Writing Off A Watch Too Quickly?

With so many watch releases in rapid succession, we are forced to make snap judgments based on a couple press photos or videos.

I worry we may have written off the Ranger too quickly, so I got one and slapped it on a bunch of interesting straps to see if it'd change my mind.

Did it change your mind about this watch?

https://youtu.be/aR0iANosM9s

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While I have no interest in this watch, I agree that strap changes can completely change the experience.  For me, I experienced this most with my Omega Railmaster.  I picked it up preowned, on the bracelet.  As soon as I started changing straps I noticed how much the wearing experience changed.  The watch can be dressed up or down and fit any need, just with a strap change.  

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I love this watch and look forward to adding to it’s ”wardrobe” and creating many looks. It is a solid, simple, attractive timepiece that will fit so many scenarios.  Give it time, I think many people we start to see what I (we?) see in this watch. 
 

Great video as always! 

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This one is my strap monster.

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Now I want a Tudor Alba.. uh, I mean Ranger. Yes, u sold me on Jessica Alba. But, you also sold me on the potential for what straps can add to a plain average Jane looking watch.
I have to admit over watching or listening to something recently about the Ranger, I'm not sure if I'd put my money down on one (yet). But, this makes for a perfect gift watch (not suggesting from you or anyone, 😂) that I could see actually wearing more often than not. Idk? Perhaps the financial release to get a "plain looking watch" opens me up to accepting it more? