolex.
It could be 0.2mm thickness change is needed for the clasp to work, try measuring the pelagos mid links and then check the ratios as well. There could be an annoying technical reason to explain it
Tudor is doing the best it can to make me buy an Omega Seamaster 300M, instead of the Black Bay 58 with T-fit clasp!
The Seamaster 300M has an awful bracelet. If you buy that watch, it won't be for a better bracelet, sadly.
Even though I'm not a fan of the riveted bracelet, I love the Black Bay Pro 😎
Lately I've been having a blast with "animating" these Tudors in the browsers: wanted to share one I made of this model, but all my comments were taken down, so I gave up
I have the BB Pro, BB58 Black, and BB58 Bronze... For me, the sizing on the BB58 Black isn't the issue... its the way the clasp fits within the bracelet.
My issue is a non-issue for someone with larger wrists... but the way the clasps sits, it kinks out a the bottom... if you hold it upsidedown by the clasp, you will see it sits wider than the watch case. Hard to explain, easy to show...
This problem does not exist on the Bronze or the Black Bay Pro...
Mate i just love your vids!! Keep it up!
Oh man thank you so much, that means a lot to me! Glad you're enjoying the videos, and lots more to come this year!😁
Excellent video, I must say that sounds like Tudor is playing a few little games here
I was at an AD last week with my BB58 on the wrist, I tried on the Pro and asked if they would just sell me the clasp, (is it something I could order)
They told me I can purchase the bracelet if I want to....wait for it...$1000 😳
Thanks for sharing this video, top stuff
Funny how they didn't tell you that it would not fit
@@waynesellers4078 yeah I thought of that, maybe they didn't know themselves as this is news to me as well.
yeah Tudor definitely did that so you would have to buy a whole new watch if you want that bracelet. I was thinking about getting a black Bay 58 until they showed off this new bracelet and I'm like yo I'm going to wait for that to come to the 58
Omega did the same thing with the speed master 3861 and the chronoscope… I purchased the chronoscope clasp with the quick adjust and milled the clasp link 2mm and it worked 😂
This is the Rolex think tank! they are notorious for this kind of stuff.
Looool and here I was thinking that I could outsmart them! I wish the bracelets were different bc it would have made me feel better about the incompatibility 😂
This is so funny… it’s like Tudor trying to play a prank on us 😅
Have you noticed the t fit on the pro bracelet moving while wearing the bracelet? Wondering if anyone else experienced this, as mine adjusts while wearing, kind of annoying
That last link by the clasp is removable.
Can you please do a video sharing how do you manage wearing/rotating your watch collection? I used to have just one watch and enjoyed the simplicity of it. After I became obsessed and started to add more watches, I have this issue with unable to decide which watch to wear every day. It almost feels like a curse in the blessing. Every watch enthusiast must have gotten through this experience and dilemma as their collection grows. I'm interested in what is the next progression of this hobby. Thanks again for your help.
Good point sir, we are spoilt for choice,first world problem lol😂
Thanks for the review. Good point on the bracelet notch. TFIT non-fit is a disappointment. What a shame.
I do hope US comes up with a link to enable integration of the TFIT to BB58 bracelet. Assuming the TFITs can be purchased separately.
Great video! The aftermarket will take care of the end link or another solution is the grind the side of the end links!.
I think the BB pro maybe a prerequisite to a BB58 GMT.
Actually I don’t really think that! I wish that! I would love a BB 58 GMT watch in 39mm and thinner than the current BB GMT.
Given that the BB Pro and BB 58 both have 20mm lug widths, can you just purchase a 'replacement BB Pro bracelet' from your local AD then just fit that to your 58?
What an annoying and petty bit of superfluous engineering! THIS makes me want to sell my BBP and ditch Tudor! Thanks for the effort of this discovery!
if it was possible to buy the T-Fit clasp on it's own form an AD and Uncle Seiko could make a conversion link that would be absolutely awsome...I doubt Tudor will sell the clasp though....
They're not concerned about cannibalizing sales between the BB58 and the BB Pro. They're concerned about cannibalizing sales of the inevitable stainless steel BB58 v2 with T-fit clasp. 👍
I'm having a watchmaker do it right I'll let you know how it turns but they're
Oh wow that's disappointing to see and I agree it does almost have an air of pettiness 😂 either way at least they came out with the clasp I'm hoping this means that the clasp will come out on the BB58 next year. Not to be compatible with the BB Pro of course hahah
Yeah agreed! And in the end I'm happy that the BB Pro has the TFIT clasp and the BB58 is still pretty comfy albeit it can be a nuisance in the summer. Fingers crossed that they upgrade the BB58 next year and I'll try swapping and most likely fail once again!
Love this video, shows how far they went to stop us from using the TFit!
Thank you so much glad you enjoyed the video! Yeah its pretty wild to see how big an issue this is for them, they arent going to spend money for nothing!
I can only assume they may well update the 58 clasp and are not wanting people to be able to swap. i.e you buy one of the watches on a strap to save some money.
Thanks for making this video. Saved me a trip to the AD.... Darn it.
When I had to send my BB58 back for service (bezel misalignment) the AD said we have to take the 3rd party strap off it and put back the Tudor original otherwise they'll just throw mine out! Tudor must be very insecure about their straps/bracelets
Can't you fit the clasp directly using springbars? Not sure why you are trying to fit links from different watches together just to replace the clasp.
I love the black rubber strap combo 😍
Be interesting to see if the bronze bracelet has the same specs as the new pro bracelet?
I got the call to pick mine up this week. Absolutely love the watch, although learning this about the bracelet really is annoying. I’m curious… are the links themselves thicker? The watch head seems a fair bit heavier than the standard 58 so I wonder if they made the links a bit thicker to help with the balance of the watch.
I don’t have my 58 blue anymore, so I can’t say for sure, but I feel like the Pro’s bracelet might be a bit thicker. 🤔
Thats so awesome man, congrats on the new pickup!! SO excited for yo uand so glad to hear that you're enjoying it as much as you are. Surprised to hear that the BB58 Blue has left the collection though! Was it a one in one out kind of situation or did the BB58 just fade away?
So thats the one thing I forgot to include in the recording but the thickness of the links are exactly the same! Literally the only difference is 0.1mm on either side of the midlinks!!! I'd have felt a lot better if it came with an oyster style bracelet and then i found out they were incompatible lol. I think it would have looked a bit better too!
@@thewatchidiot thanks man! The watch has far exceeded my expectations and I think you perfectly summarized the pros and cons of the watch in your review. Even still, I was surprised by how much more good-looking the watch is in the metal… I’m usually not a fan of fauxtina, but the tones of the dial somehow make sense with the vintage aesthetic of the case and bezel.
I learned something cool about the lume application process, which I’ll share with you via DM on Instagram…
I ended up trading my BB58 Blue for the BB58 925. The decision was driven more by sentimental factors… I originally bought the blue as a tribute to my grandfather, shortly before the 925 was announced… he was Scottish and the last few times we visited him were where he lived, right near the town of Stirling. My last memories of him are of having lunch at the foot of Stirling Castle. He also worked in the silver mines when he was a student, so it just made sense to swap the blue for the 925 from those perspectives. It took me a year or so to decide that it was the right thing to do.
Re: the bracelet, given that the thickness is the same, that is an incredibly disappointing and petty move by Tudor and I’m glad you’re calling them out. Zero need for them to do that.
Apparently the Ranger bracelet fits the BB58? Anyone know about this?
how about swapping the whole bracelet including end links? not sure if it’s compatible that way. good video m8
Does the BB Pro end links and bracelet not fit the BB58 directly? Or did they change the spring bar hole location to prevent us from doing so too?
So the endlinks are different which makes sense due to the increased midcase height but as far as I can tell the spring bars are placed right around the same place as the BB58 spring bars bc NATO straps slip through just as easily! I usually go off the midlink widths to try and switch bracelets which made this 0.2mm change so irritating lol!
@@thewatchidiot That's so unfortunate that Tudor intentionally made those minor differences in the bracelet to prevent people from utilizing such a good bracelet and clasp.
I want the BB58 with a tfit clasp. I guess Tudor is stuck, they can’t make this change in a shipping model
Can we swap the claps on BB58 to the BB 36 for quick micro adjustment?
Check out the Pagani design PD1706. Bracelet is easy to modify and it won't break the bank.
How easy is the Pro to change the straps? Tempted to get a nato for mine in the future
Any idea if the t-fit clasp from the ranger fits on a bb58 bracelet. I have seen that the whole bracelet fits
I am not supporised that the bracelet swap is prevented. Tudor makes business by selling watches, not by selling parts. They also don't want to kill a existing model by introducing a new one, this is why Pro was introduced instead of a down sized Pepsi GMT.
Hey Watch Idiot - I’m curious if the Uncle Seiko half-link for the 58 bracelet would work on the Pro bracelet. Maybe you could give it a try for a video? With my extension all the way in, the bracelet isn’t snug enough, but when I remove a link and put the extension all the way out, it is still very snug on a sweltering day. Feels like half link would allow me to swell/contract and use the full range of adjustment.
Was going to go to the local Tudor AD to try and get the bracelet OEM to do this myself but glad to know I can’t. Also shame on Tudor for not just offering the T-Fit for customers as an aftermarket for BB58 owners. This kinda pisses me off but is so Rolex-esq it’s not even funny.
Are the Tudor professional and the new ranger bracelet interchangeable
Easy fix get a half link from uncle seiko and file it down to 8.8 mm .. job done
Hi
Would a bb 58 bracelet work with a bb pro. I have the nato version but would like a steel bracelet and can’t get one at the moment from Tudor.
Well I've been debating buying a forstner jubilee and now it looks like that's what I'll be doing. Honestly kinda tired of this shit from Rolex family because the 58 won't fit my wrist due to the clasp. But idk what do I know I haven't worn it my 58 in 2 months because I can't stand it cutting into my wrist. Anyways I'm glad you made this video man, take care and I'll be looking forward to the next video!!
Forstner makes great bracelets for sure however if you want to spend less you can check out Uncle Seiko's half link for $30 if you think that loosening the bracelet will do the trick! Of course thats assuming you are ok with the look of the oem bracelet. ! I did a video here: ruclips.net/video/6mWWx4hrAI0/видео.html
Yeah I'm tempted to file down some links to get it to fit so lets see what happens. Still not quite sure bc there will be no going back after trying to file it down! Thanks for the support!!
Buy the half link from Uncle Seiko and your original bracelet will fit like a dream! 😉👍🏻
Petty is the right word mate, the only way to get the tfit on a BB58 is going for the Boutique edition...
It's the rolex game. When they come out with bb58 on a tfit, they want people to buy a new watch, not bust the clasp.
Get an Uncle Seiko BB58 half link and file it down if you don't want to use an original link. That way if you stuff it up, the half link is cheap. Sounds like a 5 minute job. Easy.
Yeah its in the works! I've got a half link on my BB58 bracelet now but i actually need it to make the bracelet work lol. Its still irritating that someone would need to buy links and risk wasting money just to get the clasp to work on the BB58!
The video we were waiting for
yessss ive been waiting to do this video pretty much since i first saw the TFIT clasp when it was released with the BB Pro 1.5 months ago!
Mind-boggling. I guess this is to avoid owners buying only one bracelet watch, and then spending less by purchasing further BBs on stars. Petty, as you said.
Did you sell your bb58 925?
Nope I've still got it!! Definitely a cool piece in the collection so I don't think it's going to be leaving any time soon😁
lol would it work if file down the mid-link by 0.2mm to fit the clasp?
Are the end links not interchangeable? Considering they are both 39 mm
A metal file would do the trick :)
Yeah I was super temtped to file it but the risk of ruining a link is just too high! But I'm still tempted and might do it anyway😂
@@thewatchidiot My plan is the buy the Uncle Seiko half-link for the 58 and file that down to hopefully use it as a connecting link between the 58 bracelet and the TFIT clasp.
@@Harris.Justus 9000 IQ
Oooooooo that sounds like a good plan! $60 is worth the risk considering that the upside is so huge. That's an awesome idea😁
Yeah thats a good idea
Watch Crunch doesn’t have a mobile app?
Has anyone found any links that will allow this to work?
Thanks Bro you are the best . Thanks for the info. You just gain another subscriber
It looks to me like they’re just trying to insure maximal sales of the next generation of the BB58, which undoubtedly will have the T-Fit clasp. Kind of a weasely way to do it, though.
I have the black bay pro on rubber. Will the 58 bracelet fit on the pro? So vice versa lol
Unfortunately the endlinks are different due to the different midcases so it wouldnt work. the only swap that is possible without modification between the two is putting the standard BB58 clasp onto the BB Pro lol! 😬
Smart move by tudor.
Why not just swap the whole bracelet?
Business wise I understand their decision but I dislike their attitude by saying « we can’t make a thinner gmt movement for that price but we can spend money to make sure you can’t use your BB 58 bracelet » 😁🤦🏻♂️
Thks for the video, this combo is so cool... but this Pro is saddly too thick for me. My search for a sporty gmt is still on !
New Ranger bracelet fits the BB58. Problem solved!
Flabbergasted.....I feel your pain..... great video
Yeah it was quite the shock when I saw that 8.8mm measurement lol! Thanks, happy to hear you enjoyed the video!
Well watching this was slightly annoying to see Tudor's efforts to stop you swapping the clasp. I have the Black Bay 58 Bronze which also has a T Fit clasp and this bracelet is 100% the same measurements as the standard 58 bracelet going off your measurements. So they already can make a 58 sized clasp and bracelet. But as the Pro is steel they have made efforts to stop you swapping. I'm assuming the end links are too thick to fit on the 58?
Yeah definitely disappointing to see that it was purposely designed to stop swapping! Yes unfortunately due the thicker midcase the BB Pro endlinks wont work here. Thanks for sharing that your BB58 bronze's midlinks are 9mm like the other BB58s because it further shows the intent. That being said, I cant help but think of how insane the BB Pro would look with a full bronze bracelet!😂😂 I need to make this happen one day!
@@thewatchidiot Well I am on the wait list for the pro. I was told 8 more people in front of me so hopefully it's not going to be too long left to wait. I should try and mock it up with that combo 😂(shame the bracelet won't actually fit though).
Maybe a bb58 black with a bronze clasp instead would have to do for now 👀
Put the Ranger bracelet on the BB58. Problem solved.
Good review
Thanks glad you enjoyed it!!
Why on earth would they not make them interchangeable...............
Why would they
very interesting!!
Thanks, glad you enjoyed the video!
When it comes to the thin movement. There’s no way anyone can tell me they can’t make a thinner movement, they have the resources to do so, the issue is if they do it will take away sales from the bigger brother
oh yeah 100% they had 4 years since the launch of the BB41 GMT which is more than enough time to develop a thinner gmt movement based off of the BB58 movement. In pretty much every situation the idea of not wanting to take away sales from a sibling company would apply, but in this case even if Tudor did take away some sales, Rolex would still have multi year waitlists, which makes it sadder that the jump hasnt been made! Fingers crossed that Tudor is working on a thinner gmt as we speak for a BB58 GMT releases soon!
@@thewatchidiot Exactly, I’m pretty shocked they even let us have the BB58 but I guess the BB41 was too big and there was a gap in the wider market. A BB58 GMT would take sales from Rolex.. otherwise they would of made it by now. That’s my thoughts
I'd butchered one link with sandpaper and a Dremel tool like a peasant. Nobody's gonna know...they're gonna know 😁😅😂
Fear of competing with rolex is holding tudor back SO much.
i have no doubt uncle seiko is on it. unbelievably petty from tudor.
i can only hope this is Tudor paving way for a BB58 update with the new bracelet. otherwise it's just dumb
Yeah lets see what happens in 2023 bc i really dont think that this clasp should be something that is only saved for special black bays. Its such a useful feature and the BB58 deserves one! Until then I'll keep my fingers crossed lol!
They cannot even get the clasp and inarticulate links right!
Good job Tudor 😂