Reference No.: 79220R
 
Generally the 888 Timepieces descriptions are not written in first person, but allow me to suspend the professional Joseph Sugarman copywriting act for a moment to discuss this watch:
 
First, this is the most complete 79220R I’ve seen. It’s astoundingly complete and absolutely must go to a Tudor collector. The entire kit is a time capsule. It was purchased many years ago by customer’s father, who was an avid Tudor collector. He wore it and there is evidence of that, but he maintained the kit well and kept as much of it together as possible.
 
One interesting difference with this piece is the use of the cream box (item 45599.04) instead of the darker brown box. The inner black box that bears this reference is the straight-edged, flat box which places the watch horizontally before the viewer. The inner pocket houses a booklet and the card holder. There’s a horizontal channel in the front of the box just below the watch which fits the bracelet or the nato. This particular watch comes with the original black nato strap, which appears to be pristine.
 
The watch was checked out in 2016 by the Rolex center in Dallas, presumably to fix an issue with the rotor. The record of service is included with the box. A carbon-copy “Service Request” paper is also included and unfilled.
 
The red tag is also. The watch was originally sold in Israel, and the pricing appears to be in Israeli new shekels. The print of the price is reminiscent of Hebrew script, which adds a unique facet to the watch.
 
The bracelet is the 95740 is very clean and comes in a small suede pouch. The bracelet is fully linked (but sized) and two links remain. The 681 end links are not included (though I am working on tracking some down). If I am able to find them before the watch sells, I will include them. There is also a small black polishing cloth which is included.
 
The “Smiley” is the last Black Bay Heritage on the ETA movement before Tudor introduced its new in-house movement to the Black Bay line. The Black Bay Heritage “Smiley” was discontinued in 2016 but collectors still flock to the reference for many details — the Smiley, the Tudor Rose logo on the crown, and a slimmer case.
 
As collectors prioritize their wants, the original Tudor Black Bay Heritage in Red (Ref. 79220R) remains high at the top of the wrist-list — a modern take on a vintage-inspired aesthetic pleases enthusiasts everywhere. Brushed lugs and chamfered edges provide a hearty nod to past Tudor military watches but still maintain a contemporary look. The ETA version wins out among most collectors due to its thinner profile and ease of wearing.
 
Under the hood is the ETA 2824 movement. Introduced in 1982 and beating at 28,800 vph with 25 jewels and a 38-hour reserve, the 2824 movement is a stalwart movement. It’s capable and robust, and it’s been iterated and perfected in the last thirty years to be good enough for virtually any watch with case dimensions to accommodate it. The ETA 2824-2 was selected because it does the basics well, and this is very much a simple Tudor.
 
The ETA 2824 (folks in the know will often omit the “dash-two” at the end for brevity’s sake) is roughly 5mm thick — meaning that the Tudor Black Bay Heritage Smiley actually is a touch thinner than its newer counterpart, which improves the wearability. The watch is light but feels substantial, and when holding it in the hand, it feels like a great balance between artisan watchmaking and practicality.
 
Features & Specs:
Stainless steel case with chamfered lugs, no polish
Rose on the crown
Sapphire crystal
Rose gold hands
41mm case size
~13mm  thickness
 
Movement:
ETA 2824-2
25 jewels
38-hour power reserve
Self-winding (“Smiley” on the dial)
 
Scope of delivery:
Tudor Black Bay Heritage 41mm watch
OEM warranty card
Warranty card holder
White tag
Tudor microfiber polishing cloth
Booklets
Service Request paperwork
Service sleeve with invoice
OEM Tudor black nato, bagged
Tudor 95740 bracelet + extra links, but missing end link
Bracelet pouch
Inner black box
Outer cream box
Outer white sleeve