Personally, I would go for P39. It ticks all the boxes - and although you said you like the gilt on the 54, I always thought it looked weird without the colour matched markings on the bezel (unlike the 58, which has gold tone markings on the bezel as well). The gold tone throughout and the red triangle tie the 58 together, whereas to me the 54 just looks boring.

 

Given your use case, I’d argue Black Bay > Pelagos. I own a BB58 and a full size Pelagos and the 58 may be the ultimate daily diver going right now.

 

BB54 proportions not as balanced as BB58 IMO.

P39 is close to perfection!

 

I prefer the BB54. I like both, but I prefer ss to ti. I have the 54, and actually prefer it to the 58 I had, primarily because I thought the gilt on the bezel insert was just a little too much. I think the 54 is probably the most comfortable diver I've ever had.

 

I owned both. Both have fantastic dials!! Both kept great time. Great clasp on both.

When the P39 came out, there was chat here about the lume popping out of the bezel on some Pelagos models. To my knowledge, that has never been an issue with the P39. My biggest complaint was the sharp edges on the clasp. Not a big deal for me, but if I had kept it I would have lightly sanded the edges a bit.

I like vintage sized watches, even though my wrist pushes 7.5". So when I saw the BB54 coming out, I was really interested. Loved the bezel insert. Loved the size. Perfect in my mind. But I just rarely wear dive style watches, no matter the size. So I let it go. No issues... best dive style watch I've owned.

A little regret selling either one, really.

Both are 200m watches. It's a coin toss. I'd buy either in a weak moment. My vote was for the BB54. Good Luck!!

 

I like both but I prefer the BB54. It just takes the BB58 and refines it to another level.

 

I have the original Pelagos and tried on the P39. I think it's a close to perfect daily. Might be just me but who cares about scratches on a tough tool watch? The Ti lightness makes it mega comfy and its made for casual wear.

 

I’m with you. I don’t care about scratches particularly on a casual everyday watch. I have the blue Pelagos and love it. It’s light and comfortable. I have tried the 39 on and it would make a great casual watch. The 39 gets my vote. OP might want to wait for W&W to see if another colour way comes out….

 

BB54, the value can be seen in that watch. Pelagos on the other hand, you could easily buy any homage/ali watch to replace that as a TI tool watch.

 

Bling doesn’t equal value to everyone.

If you want a watch that everyone around is going to know is $4,000+ from looking at it, then yeah…the Pelagos probably isn’t going to be your first choice.

 

I voted BB54 (and I'm currently wearing a Sinn U50). These two are so different looking you need to get the one you can't stop thinking about. Both are great watches,

 

I vote the Pelagos 39, and was very close to buying one myself. But I actually went with the blue BB58. Two reasons: 1) it’s very cheap on used market now and I got one for less than $2,500 in decent condition, 2) I think the clasp on the P39 is just too big, which I may be in minority on that one but it actually was a deal breaker for me on my smaller wrist. The BB58 clasp is nice and small (although I sacrifice the micro-adjust).

The BB54 is fine and people love it, but just a touch too small. I think the 39mm case on the P39 and BB58 is ideal size for a dive watch.

 

I own (and love) my BB58, black/gilt. Lovely watch, and honestly, I prefer wearing to to my Starbucks Sub, as it is lighter, smaller, more comfortable and attracts way less attention Tried on a 54 recently at my AD. Wears even better than my 58. Great clasp. If they put the 58 bezel on the 54, I'd buy one (I am a sucker for the red triangle). I've never seen a Pelagos 39 in person, but my AD is not a fan of that watch.

 

I prefer the P39 as I don't really care for the vintage look. I prefer the modern diver for a daily.

 

The BB54 is already outdated with its gilt design (Zzzzzzz). The P39 is fresh, modern, live and kicking.

 

Imho BB54 has a personality and an intrinsec and historic value, as far as the owner is concerned, not for the others. A small and thin package for a robust precise mechanical watch with great water resistance is something that always represented class and value in the luxury segment.

