$500 VS $4000 Rolex Explorer II Homage: Tudor Black Bay Pro VS Steinhart Ocean 39 Vintage GMT Olko

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2022 is shaping up to be the year of the GMT given Rolex’s release of the GMT Master II Green Destro, the Seiko 5 SSK GMT, and of course the Tudor Black Bay Pro 79470. The Black Bay Pro piqued my interest when it was released and I knew I had to get it because of my love of the Explorer II style. In fact, I love the Explorer II style so much that I already had the Steinhart Ocean 39 Vintage GMT Olko Special Edition which is based on the original Rolex 1655. So what’s the point of having both of these watches at the same time?
In this video I get into how the BB Pro and the Steinhart Olko Edition are about as different as two watches can be (all things considered). At the base level I love the low key modern tool watch vibes of the BB Pro, but the intense 70’s styling of the Steinhart really makes for a wearing experience that is completely unique. These watches can definitely coexist in a collection and if you’re a fan of this type of watch, then the Steinhart and the Tudor should be on your shortlist not only because they look and feel incredible, but also because they each pack in immense value for their respective prices of $500 and $4,000
(some background) Watches And Wonders was back for 2022 and it provided us with some great surprises from Tudor, Rolex, Grand Seiko, Oris, and many more brands from the Richemont Group and beyond. However, the release that caught my eye the most was the all new Tudor Black Bay Pro. Every year after the release of the 41mm Black Bay GMT, we've been hoping for a newer smaller GMT from Tudor, and given that this year is Tudor's 10th anniversary, we were thinking that surely 2022 is the year it'll happen. We were all expecting and hoping for a Black Bay 58 GMT, but instead we got the 39mm Black Bay Pro, which is based on the Rolex Explorer II (with some 1655 Freccione touches). This was not at all expected but I am excited about this release because it is right up my alley considering how much I love the original Rolex Explorer II.
Steinhart has long been known for their high quality homage watches alongside their own designs and this was my first experience with the brand, and I must say that I am very impressed. The watch Ocean 39 Vintage GMT was made by Olko Watch Boutique in collaboration with Steinhart and it offers the perfect combination for a Explorer II homage. I wanted the full 1655 experience and the Olko Edition has crisp white lume in a 39mm size so it feels like I’m putting on a NOS 1655 everytime I wear it.