2026-05-02
Best Watch Straps for the Tudor Black Bay 36
Best Watch Straps for the Tudor Black Bay 36
The Tudor Black Bay 36 is the most versatile watch in the Black Bay collection. Where the Black Bay 41 references the professional dive watch tradition with bold presence and substantial case thickness, the Black Bay 36 achieves something more difficult: it is simultaneously a tool watch and a dress watch, a dive watch and an everyday watch, a sports reference and a piece that works under a suit. The 36mm case size, the polished fixed bezel, and the 10.4mm case thickness create a watch that sits closer to the wrist and reads more elegantly than any other Black Bay reference.
It is also, on the aftermarket strap market, the most underserved Black Bay — because the 19mm lug width puts it outside the 20mm-dominated mainstream, and most buyers either do not know this or cannot find quality straps at the correct size.
CNS stocks the full range at 19mm — leather, nylon, rubber, perlon, and elastic — making it one of the most comprehensive sources for Black Bay 36 straps available.
Tudor Black Bay 36 Strap Size — The Detail Most Buyers Get Wrong
The Tudor Black Bay 36 uses 19mm lugs — confirmed across every reference from the original 79500 through the current 79640 generation.
Ref. 79500 (original, 2016-2022) — 19mm lugs.
Ref. 79640 (current generation, 2022 onwards) — 19mm lugs.
All Black Bay 36 dial variants (black, blue, silver/grey, burgundy) — 19mm lugs.
This is the most important detail in this guide. The Black Bay 41, the Black Bay 58, and the Black Bay GMT all use 20mm lugs. The Black Bay 36 uses 19mm. A 20mm strap on a Black Bay 36 will sit incorrectly — too wide for the lug gap. Order 19mm.
The 19mm lug width the Black Bay 36 shares with:
- Rolex Explorer I 124270 (36mm)
- Rolex Oyster Perpetual 34mm
- Vintage Rolex Submariner 5508, 5512, 5513
- Omega Constellation 38mm and 41mm
CNS's full 19mm collection serves all of these references equally — leather, nylon, rubber, perlon, and elastic all available at 19mm.
Why the Black Bay 36 Is the Ultimate Strap Watch in the Tudor Range
The Black Bay 36's specific character creates more strap opportunity than any other Black Bay. Three qualities define it.
The polished fixed bezel. Unlike the Black Bay 41's domed bezel with its aluminium insert, the BB36's bezel is entirely polished steel. This creates a finishing character closer to a dress watch than a tool watch — and it responds to leather in a way the BB41 cannot. Polished bezels and fine leather sit together naturally; the lustre of one complements the quality of the other.
The slim case profile. At 10.4mm thick — significantly slimmer than the BB41's 14.4mm — the BB36 wears under a shirt cuff without difficulty. This slim profile makes thin leather straps, perlon, and slim nylon proportionally appropriate in a way they would not be on a more substantial case.
The 36mm case diameter. The BB36 wears smaller on the wrist than the BB41, which means every strap choice is amplified. A leather strap on the BB36 reads as a deliberate dress-sport choice; the same strap on a 41mm case would barely register. The smaller watch makes the strap more expressive.
Best Leather Straps for the Tudor Black Bay 36
Vintage two-stitch calfskin in cognac at 19mm — the most celebrated Black Bay 36 leather combination. The warm cognac tone and period-correct two-stitch construction reference the 1950s and 1960s Tudor Submariner heritage that the Black Bay design draws from directly. On the black dial BB36, cognac leather creates a warm contrast that is immediately compelling. On the blue dial, the warm leather against the cool blue creates the temperature contrast that makes this combination the most discussed in the BB36 community.
Classic flat calfskin in black at 19mm — the most formal Black Bay 36 combination. Black leather on the BB36 with its polished bezel creates a dress watch reading that works in formal and business contexts — an unusual position for a watch rated to 150m. The non-stitch variant is the most minimal.
Classic flat calfskin in dark brown at 19mm — the most versatile everyday leather. Dark brown suits all four BB36 dial colours and works across office and weekend contexts with equal naturalness.
Burgundy calfskin at 19mm — particularly effective on the burgundy dial BB36 where the strap echoes the dial colour in a tonal, sophisticated combination. Also works beautifully on the blue dial where the warm red-brown creates a rich contrast.
Dark brown suede at 19mm — the most relaxed leather option. The matte suede surface suits the BB36 in smart-casual and weekend contexts where smooth calfskin reads as too formal. Brown suede on the blue or silver dial BB36 is a particularly warm and characterful casual combination.
Navy calfskin at 19mm — for the blue dial BB36. Navy leather creates tonal coherence with the blue dial in a composed, elegant combination.
