Ranger 2022
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model info
In the early 1950’s, a team of 30 men traveled to Northeast Greenland to study meteorology and glaciers in the area. The team was made up of highly-ranked military officials and scientists. Tudor jumped on the opportunity by providing them watches for the expedition. Tudor gave these men the Oyster-Prince (Ref 7809). While this reference was not a Tudor Ranger, it was a cornerstone in the DNA and inspiration behind what would eventually become the Ranger.
It wasn’t until the 1960’s that Tudor solidified the Ranger's design language. The Oyster Prince (Ref. 7995) was the first to feature Arabic numerals at the 3, 6, 9, and 12 o’clock positions. These numerals, the surrounding baton indices, and the hands are all coated in lume. A long second hand stretches nearly to the edge of the dial, where we see no-frills, high-contrast minute markers. These aspects are identical to what we see on the 2022 Tudor Ranger (Ref. 79950).
The first modern Ranger, the Heritage Ranger, was released in 2014. This quirky watch shared a lot of similarities with the (Ref. 79950) but was discontinued in 2020. Aside from its 41mm size, the most noticeable difference between this reference and the 2022 (Ref. 79950) is the Heritage Ranger’s straight end links. This is somewhat of a polarizing design feature. While Everest doesn’t offer Curved End straps tailor fit for the Tudor Heritage Ranger, its 20mm lug width allows our Universal Rubber strap to fit on it perfectly. Two years after the Heritage Ranger’s discontinuation, Tudor came out with the modern day Ranger, the reference 79950.
The Tudor Ranger (Ref. 79950) is, as Tudor puts it, “the spirit of a tool watch”. While its history is somewhat complex, its design is anything but. This is one of the simplest, most legible silhouettes in watchmaking. The Ranger’s signature Arabic numerals are large, bold, and perfectly sandwiched between its baton indices. Minute markers hug the edge of the dial, providing accurate second/minute keeping. The Ranger is unapologetically no-nonsense. With this new model, Tudor brought the Ranger down to 39mm. This bridges the wearability gap for a lot of people, while bringing the Ranger closer to its historical 34mm diameter. At just 12mm thick, this watch will be comfortable for most people. The Ranger's modest dimensions encase a beautiful movement. Unlike the Heritage Ranger’s ETA 2824, the 2022 Ranger features a COSC-certified in-house caliber MT5402. The ETA 2824 is one of the greatest movements of all time, and just about anybody can service it. However, the MT5402 is COSC-certified, beautifully finished, and features a 70 hour power reserve. The Ranger’s utilitarian looks are backed up by its rock-solid movement.
The beauty of the Tudor Ranger is its versatility. Because it is an incredibly rugged tool watch (featuring a screw down crown and 100 meters of water resistance), the Tudor Ranger can accompany you in even the most adverse conditions. Any watch with this much water resistance should be paired with a lightweight waterproof strap. Luckily, Everest’s Curved End rubber straps are tailor fit to the dimensions of the Tudor Ranger (Ref. M79950), seamlessly hugging the case and lugs. Rubber excels as a strong, lightweight, waterproof strap material (just make sure your watch is waterproof too). Rubber isn’t just practical, it's one of the most comfortable materials for a watch strap. If you like the sporty look, rubber is a great everyday option. If you’re looking for a new strap for your Tudor Ranger (Ref. M79950), Everest bands are your best bet.