Tudor is a Swiss brand with a rich heritage that dates all the way back to the 1920s, while pOrtahl is a new brand founded in 2020 and officially launching to the public in 2022 through a crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter. pOrtahl was founded based on the belief that watch design had come to a standstil.
Designs by the heritage brands, while once bold and refreshing, have become a dime a dozen. Especially with the rise in popularity of hommage watches, the most popular designs in the industry are available at nearly every (micro)brand on the market due to blatant copying and pasting what works.
In this article, we compare Tudor's Black Bay 58 to pOrtahl's Peacemaker automatic watch. Two timepieces that are quite literally from different worlds. Not just pricewise, but also design-wise.
One thing is certain, the Tudor comes at a hefty price. Is it really worth the extra money? Let's see how these watches stack up against each other.
Price
The Peacemaker is priced at €649 or $699, making it clearly the more affordable option compared to the Black Bay 58, which starts at €3,190 or $3,500.
Well, what are you getting for the extra money?
While the Black Bay 58 has a longer power reserve and an in-house movement, the Peacemaker's unique design, lightweight construction, and lower price point make it an attractive option for those looking to buy a more affordable watch, but don't want to compromise on quality.
Design
Tudor's Black Bay 58 is classic watch design at its finest. A design that withstood the test of time and that has welcomed countless hommages from almost any watch brand in the world. While still beautiful, one could argue that it looks a lot like any other dive watch on the market.
Tudor's design is tried and true, yet it doesn't offer much in terms of uniqueness. It's undoubtedly so that most collectors will already own something that closely resembles Tudor's Black Bay 58.
The Peacemaker is designed to turn heads with its bold, matte black, modern design. At pOrtahl our mission is to create remarkable watches. To move away from the classical, while maintaining the traditional. Our watches are to be remarkable in their color, materials and design. All the while offering you the very best features at an affordable price. Peacemaker was carefully designed to be an addition to any existing watch collection.
While both watches are visually appealing, the Peacemaker clearly stands out as the more unique and contemporary of the two.
Material
The choice of material used in watchmaking is critical to achieving the right balance of durability, aesthetics, and affordability.
Tudor's Black Bay 58 is crafted with a stainless steel case, which is well-known for its durability and corrosion resistance. Stainless steel has become very popular in watchmaking over the years due to being relatively cheap and easy to work with. But you have to consider that there are much higher quality materials available.
The use of premium materials is a core value at pOrtahl, and the Peacemaker exemplifies this value through its use of titanium for the Peacemaker watch. pOrtahl's Peacemaker is crafted from aerospace grade titanium. Although titanium is more expensive than stainless steel, the benefits it offers make it worth the investment.
Titanium is three to four times as strong but considerably lighter than stainless steel. Additionally, unlike stainless steel, titanium watches are safe for sensitive skin as it is completely hypoallergenic.
When it comes to the bezel, the Peacemaker and Tudor's Black Bay 58 use different materials. Tudor featured a stainless steel bezel on the 58, which is durable and fairly resistant to scratches but will show signs of wear over time.
Peacemaker, on the other hand, uses a ceramic bezel, which is much more scratch-resistant than stainless steel.
While ceramic may be more prone to shattering at strong impact, its superior scratch resistance gives it an edge over stainless steel given that the bezel is a critical part of a watch's aesthetic and stainless steel is known to look more and more worn over time.
The Peacemaker offers much higher value materials at a much lower price compared to Tudor's Black Bay 58.
Water Resistance
It's important to note that Tudor's Black Bay 58 identifies as a diver watch with a much higher water resistance rating of 200 meters, making it suitable for recreational scuba diving. pOrtahl's Peacemaker, while still water-resistant up to 100 meters, doesn't identify as a dive watch.
The important thing here is to consider the intended use of the watch when comparing water resistance ratings.
If you're looking for a watch to accompany you during underwater activities, Tudor's Black Bay 58 is the clear choice.
Movement: STP1-11 vs MT5402
The Peacemaker is powered by the Swiss-made STP1-11 automatic movement, which has a power reserve of 44 hours and a beat rate of 28,800 BPH. The Black Bay 58, on the other hand, uses Tudor's in-house MT5402 movement, which has a longer power reserve of 70 hours and a beat rate of 28,800 BPH.
While both movements are reliable and accurate, the Black Bay 58's longer power reserve gives it an advantage over the Peacemaker.
| Feature | pOrtahl Peacemaker | Tudor Black Bay 58 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | €649 / $699 | €3,140 / $3,575 |
| Material | Grade 5 Titanium | Stainless Steel |
| Case Size | 40 mm | 39 mm |
| Water Resistance | 10 ATM (100 meters / ~330 ft) | 20 ATM (200 meters / ~660 ft) |
| Movement | Swiss Made STP1-11 | Swiss Made MT5402 |
| Power Reserve | 44 hours | 70 hours |
| Beat Rate | 28,800 BPH | 28,800 BPH |
| Lume | Super-LumiNova® | Super-LumiNova® |
| Crystal | Sapphire | Sapphire |
| Bezel | Ceramic | Stainless Steel |
| Bracelet | Grade 5 Titanium | Stainless Steel |
Conclusion
In conclusion, while both the Tudor Black Bay 58 and the pOrtahl Peacemaker are excellent watches, the Peacemaker may appeal more to watch enthusiasts looking for exceptional value for money. Pricewise, these watches are from different realms, yet Peacemaker offers exactly the value for money you may be looking for.
With its high-quality materials, impeccable design, and impressive features, the Peacemaker offers a level of value and craftsmanship that far exceeds its price point, even when compared to Tudor's 58.
Additionally, for those seeking to add a unique and conversation-starting timepiece to their collection, pOrtahl's focus on remarkable design make it a decent contender to Tudor's more classical 58.
The Peacemaker is a watch that stands out in its category and offers a compelling option for those seeking a quality automatic watch at a fraction of the price of a watch like Tudor's Black Bay 58.