The Pelagos 39 is a trendy watch good for posing “perfect” pictures on the internet hype wagon. A “tool” watch full of trivial details like the silly sunburst some photos try so hard not to picture, cheap looking hands and disproportionate lume, cutting edge for real clasp, etc

Modern and actual, as you say… except the old concept when someone buys a watch for himself (not for the others/forums).

 

I was able to try on the BB58, BB54, and the Pelagos 39 during the same visit. Went back and forth several times having trouble decided the AD noticed which one I kept going back to and said something. She was right, I walked out with Pelagos 39. As far as scratches, the bracelet and clasp do pick them up, but the watch head is mint after about 10 months.

Of the 3 for me it’s Pelagos 39>BB58>BB54. I really like the 54, but I think it would have looked better with the same color scheme as the gilt 58. I would however Like to try it on the rubber strap, but have yet to see that one.

 

this is correct assessment about BB54. Sterile bezel and gilt dial just doesn’t work.

 

I'm outdated and love my BB58. I'd be interested in seeing and trying on the BB54... the P39 doesn't really interest me, and I prefer a heavier SS over Ti.

 

pretty subjective question at the end of the day it’s really up to you.

the only point I can add is the bb54 at least looks a little more visually distinct. not every day you see a 36mm-ish thin dive style watch.

The p39 when viewed from afar is muted and kind of looks like any other dive watch.

I would say hold off on any purchases until watches and wonders announcements are over. Im not saying they will but I wouldn’t be surprised if Tudor announced a blue bb54. That to me would be more interesting

 

Pelagos 39 all the way. Blackbay has a trash bracelet. Fake rivets... no thanks. Aluminum bezel in this day and age? lol
No crown guards on a dive watch? lol wtf

 

Ti is a scratcht magnet and the markers are meh. BB54 is more versatile and oozes class and sophistication. The P39 is only good for casual wear.

 

I vote BB58 - it’s perfect as is! Unless you’re under a 7 inch wrist then I would 100% go with the 54.

 

Beautiful!

 

If I may, a seiko sje093

 

If I may, a seiko sje093

View attachment 18252711
View attachment 18252710
View attachment 18252712

You certainly may, but the problem is the Seiko is pretty much sold out and is unobtainable.

 

If I may, a seiko sje093

I like it a lot, looks great, nice size, and no 'X' on the dial (I'd buy a homage before buying a X on a dial watch).

But as T1meout says....

You certainly may, but the problem is the Seiko is pretty much sold out and is unobtainable.

Yes. I bet I could buy a BB54 or P39 tomorrow morning when the stores open.

 

Both such nice watches. I voted BB54 just because I have smaller wrists.

 

Both are nice. I voted for the Pelagos as I prefer the 58 over the 54. I went with a 58 bc the gilt was something different for me that I liked and I love the pop of red in the bezel. The 58 had the edge for me over the Pelagos in the fact I liked that it leaned a little more dressy & had the 20mm lug width.

The 58 was also my first step back into wearing bracelets again so I'm not an aficionado, but I've never understood the complaints over the rivets. I'm normally pretty particular and I've never paid attention to that enough to bother me. I just know the bracelet fits my smaller wrist pretty comfortably.

 

I oscillated a lot over a few months (between the P39, the BB58 and the BB54) and ultimately went with the P39. It's just significantly more interesting. The titanium makes it essentially disappear on the wrist. I love the brushed ceramic - it's just very unique. I prefer the square markers and have always been a fan of that style of milsub. The 54 is wonderful and it's a great, classically valid size but for my tastes it was awkwardly small for a dive watch. I say that as the proud owner and wearer of a couple sub-38mm watches (Longines Spirit, OP34).

I have comically small wrists and the P39 fits BEAUTIFULLY. It's thin, it's light, it's compact, and more subtly the totally flat caseback means the lugs hug very tightly to the wrist and that makes it both more comfortable and more compact across the flat-width. The 58 wore larger on my wrist because of the longer lug profile.

It borders on being the absolute perfect daily, tooly, "beater", one-and-done, whatever-you-want-to-call-it watch, with some really interesting twists. I absolutely adore it.