Hands-on: Tudor Ranger – Sprightly 70-year-old with a new heart

Text: Britta Rossander
Photo: Mia Litström

It was exactly 70 years ago that the British North Greenland Expedition started where the men who explored Greenland also tested Tudor watches. On the anniversary day (Friday 8 July 2022) there was a global launch of the upgraded version of the Tudor Ranger with a slimmed case of 39 mm and a steel bracelet with a T-fit quick change clasp. In the case sits the COSC certified chronograph movement Calibre MT5402s.

Many probably think of the endlessly many Black Bay models that have come over the years when you mention Tudor. In particular their latest release the Black Bay Pro which Eqotime wrote about recently. But there is much more at the brand that has made the robust watches its hallmark. The proper springboard came with the British North Greenland Expedition which started in 1952, a year before big brother Rolex equipped Hillary with a watch ahead of the ascent of Mount Everest.

The history of the Tudor Ranger is quite complex. The origin of the Tudor Ranger family goes back to 1929 when Hans Wilsdorf (founder of Rolex) registered the ”Ranger” name, only three years after having registered the Tudor trademark. Tudor states from official quarters that the Oyster Prince Ranger model was introduced to consumers in the 1960s and was then listed in the catalogue first in 1969. There is no proof of the exact date of the launch which probably took place in 1963, and the model was in the range until 1983.

A little briefly about the North Greenland expedition

The code name for the expedition in Greenland was North Ice and the participants were to ”carry out scientific studies within glaciology, meteorology, geology and physiology, as well as survey and record the terrain spiced with seismological and gravitational research”. On the participants’ wrists sat the Tudor Oyster Prince wristwatch. A total of 26 watches were handed out with the reference 7909. These watches with steel cases of 34 mm with an automatic movement have for the most part been lost to history. Today one of the watches still remains (found in one of the participants’ kitchen drawer) and some historical documents including a letter that Rolex received from one of the expedition members. 

It was on 8 July 1952 that the expedition left Deptford by the Thames in London. Tudor gave the participants the task of collecting performance data for the 30 Oyster Prince watches that they were to wear under extreme conditions. The watches that were sent for this project had bracelet extensions so that they could be worn on the outside of the parka sleeves. 

The new Tudor Ranger

The design that we now recognise as the Ranger did not appear until the 1960s, with large Arabic numerals, generously coated with luminous material at 3, 6, 9 and 12.  It is  a perfect tool watch with hour markers in beige as a contrast to the grainy, matte black dial. The arrow-shaped hands with a new touch where the tip of the seconds hand is nicely wine red.

The movement is the Manufacture Caliber MT5402 certified by COSC is what many call ”weekend proof”; that is to say about 70 hours, which means you can take the watch off on a Friday evening and put it on again on Monday morning without having to wind it.   

There are three variants of strap

The Nato strap, one of Tudor’s trademarks as in 2010 it became one of the first watch manufacturers to offer it for its watches. However it must not then be called a nato strap if Tudor gets to decide. They are woven with a traditional method on jacquard looms from the 1800s by the company Julien Faure in the St-Étienne region in France. The strap is olive green with two red stripes and one beige stripe. 

The steel link, satin brushed with a Tudor T-fit clasp. Well made, three-part and extremely supple for the wrist.

The rubber/leather strap in natural rubber and fabric-like black leather with beige stitching and a folding clasp. This strap wins by a mile if I get to choose. It feels like hand in glove with this choice of strap. It is sporty, hard-wearing and sits perfectly.

The caseback is of solid steel and screwed while the crown is equipped with the historic Rose logo which is large is screwed in to guarantee 100 metres of water resistance. 

Technical specifications

Brand: Tudor
Model: Ranger
Reference number: 79950

Diameter: 39 mm
Case material: Stainless steel

Dial: Black, matte

Water resistance: 100 m
Bracelet: Steel link, leather/rubber or nato strap

Movement: Automatic Calibre MT5402 Cosc-certified
Complications: Date
Power reserve: 70 h
Winding: Automatic

The list price for the watch is 27310 kr on rubber and 30460 kr on the link.

Read more the watch at Tudor.