To mark the 70th anniversary of the British North Greenland Expedition, Tudor has launched a new 39-mm Ranger model with in-house movement (MT5402), and a clasp with a rapid adjustment system. The Ranger is available on a black hybrid strap (Ref. M79950-0002), a NATO-style textile strap (Ref. M79950-0003) or stainless steel bracelet (Ref. M79950-0001).
“On July 8th, 1952, the British North Greenland Expedition left Deptford, an area on the banks of the Thames in London, for a two-year scientific mission studying ice sheets in Greenland. Equipped with the brand-new Oyster Prince model, TUDOR’s first watch that was both automatic and waterproof, the members of the expedition, mainly British scientists and sailors, conducted in-depth glaciological and seismic surveys at several sites. TUDOR also asked them to gather performance data for the 30 Oyster Prince watches that would be worn under extreme conditions.”
Tudor Press Release
The two-year scientific study was conducted by British scientists from 1952 to 1954, with the mission to – among other things – better understand the ice sheets in Greenland. They were equipped with a brand-new Oyster Prince model, Tudor’s first watch that was both automatic and waterproof:
However, the history of the Ranger name dates back much further than the British North Greenland Expedition. Although the Tudor watches used by the scientists from 1952 to 1954 never bore this inscription on their dials, subsequent Ranger models have perpetuated the concept of the expedition watch born at Tudor during this time.
The origins of the product family date back to 1929, when Hans Wilsdorf registered the name, just three years after registering the Tudor trademark. At the time, the name was not used to indicate the model specifically but instead to highlight the robust properties of some specific models. The aesthetics we now recognize as typical for the Ranger was not introduced before the 1960s.
The new Ranger comes with a 39-mm 316L stainless steel case with an overall matt finish except for some parts like the inner edge of the bezel. Water-resistant to 100 meters, the new watch is powered by Tudor’s own Calibre MT5402. This automatic movement comes with a C.O.S.C. chronometer certificate and a power reserve of 72 hours.
The Ranger is offered with three bracelet/strap options: olive-green Jacquard fabric with red and beige stripes, hybrid rubber and leather, and 316L stainless steel with the brand’s “T-fit” rapid-adjustment clasp. Pricing starts at $2,725, making it the most accessible Tudor with in-house movement.
To learn more, visit Tudor, here.
