Tudor Black Bay 58 vs Belhamel Contra A39
Can an enthusiast-built microbrand diver beat one of today’s most talked-about heritage watch?
by Belhamel
Jun 25, 2025
The Tudor Black Bay Fifty-Eight has become the default recommendation for anyone wanting vintage Submariner charm without Rolex prices. Belhamel’s Contra A39 targets the same 39 millimetre sweet spot while adding tougher depth rating, hardened steel and limited-run exclusivity at a fraction of the cost. Let’s see how they compare.
QUICK SPEC SHEET
Tudor Black Bay 58 79030N |
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Belhamel Contra A39 |
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Case
39 mm 316L stainless steel, 11.9 mm thick, 47 mm lug-to-lug, 20 mm lugs
39 mm 316L stainless steel, 11.8 mm thick, 47 mm lug-to-lug, 20 mm lugs
DEPTH RATING
200 m WR
300 m WR
Movement
Tudor MT5402, COSC, 70 h PR
Miyota 9039, 42 h PR, 28 800 bph
ACCURACY
COSC −4/+6 s day
−10/+30 s day
Bezel
Aluminium insert, gilt markings, 120-click
Brushed steel insert, engraved minutes, 120-click
Crystal
Domed sapphire
Double-domed sapphire, inner AR
Price
USD 3,950 RRP
USD 519, limited 500 pieces
DESIGN comparison
The Black Bay 58 leans hard into late-1950s Submariner aesthetics: gilt dial print, snowflake hour hand and a matte black aluminium bezel. The Contra A39 keeps the same compact footprint but pares the dial to applied indices, polished sword hands and a subtle orange minute track. Its brushed steel bezel resists scratches better than aluminium and reinforces the watch’s modern-minimal look. Both cases use broad satin brushing broken by crisp polished chamfers. Belhamel’s surface hardening boosts scratch resistance for daily wear. At under 12 mm, either watch slips easily under a cuff. The Contra A39 bracelet offers tool-free micro-adjust for instant sizing; Tudor’s rivet-look bracelet lacks that convenience.
performance comparison
The Tudor Black Bay Fifty-Eight 79030N is rated for 200 meters of water resistance and is powered by Tudor’s in-house calibre MT5402, which delivers a 70-hour power reserve and is COSC-certified to run within –4/+6 seconds per day. The movement’s free-sprung balance and silicon hairspring add shock and magnetism resistance, so owners can leave the watch off for an entire weekend and put it back on Monday without resetting the time. Belhamel’s Contra A39 is built for tougher duty with a 300-meter depth rating. It uses the high-beat Miyota 9039, a thin automatic calibre that offers a 42-hour reserve and typically runs in the −10/+30 seconds per day range out of the box. Although it is not chronometer-certified, the 9039 is easy for a watchmaker to regulate more tightly, and its slimmer profile helps the A39 stay under 12 millimeters thick even with the higher water resistance. In practical terms the Contra A39 provides an extra 100 meters of water-proofing for peace of mind during swimming or diving, while the Black Bay 58 offers a longer power reserve and stricter chronometer accuracy right from the factory. Choosing between them comes down to whether you value higher depth capability and lower servicing costs or prefer Tudor’s longer autonomy and guaranteed precision.
PRICE-TO-SPEC VERDICT
VALUE
Contra A39 delivers hardened steel, deeper rating and boutique exclusivity for roughly one-seventh of the Tudor price.
BRAND HERITAGE
Tudor offers sixty years of dive-watch lore; Belhamel swaps that for indie freshness.
FINISHING
Both are sharp for their tiers; hardness treatment on the Contra A39 narrows the gap further.
MOVEMENT
MT5402 wins on reserve and chronometer spec; Miyota 9039 is thinner, affordable to service and proven reliable.
DESIGN
Choose Tudor for gilt nostalgia, choose Belhamel for minimalist clarity with a pop of colour.
AVAILABILITY
Tudor is easy to find through ADs with regular stock; the Contra A39 is limited to 500 pieces.
WHICH SHOULD YOU BUY?
Tudor Black Bay 58 79030N
Belhamel Contra A39
You want historic brand cachet, snowflake-hand charm and an in-house chronometer movement.
You prefer a cleaner dial, higher depth rating and exclusivity without stretching the budget.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Queries for “Tudor Black Bay 58 specs” and “Black Bay 58 alternative” pull significant search traffic. The Belhamel Contra A39 answers that interest with equal wrist presence, tougher water rating and hardened finishing at a far lower price. If the Black Bay 58 is on your radar, give the Contra A39 a serious look.
Dive Watches
Tudor Black Bay 58
Belhamel Contra A39
