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Hands-On: Tudor Black Bay GMT 79830RB Review — The “Pepsi” Is the New Black Bay

The 2018 Tudor Black Bay GMT 79830RB pairs a familiar Black Bay design with a jumping local-hour hand and a burgundy-and-blue 24-hour bezel. Here’s how its GMT display works, what the reviews say about its size, and what to know about historical pricing and availability.
Estimate3–4 min Catalogued SpecialistWatchRanker Team
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The Tudor Black Bay GMT reference 79830RB takes the familiar Black Bay formula and adds a practical travel feature: an independently jumping local-hour hand. Its burgundy-and-blue 24-hour bezel gives it the red-and-blue look enthusiasts call “Pepsi,” but that is a nickname, not Tudor’s official model name. This is a hands-on review of the 2018 watch, not a claim about its current availability or price.

What the Black Bay GMT 79830RB is

Introduced in the 2018 Baselworld context, the Black Bay GMT is a 41 mm stainless-steel watch with a black domed dial and a bidirectional burgundy-and-blue bezel. The matte aluminum insert carries a 24-hour scale. On the dial, the familiar mix of triangular, circular and rectangular markers is joined by a red, snowflake-tipped hand for the second time zone. Time+Tide’s 2018 hands-on describes polished case sides and a satin-brushed top, and lists 200 m water resistance. Time+Tide’s review

“Pepsi” refers to the red-and-blue color pairing used on some GMT bezels. Tudor’s colors here are more subdued burgundy and blue, and the watch is officially the Black Bay GMT—not a Pepsi-named model. The design keeps the Black Bay’s visual identity while adding a 24-hour display and a bezel that can be turned to help track other time zones. Hodinkee’s review

How the GMT function works

Jump the local hour without stopping the watch

The defining travel function is the independently adjustable local-hour hand. It moves in one-hour increments without stopping the movement or disturbing the running minute and seconds hands. That lets a traveler advance or set the local time after landing while keeping the watch running. The date follows the local-hour adjustment when it crosses midnight. Time+Tide put it this way: “And local hour hand can be independently adjusted in one-hour increments without interfering with the running minutes and seconds.” Time+Tide

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#1 Best Overall
Tudor Black Bay Automatic Black Dial GMT Pepsi Bezel Men's Watch 79830RB-0002
  • Tudor Black Bay Automatic Black Dial GMT Pepsi Bezel Men's Watch 79830RB-0002

Track a reference time and read another zone

The red 24-hour hand can stay set to a reference time, such as home time. The bezel rotates against that hand’s indication to help read a further time-zone offset. With the appropriate conversion, the display can also be used to derive a third time zone. This is a useful distinction: the local hour hand handles the traveler’s current time, while the 24-hour hand and bezel provide reference-time readings. The bezel does not add another hand or an independently set display. Hodinkee

Movement and stated specifications

The watch uses Tudor manufacture caliber MT5652, an automatic movement with integrated GMT architecture. Time+Tide and Hodinkee report that it is COSC-certified and has a stated 70-hour power reserve. These are reported specifications and review observations; the 2018 hands-on coverage does not establish an independent timing-accuracy or power-reserve test. Time+Tide · Hodinkee

Rank #2
Sale
Tudor Black Bay GMT GMT Automatic Chronometer Opaline Dial Men's Watch M79830RB-0012
  • Tudor Black Bay GMT GMT Automatic Chronometer Opaline Dial Men's Watch M79830RB-0012

Case size, thickness and wearing impressions

The case diameter is 41 mm. Thickness figures vary by reviewer: Hodinkee describes it as about 15 mm, while Professional Watches reports 14.8 mm and a 50 mm lug-to-lug measurement. Treat these as attributed review measurements rather than a single exact figure; measurement conventions can differ. Hodinkee’s reviewer found the profile somewhat thick but liked how it wore and valued its travel function. That is an individual impression, not a guarantee of fit on every wrist. Hodinkee · Professional Watches

Bracelet and strap configurations in the 2018 review

Time+Tide documented the watch with a riveted steel bracelet, a black fabric strap with a burgundy stripe, and a brown “Terra di Siena” leather strap. These are configurations named in that historical review; they do not establish that every option is currently offered or in stock. Check fit and availability before choosing a replacement strap. Time+Tide

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Rank #3
Tudor Heritage Black Bay GMT Stainless Steel Automatic Mens Watch M79830RB-0001
  • 41mm steel case with polished and satin finish
  • Bidirectional rotatable bezel in steel with 24-hour graduated anodised aluminium disc
  • Self-winding mechanical movement with 70 hour power reserve

Price and availability today

The figures attached to the 2018 coverage are historical, not current buying guidance. Time+Tide reported an Australian price of A$4,670 on bracelet; Professional Watches reported US retail prices of $3,900 on bracelet and $3,575 on fabric. Neither figure establishes today’s price or resale value for reference 79830RB. Time+Tide · Professional Watches

Tudor’s current Black Bay family page shows current collection products and directs customers to official retailers, but it does not establish current production, stock or pricing for this GMT reference. For present-day availability, contact an official retailer rather than transferring prices or specifications from another Black Bay variant. Tudor Black Bay collection

Rank #4
Tudor GMT 58 Black Bay
  • Tudor Black Bay 58 GMT "Coke" Automatic 39mm Black Dial Men's Watch M7939G1A0NRU-0001
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Support on Ko-Fi

Who the Black Bay GMT suits

The 79830RB makes most sense for someone who wants a mechanical watch with a recognizable Black Bay design and a true jumping local-hour adjustment for travel. The rotating 24-hour bezel adds flexibility for reading another offset, while the substantial case profile and 41 mm diameter are important fit considerations. The historical coverage establishes the watch’s features and reviewer impressions, but not a current-market value or a universal fit verdict.

Quick Recap

Bestseller No. 1
Tudor Black Bay Automatic Black Dial GMT Pepsi Bezel Men's Watch 79830RB-0002
Tudor Black Bay Automatic Black Dial GMT Pepsi Bezel Men's Watch 79830RB-0002
Tudor Black Bay Automatic Black Dial GMT Pepsi Bezel Men's Watch 79830RB-0002
$4,900.00
SaleBestseller No. 2
Tudor Black Bay GMT GMT Automatic Chronometer Opaline Dial Men's Watch M79830RB-0012
Tudor Black Bay GMT GMT Automatic Chronometer Opaline Dial Men's Watch M79830RB-0012
Tudor Black Bay GMT GMT Automatic Chronometer Opaline Dial Men's Watch M79830RB-0012
$4,350.00
Bestseller No. 3
Tudor Heritage Black Bay GMT Stainless Steel Automatic Mens Watch M79830RB-0001
Tudor Heritage Black Bay GMT Stainless Steel Automatic Mens Watch M79830RB-0001
41mm steel case with polished and satin finish; Bidirectional rotatable bezel in steel with 24-hour graduated anodised aluminium disc
$4,650.00
Bestseller No. 4
Tudor GMT 58 Black Bay
Tudor GMT 58 Black Bay
Tudor Black Bay 58 GMT "Coke" Automatic 39mm Black Dial Men's Watch M7939G1A0NRU-0001
$5,449.98
Bestseller No. 5
TUDOR Black Bay 58 GMT
TUDOR Black Bay 58 GMT
Tudor Black Bay 58 GMT "Coke" Automatic Black Dial Men's Watch M7939G1A0NRU-0002
$5,550.00
Best Value
TUDOR Black Bay 58 GMT
  • Tudor Black Bay 58 GMT "Coke" Automatic Black Dial Men's Watch M7939G1A0NRU-0002

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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