Padded calfskin in dark brown at 19mm — for buyers who prefer a more substantial leather profile. The padded construction adds visual weight to the slim BB36 case proportionally.
Best Perlon Straps for the Tudor Black Bay 36
Perlon is the most elegant fabric option for the Black Bay 36 — and the fabric choice that most suits the watch's dual dress-sport character. The fine woven construction, slim profile, and micro-adjustment buckle of perlon suit the BB36's 10.4mm slim case profile more naturally than flat nylon.
Navy perlon at 19mm — the most tonally coherent perlon choice for the blue dial BB36. The fine navy texture echoes the blue dial's cool tones and creates a relaxed but refined casual combination.
Grey perlon at 19mm — for the black and silver dial references. Grey perlon creates a cool, minimal combination that suits the BB36's dual dress-tool character.
Black perlon at 19mm — the most minimal fabric choice. For a BB36 worn in formal and smart-casual contexts where the watch's dress character should be maintained.
Burgundy perlon at 19mm — for the burgundy dial BB36. A tonally specific combination that echoes the dial in a relaxed fabric register.
Best Nylon Straps for the Tudor Black Bay 36
Single-pass nylon is a more casual choice for the BB36 than for the BB41 — the slim profile and polished bezel of the 36mm create a slight aesthetic tension with the operational nylon construction that the tool watch character of the BB41 does not. However for a BB36 worn actively and casually, nylon is entirely appropriate.
Single-pass nylon — Original at 19mm in restrained colourways:
- Black — the most minimal. Black nylon on any BB36 dial suits casual and active contexts.
- Navy — for the blue dial reference. Navy nylon creates tonal coherence.
- Grey — for the silver dial references. Grey nylon is understated and suits the BB36's slim character.
- Black and grey — the collector combination.
Marine Nationale elastic at 19mm — the most comfortable BB36 option for travel and daily active wear. The elastic construction and the slim profile particularly suit the BB36's slim case.
Paratrooper elastic at 19mm — the most comfortable daily-wear option.
RAF single-pass nylon at 19mm — the fabric keeper variant. The lower hardware profile suits the BB36's slim case proportionally.
Best Rubber Straps for the Tudor Black Bay 36
The Black Bay 36 is rated to 150m — appropriate for swimming and water sports. FKM rubber is the most practical active choice.
Classic FKM rubber in black at 19mm — the most practical active choice. Lightweight, waterproof, appropriate for swimming and outdoor use.
Tropical style FKM in black at 19mm — the most collector-appropriate rubber choice. The vintage basket-weave texture references the 1950s and 1960s dive watch rubber tradition that the Black Bay collection draws from.
Recommended Combinations by Dial
Black dial BB36 — cognac vintage two-stitch leather for warm contrast and heritage character; black perlon for refined casual; black single-pass nylon for active. All at 19mm.
Blue dial BB36 — cognac vintage two-stitch leather for warm-cool contrast; navy calfskin for tonal coherence; navy perlon for relaxed elegance. All at 19mm.
Burgundy dial BB36 — burgundy calfskin for tonal match; cognac leather for warm contrast; burgundy perlon for casual. All at 19mm.
Silver/grey dial BB36 — dark brown calfskin for warm daily wear; grey perlon for cool casual. At 19mm.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size strap does the Tudor Black Bay 36 take? The Tudor Black Bay 36 uses 19mm lugs across all references — the original 79500 and the current 79640. This is different from the Black Bay 41, Black Bay 58, and Black Bay GMT which all use 20mm. Order 19mm for any Black Bay 36 reference.
What is the best leather strap for the Tudor Black Bay 36? Cognac vintage two-stitch calfskin at 19mm — the warm cognac tone and period-correct construction reference the 1950s Tudor Submariner heritage the Black Bay design draws from directly. The most widely recommended and most photographed BB36 leather combination.
Does the Tudor Black Bay 36 take the same strap as the Black Bay 41? No — the Black Bay 36 uses 19mm lugs while the Black Bay 41 uses 20mm lugs. A 20mm strap will not fit the BB36 correctly.
What is the best perlon strap for the Tudor Black Bay 36? Navy perlon at 19mm for the blue dial reference — the most tonally coherent and most elegant casual combination. Grey perlon for the black and silver dial references.
What other watches use the same 19mm strap as the Tudor Black Bay 36? The 19mm lug width is shared by the Rolex Explorer I 124270, the Rolex Oyster Perpetual 34mm, the vintage Rolex Submariner 5508/5512/5513, and the Omega Constellation 38mm. Any 19mm CNS strap fits all of these references.