Did Tudor Just Tease A New Watch? (Ranger II Comeback)

This morning, Tudor posted a picture of a vintage watch on its Instagram — a Ranger II. Above it, a large heading reads: “How It Started.” For those unfamiliar with the Tudor Ranger II, it’s an integrated bracelet model Tudor made in the 1970s. It takes core field watch design elements from earlier Ranger models — broad arabic numerals and a high contrast, legible dial layout — and translates them to this cool, funky, sometimes colorful integrated bracelet watch with distinctive broad H links and an engine-turned, almost fluted-looking bezel. It’s a cult favorite amongst watch enthusiasts, but may not be known by the average Tudor owner.

So what is this Instagram post all about? Is Tudor just highlighting the beloved Ranger II, or are we going to see a new or revived integrated-bracelet Tudor model soon? Let’s break down what the post said, and where we think Tudor might take this.

What Tudor Actually Posted

The Tudor Ranger II in Tudor’s post – a ref. 9111 with a black dial and beautiful beige patina — comes with the caption:

“The pioneering spirit has always driven TUDOR forward, from uncharted routes to new horizons. Back in 1973, we introduced an integrated bracelet design to our expedition-ready watch line-up with the Ranger II.”

Refreshed Tudor Ranger Models (2025)

I don’t see this being anything other than a teaser for a new watch. If it were a purely historical, educational post, they would’ve said more about the Ranger II. Tudor has recently expanded its Ranger collection to include two sizes (36mm and 39mm) and two dial colors (Black and Dune White/Beige). They’ve doubled down on their “expedition-ready watch line-up,” and if they want to take it further, a Ranger II revival is a welcome addition in my book. I saw the same sentiment in the comments:

“Instant Buy”

“Do it Tudor, DO IT!”

“Would absolutely love to see the Ranger II make a comeback…”

I Wrote About This Coming Back

Tudor North Flag. Image Source: Analog:Shift

Back in 2024 I published a retrospective on the Tudor North Flag, the 2015 integrated-bracelet Tudor that drew directly from the Ranger II before quietly leaving the catalog in 2021. I argued then that if Tudor ever revisited the design, bringing it back as a Ranger II would make more sense than another North Flag, because the North Flag never really took off, and the Ranger II just has so much personality, not to mention name recognition. The North Flag’s headline feature, Tudor's first in-house movement, the caliber MT5621, got overshadowed when the Pelagos debuted with the same movement that year.

The Recently-Refreshed Royal 

Tudor already sells a steel integrated-bracelet watch, so it's worth being clear about what a Ranger II would and wouldn't be. I wrote about the refreshed Tudor Royal a few weeks ago: a watch that’s decidedly dressed-up compared to something like a Ranger, Ranger II, or North Flag. The Royal has a five-link bracelet, polished finishes, and sunburst dials. A Ranger II revival would be the tool-flavored steel integrated Tudor, the sports watch the catalog hasn't had since the North Flag left, aimed at a completely different buyer I’d imagine.

The Market Moved Toward This Watch

Part of why the North Flag struggled in 2015 is that a steel integrated sports watch was a harder sell then than it is now. Rolex has since validated the format with the Land-Dweller, which echoes the integrated look it explored decades earlier with the Oysterquartz and the Datejust ref. 1630. Broader Genta-style integrated design now runs all the way down to accessible watches that sell as fast as brands can make them. The 2020s share the 1970s’ taste for integrated bracelet watches.

What a Modern Ranger II Could Look Like

This is the fun part, and where my mind goes a lot of directions. I'd expect something smaller than the North Flag in every direction: down a millimeter or two from that watch’s 40mm diameter and slimmer than its 13.3mm thickness, which wears taller than the number suggests. 

From there, I wonder about catalog positioning. I don’t see a revived Ranger II being Tudor’s Land-Dweller — introducing all-new technology and a completely new caliber. That would probably come in around double the cost of a Ranger ($3,500-$4,000), when I’d hope a Ranger II is at least comparable in price. I’d expect a Ranger II comeback to utilize an existing time-and-date movement like the caliber MT5612, feature METAS certification, and an all-new integrated case + bracelet, equipped with an adjustable T-fit clasp.

I hope the dial and handset mirrors that of the Ranger II ref. 9111: broad arabic numerals at 12, 6, and 9, a magnified date window at 3 o’clock, a bright orange seconds hand paired with an arrow-shaped hour hand. Tudor’s own post does all the talking; the Ranger II is already a great design.

Where It's Going

A blue-dial Prince Oysterdate Ranger II with stick indices (ref. 9111) and a rotating-bezel Prince Oysterdate Chrono-Time — no 'Ranger II' branding despite its shared silhouette (ref. 9121). Image Sources: Bob's Watches and Tourneau

What I keep coming back to is less the specs than what this would mean for Tudor. An integrated-bracelet Ranger II would be Tudor once again building on its own past instead of reaching for a shape from Rolex's catalog, which is the thing that’s elevated the brand over the past decade. This teaser shows exactly what it said about the Ranger II: “how it started.” Now I want to see where it's going. 

What do you think this teaser means? Let us know in the comments below.