Is The Tudor Heritage Ranger A Future Neo-Vintage Classic?

It should come as no surprise to those who regularly read my work that I’m a fan of Tudor watches. In fact, to mark a significant personal milestone, I bought a Tudor Black Bay 58 for my 30th birthday. Today, though, we’re looking at a very different watch, the Tudor Heritage Ranger.

This is not the most recent iteration (which shares the case platform of the 39mm Black Bay 58). Rather, this is the “original” re-edition from the 2010s, which came in a broader 41mm case. This is a watch that I wrote about after having worn it during a significant motorcycle accident, in which it literally saved my wrist from being broken. Without further ado, let’s dive in.

Making a case for the Tudor Heritage Ranger 

Much has changed in the watch world since the early 2010s. Tudor has become much more of a household name and has seen tremendous success. A large part of that is due to the popularity of the Black Bay line. The Black Bay is no longer merely a dive watch but an entire series that incorporates daily wearers and chronographs. Some have joked that Tudor has become the Black Bay brand, but those people have a point. There seem to be so many iterations of the Black Bay that it can sometimes seem a little overwhelming.

When it comes to the other products in Tudor’s tool-watch lineup, there are certainly interesting prospects to consider. First is the entire Pelagos line, which signifies the more technical and even more capable arm of the brand. We find the use of titanium, which is a more corrosion-resistant metal than stainless steel. We also see higher levels of water resistance in some models, like the 1,000m-rated Pelagos Ultra. Then, we have the intriguing genre that the Tudor Ranger inhabits — the field watch.

Tudor Ranger ref. 7966 (date version of ref. 7955) — Image: Bulang & Sons

A great history to match 

The original Tudor Ranger debuted in 1963 as the less expensive offshoot of the Rolex Explorer ref. 1016. The Ranger ref. 7995 was a 34mm watch with an Oyster case, screw-down crown, and 12-3-6-9 Arabic numerals on the dial. Just like the Explorer, the Tudor Ranger was based on the daily watches that Rolex produced in the 1950s, the Oyster and Oyster Perpetual lines. The original Tudor Ranger (before the revamped Ranger II) was something of an attainable vintage cult classic for many years. This is no longer the case, though, as vintage examples are quite expensive.

When Tudor started on the path to its glorious comeback in the 2010s, one of the key releases was the Tudor Heritage Ranger ref. 79910. In some ways, this was a watch of its time, despite being a re-edition. The most obvious clue to that is the large 41mm case and the thin bezel, creating an even more striking impression of size when worn on the wrist. The watch also came with an attention to detail and level of build quality that was remarkable for the asking price at the time.

Inferior technical specs compared to current Tudor watches…but superior attention to detail? 

Inside the Tudor Heritage Ranger lies a modified ETA 2824-2, which continued the Tudor tradition of using third-party calibers. This is a good thing because the caliber is bulletproof and parts are common, meaning future servicing should not cause any headaches. The 41mm case has a satin-brushed finish and a wide 22mm lug spacing. It’s when we get to the little things, though, that this watch really shines. The black dial has a subtle eggshell texture, which is quite beautiful to look at under light. This is something not immediately obvious. I love seeing details that reward closer inspection on watches. Something about this factor makes me think that the designers actually loved their job when they set out to redesign this watch for a contemporary market.

You’re further rewarded with close attention to the dial when you notice the “Rotor” and smiley “Self-Winding” text. This is a reference to the originals, which had the same layout to notify owners that their watch had an automatic caliber ticking inside. The Tudor rose emblem sitting above “Tudor” on the dial is the cherry on top. Sadly, Tudor now just uses the shield logo on its watches’ dials, though some of their crowns still feature it in relief. The rose is beautifully printed on the dial and is quite intricate. As for the crown, it’s finished well with an engraved Tudor rose, and it screws down to provide water resistance to 150 meters. The seconds hand is a playful red.

It’s the little things that matter with the Tudor Heritage Ranger 

Overall, the attention to detail from a design and quality point of view on the Heritage Ranger ref. 79910 is excellent. In some ways, this watch feels of higher quality than my more recent 2020 Tudor Black Bay 58. Let me explain that impression in a little more detail. The most obvious difference is the feeling of the winding crown. The crown on the 79910 just feels better made than that of my Black Bay 58. It’s hard to describe, but it’s almost as if the Black Bay’s crown is more “hollow,” while the Heritage Ranger’s feels like it’s fashioned from a piece of solid steel.

Second, it’s worth noting that the bracelet on the Tudor Heritage Ranger notes a country of origin in manufacture. It states “Swiss Made.” The modern Black Bay bracelets, from what I can tell, don’t state this. Now, this doesn’t mean they’re not of high quality, but the tolerances on the Heritage Ranger’s bracelet feel tighter. The clasp feels better built, and the articulation in the links just feels more sophisticated. Is this backed up by any actual data? No, these are just impressions from one owner, so take them with the appropriate amount of salt. However, I have handled a fair few clasps and bracelets from multiple manufacturers over the last few years, and I feel this gives me a better understanding of how truly well-made ones should feel. I’d be curious to see if any fellow readers share these impressions from that era of Tudor watches.

Is the Tudor Heritage Ranger a future neo-vintage classic?

I believe the adoption of those design traits, like the Tudor rose and the sheer attention to detail on this watch, makes for a future classic. Like neo-vintage options from IWC and Rolex, this Tudor, I would argue, will become a future collectible. It represents an important period in the history of the brand, as it was beginning to gain confidence after a period of stasis. It’s a watch worth looking out for, as it can be had for a relative bargain. I know this could be controversial, but after looking at the watch with a loupe, I would also go so far as to say that the case finishing on the Tudor Heritage Ranger is a little nicer than that of my Black Bay 58.

When the Tudor Heritage Ranger debuted, it came with a complimentary NATO-style strap with a metal bracelet. The retail price of the watch was AU$3,200 or US$2,950. Adjusted for inflation, that should equate to about AU$4,100 or US$4,000. As you can see, Tudor’s watch prices have risen over that time, although determining exactly by how much in real terms becomes a much more difficult equation due to several factors. Those include the introduction of higher-performance Kenissi movements, the technical advancements in clasp designs, and the testing regimes (COSC and METAS) that Tudor’s new tool watches go through.

Concluding thoughts 

While the technical advancements in Tudor’s new watches are welcome and wonderful news to enthusiasts and general watch buyers alike, the sheer attention to detail that these older Tudor watches sometimes have feels a little more elevated. This is not to say that these older Tudor timepieces are superior; in some ways, they are technically inferior.

But in some ways, too, they have a little more of the Rolex magic sprinkled on them. It feels like the Heritage Ranger came out of the Rolex factory with a different name stamped on the dial. What do you think, Fratelli? Would you consider picking up one of these 2010s Tudors, like the Heritage Ranger or the North Flag? Let me know in the comments.