TUDOR is releasing the latest update to their Ranger model in celebration of the 70th anniversary of the British North Greenland Expedition. The Ranger timepiece is a tool watch that celebrates the spirit of daring adventure that is the British North Greenland Expedition.
On the 8th of July 1952, the British North Greenland Expedition left to embark on a two-year scientific mission, studying the ice sheets in Greenland. While the scientists carried out their duties, TUDOR also asked them to gather performance data on the brand-new Oyster Prince models that were given to the research team. As the scientists were in extreme conditions, it would provide the perfect scenario to test these watches. While the TUDOR timepieces used by the members of this expedition didn’t bear the RANGER inscription on the dial, future Ranger models took on the concepts of this expedition timepiece.
The origin of the Ranger line starts well before this expedition, however. It goes back to 1929, just three years after Hans Wilsdorf registered “The TUDOR” trademark. When the Ranger name was first used, it didn’t indicate a specific model in TUDOR’s collection but rather to add an “adventurous” aspect to some of the brand’s watches.
While TUDOR’s Ranger line started in the 1940s, the model that modern watches use as a reference was first created in 1965. Using the British North Greenland Expedition watches as a reference, the 1965 Ranger came with large Arabic numerals coated with luminescent material positioned at 6, 9, and 12 o’clock. The watch also came with the arrow hour hand and straight sharp minute hand.
Although there have been many iterations of the Ranger watch since then, this latest 2022 edition celebrating the British North Greenland Expedition’s 70th anniversary uses the 1965 timepiece as a reference to create a modern replica of the watch.
WatchAdvice’s Thoughts:
The 1965 model of the Ranger is iconic, as it is the first model to have a complete design change from the previous versions. This design change will carry through for the next models created by TUDOR, with minor changes reflecting modern updates.
The 2022 rendition is faithful to the 1965 design, as it comes with a 39mm case, which along with the bracelet (with a T-Fit safety catch), is satin-brushed to give a matte finish, the purest spirit of a “tool watch”. The hour indices are designed exactly like the 1965 edition, with the markers being filled with beige luminescent material. The use of beige colour allows the markers to have a perfect contrast against the grained matte black dial. The most noticeable design change between the 1965 model and this version is the Burgandy tip on the second hand.
TUDOR’s biggest update to the 2022 rendition of the RANGER is the addition of the calibre MT5402 movement. Designed to ensure robustness, longevity, and reliability, it’s the ideal movement from TUDOR for a watch made for adventures.
While the original 1965 edition was available only on a stainless steel bracelet, this modern version offers a choice of satin-brushed steel bracelet, a natural fabric-like textured black leather, or TUDOR’s own jacquard strap. The jacquard strap is an olive-green bracelet with a single beige and two red stripes down the middle.
Even though this latest Ranger timepiece carries the tried and tested design concepts that make Ranger watches durable, reliable, and precise, TUDOR also offers a five-year guarantee, which does not require the watch to be submitted for periodic checks or be registered.
Design:
- Case: 39 mm
- Case Material: Stainless Steel, satin finish
- Dial: Black, Domed
- Crystal: Sapphire crystal, front and back
- Water resistance: 100 meters
- Bracelet: Steel bracelet with three links and a folding clasp with the TUDOR “T-fit” safety catch, hybrid rubber and fabric bracelet with folding clasp and steel safety catch or green fabric bracelet with red and beige stripes and buckle
Movement:
- Manufacture Calibre MT5402
- Frequency: 4Hz (28, 800 VpH)
- Power reserve: 70 hours
- Jewels: 27
- Swiss Chronometer certified by COSC
- Non-Magnetic silicon balance-spring
