The TUDOR Ranger - A Tribute to Pioneers of the Past

The 79950 TUDOR Ranger was launched in 2022, the 70th anniversary of the British North Greenland Expedition. The two-year mission endured two Arctic winters, and performed numerous studies not only on the ice sheets, but also on the effects of the extreme conditions on their own bodies and on their equipment. Each man was equipped with a TUDOR Oyster Prince, and faithfully recorded his watch’s performance against daily time signals broadcast by the BBC. Despite being exposed to extreme cold, immersed in ice water, and worn during any number of strenuous activities, the wristwatches served their wearers admirably. The Ranger was created as a spiritual successor to these intrepid timepieces.

Although the Ranger name dates back to the 1920s, the first Oyster Prince Ranger watches emerged in the 1960s. These models provide the most direct inspiration for the modern Ranger line. Outside this collection, TUDOR has paid tribute to the British North Greenland Expedition before with the North Flag watch, released in 2015. Both this and the preceding Ranger model were discontinued in 2020, and the 79950 TUDOR Ranger can be considered a successor to both.

This latest model distils the elements of a field watch into an undeniably modern design that still remains faithful to the traditions of the Ranger line. The 39mm diameter is smaller than its predecessor, with a proportionally wider bezel. It features the TUDOR shield in place of the rose that appeared on previous dials. The Arabic numerals at 12, 3, 6 and 9 o’clock are characteristic of a Ranger watch, while the sparse dial harkens back to the simplicity of the original Oyster Prince models.

The strong aesthetic makes this a fantastic choice for an easy-wearing, simple watch. It has everything you need with no extraneous features, exactly what you would want to take on an expedition into the unknown, but equally suited to casual or office wear. The matt finish on the steel case is practical and down-to-earth, while hairline polishing on the edge of the bezel gives the watch dimensionality. The large numerals balance the negative space on the dial, picked out in vintage-inspired yellow luminescence. Adaptable and stylish, it will go wherever you do.

As befits a field watch, the TUDOR Ranger features 100m of water resistance and a 70-hour power reserve. The Manufacture Calibre MT5402 surpasses the standards for accuracy set by the Official Swiss Chronometer Testing Institute, which is especially impressive at this price point. The movement offers the kind of reliable engineering that served the members of the British North Greenland Expedition so well.

The watch comes with a choice of steel bracelet, hybrid rubber strap or fabric strap. The bracelet is produced in 316L steel with no visible rivets. The TUDOR ‘T-fit’ clasp makes it easy to adjust the size on the fly, allowing the wearer to, for example, move the watch over their gloves when donning cold weather clothing. The hybrid strap complements the black dial, featuring a rubber backing with fabric-like leather stitched on top. Alternatively, the jacquard fabric strap provides an iconic TUDOR aesthetic. Olive green, with a beige and red stripe, this strap is woven using a traditional method on 19th-century Jacquard looms by TUDOR’s long-time collaborator Julien Faure.

The 79950 TUDOR Ranger is a simple, wearable and robust watch. It pays fitting tribute to the Oyster Prince models which accompanied the British North Greenland Expedition, while offering vintage style and adaptability. All of this is offered at exceptional value, making this a fantastic option for the established collector looking to add a field watch to their collection, or for the first-time buyer looking for a single watch to serve all their needs.

If you’d like to discuss the Ranger or explore the rest of our TUDOR collection, we would invite you to contact Prestons Wilmslow or Prestons Guildford by telephone, via our online contact form, or by visiting us in-store. One of our specialists will be happy to guide you through any enquiry you may have.