The new TUDOR Ranger has arrived! And while it pays homage to the old guard, it has come with changes that make it a well-priced modern tool watch fit for many wrists.
Here’s what you need to know about the new launch:
The History:
On the 8th of July, 1952, the British North Greenland Expedition travelled to Greenland for a two-year scientific mission to study the ice sheets. TUDOR equipped them with their brand-new Oyster Prince model, their first watch that was both automatic and waterproof.
TUDOR asked them to gather performance data for the 30 Oyster Prince watches that the travellers would wear in extreme conditions. And by extreme conditions, we mean temperatures as low as -66°C. Yikes!
This latest addition to the Ranger line celebrates the adventurous spirit of these pioneers of arctic exploration and blends state-of-the-art watchmaking technology with historic aesthetics.
READ MORE: The Two Minute Watch Review: Tudor Pelagos FXD
The Case, Bezel and Crown:
Different from the vintage models that had a 34mm case size, this Ranger has a case-width of 39mm, making it a very wearable watch even for those with smaller wrists. The satin-brushed case in 316L steel has a matte-finish that suits any expedition, whether to the cold corners of Greenland or the cold corners of the frozen section of your grocery store.
As for the bezel? It’s what you would expect: the Ranger has a fixed steel bezel with a polished inner edge to strengthen the lines of the case. The screw-down crown also features the old Tudor Rose logo which is a nice touch.
The Dial:
The grained, matte-black domed dial has several nods to the past. It features hour markers and the iconic Ranger’s Arabic numerals at 3,6, 9 and 12 o’clock that have been painted with grade-A Swiss Super-LumiNova® luminescent material.
And although any hands used by TUDOR that aren’t the “Snowflake” might get little more than a grunt of acknowledgement, these arrow-shaped hands are characteristic of Ranger aesthetics. And it’s great to see TUDOR retain that historical touch.
Two notable new touches are the burgundy-tip of the seconds hand and the TUDOR Shield logo on the dial (the last Ranger featured the rose).
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The Bracelets:
With three options, you’ll be hard-pressed to find something that doesn’t work for you. Starting with one of the hallmarks of TUDOR, the fabric strap, the Ranger’s one is and olive-green Jacquard fabric with two red stripes and one beige stripe.
Then there’s the satin-brushed steel bracelet fitted with the TUDOR “T-fit” clasp that allows you to adjust your bracelet size up to 8mm, on-the-go. And as for those divisive faux rivets? They’re nowhere to be seen on this bracelet.
Finally, the third bracelet is a natural rubber and fabric-like textured black leather, with a classic folding clasp.
The Movement:
The TUDOR Ranger is COSC-certified and equipped with the Manufacture Calibre MT5402 which just so happens to be the same movement as the much-loved Black Bay 58.
Plus, because of the conditions the Ranger would’ve had to withstand (you know, subzero adventures), it has some neat features to ensure robustness, reliability, longevity and precision. Like the variable-inertia balance being held in place by a sturdy traversing bridge with *two* points of fixation. How does that help? Well, think of it like someone pushing you while you’re only standing on one foot. Two feet planted firmly on the ground (aka two points of fixation) means you (or your watch) could withstand much more.
And yes, it’s weekend-proof. Just like last year’s Pelagos FXD and this year’s Black Bay Pro, the Ranger has a power reserve of approximately 70 hours.
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The Verdict:
Pros: Second to the TUDOR Royal, it’s their most affordable release of 2022, a very wearable watch for wrists of all sizes, great bracelet options
Cons: There’s no date window (if that bothers you), if you like the traditional Snowflake hands you’ll miss that on this watch
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