Tudor Black Bay 58 Leather Strap: 20mm Picks and Fit Guide
The best Tudor Black Bay 58 leather strap is 20 mm at the lugs and 3.5 to 4.5 mm thick, which suits the 39 mm case Tudor lists. Brown waxed cowhide or cognac patina works on most versions, and XILUGS makes both to order from $69.
The Black Bay 58 is Tudor's 39 mm dive watch, described by the brand as a tribute to its 1950s divers. A leather strap turns that tool watch into something warmer for the office or the weekend, as long as the width, thickness and buckle all match the case.
Every number below comes from Tudor's own product pages, so you can check your reference before ordering.
What size strap fits a Tudor Black Bay 58?
Order 20 mm. Tudor lists a 20 mm lug width for the steel Black Bay 58, and the same figure for the bronze, 18K gold, 925 silver and GMT versions. Case thickness is the number that moves between models, from 11.7 to 12.8 mm.
| Version | Case height | Strap to try |
|---|---|---|
| Steel | 11.7 mm | Flat, 3.5 mm |
| Bronze | 11.9 mm | Flat, 4.5 mm |
| 18K gold | 12.7 mm | Flat, 3.5 mm |
| 925 silver | 12.7 mm | Padded, 4.5 mm |
| GMT | 12.8 mm | Padded, 4.5 mm |
Tudor's pages for the bronze, 18K gold, 925 silver and GMT models give those heights. The last column is our own starting point, not a rule from Tudor.
- Lug end: choose 20 mm, then pick how far the strap tapers toward the buckle.
- Length: set it from your wrist measurement, since the watch does not change it.
- Between two lengths: say so in your order note and the workshop will advise before cutting.
How thick should a Black Bay 58 strap be?
Aim for 3.5 to 4.5 mm at the lug. Every version sits between 11.7 and 12.8 mm tall, inside the 10 to 13 mm band where we suggest that range. A 2.5 mm strap can look like a ribbon beside the rotating bezel, while 5 mm and above starts to crowd a 39 mm case.
Flat XILUGS straps come at 2.5, 3.5 or 4.5 mm at the lug end, and padded straps at 3.5, 4.5, 5.0 or 5.5 mm. All of them taper toward the buckle, so the section on top of your wrist is thinner than the number you order.
The taller 925 and GMT cases are the ones that reward padding, because a raised center fills the space between the lugs. For the thinner steel model, flat at 3.5 mm looks clean and slides under a cuff. Our guide to padded vs flat straps by case thickness explains each profile.
If you already wear the watch on a strap you like, compare its height at the lug with these numbers. That is the quickest test of whether you want to go thinner or fuller.
Which leather color suits each version?
Pick the leather from the case metal first, then fine-tune it to the dial. These pairings are where we would start for each model Tudor currently lists.
Steel case
- Leather: brown waxed cowhide or cognac patina for warmth, or black Epsom for a sharper look.
- Burgundy dial: stay with dark brown or black, so the strap does not compete with the red tone.
- Buckle: silver.
Bronze case
- Leather: dark brown or coffee patina, which sits well beside Tudor's brown-bronze dial.
- Buckle: gold for warmth, or black for something quieter.
925 silver case
- Leather: gray, taupe or light brown, soft neutrals that echo the taupe dial.
- Buckle: silver.
18K gold case
- Leather: brown ostrich or alligator, since an exotic hide suits a precious metal.
- Buckle: gold. Alligator bound for the US has extra paperwork, covered in our alligator strap guide.
GMT
- Leather: black Epsom or a black rally strap, which keeps the travel-watch look sporty.
- Buckle: silver.
If you only own two straps, one brown and one black cover almost every outfit with a steel Black Bay 58.
Which strap works best for everyday wear?
A slightly rugged leather fits a dive watch. Our waxed cowhide watch straps have a soft, matte surface that wears in with use, so small marks blend in instead of standing out. Signature Patina straps go the other way: smoother, with more depth of color from the hand dyeing.
Want something sportier? A strap with racing holes suits the diver heritage and lets air reach your wrist on warm days. Our rally strap guide explains the hole patterns and colored underlays.
For dressier evenings, ostrich brings texture without the formality of alligator. The raised quill bumps catch the light, and our comparison of full quill, smooth and leg ostrich shows how far that texture varies across the hide.
Leather is still not for swimming, whatever depth rating the watch carries. Keep the bracelet or a rubber strap for the water, then switch back afterward.
Which buckle and spring bars suit the BB58?
Match the buckle to the case. It is the second piece of metal on your wrist, so the same finish makes the watch look complete. Classic buckles come in silver, gold, rose gold and black at no extra cost, and two other closures are worth a look on this watch:
- Pre-V buckle (+$5): a more tool-watch shape that suits a diver.
- Butterfly clasp (+$10): the strap stays on your wrist as you open it.
Whichever you pick, it arrives in the finish you selected, fitted at the bench and checked for play.
Either spring bar type fits 20 mm lugs. Quick-release bars have a small lever, so you can swap straps in seconds, which is handy if you rotate between leather and the bracelet. Regular bars need a tool, and every order includes one in its wooden box.
At our Ha Noi bench the buckle goes on at step 15 of the 18 steps, and spring bars follow at step 16, before boxing, so the strap arrives ready for your watch. You can read every stage on our 18-step crafting process page.
Four Black Bay 58 straps we would start with
Each one can be made at 20 mm, with the thickness and buckle you choose on the product page.
- Flat Brown Waxed Cowhide Leather Watch Strap, from $69: an easy everyday match for steel.
- Flat Cognac Hand-Dyed Patina Leather Watch Strap, from $69: warm tones for a dark dial.
- Flat Black Epsom Rally Strap with Red Racing Holes, from $75: sporty, and a natural fit for the GMT.
- Flat Brown Full Quill Ostrich Leather Watch Strap, from $109: texture for evenings.
Want a color that is not listed? Design your own Black Bay 58 strap in the builder and see each choice before you order. One artisan then makes it in 3 to 5 business days, and US delivery takes a further 10 to 12 days for a flat $5.99.
FAQ
What is the best leather strap for a Tudor Black Bay 58?
For most steel models, a 20 mm brown or cognac strap about 3.5 mm thick is the safest first choice. Warm brown softens the tool-watch look, and that thickness suits the 11.7 mm case Tudor lists. At XILUGS, waxed cowhide and hand-dyed patina straps start at $69.
What is the lug width of the Tudor Black Bay 58?
20 mm. Tudor lists that width for the steel, bronze, 18K gold, 925 silver and GMT versions, so a single strap size covers the whole family.
How thick is the Tudor Black Bay 58?
It depends on the version. Tudor lists 11.7 mm for steel, 11.9 mm for bronze, 12.7 mm for 18K gold and 925 silver, and 12.8 mm for the GMT.
Flat or padded for the Black Bay 58?
Both work. Flat at 3.5 mm looks clean on the steel model and slides under a cuff, while padded at 4.5 mm looks sportier and fills the lugs on the taller 925 and GMT cases.
Which buckle color goes with a bronze BB58?
Gold is the closest in warmth, and black looks understated. Silver tends to look out of place beside bronze.
Before you order, check your wrist against our watch strap size guide and choose 20 mm at the lugs.
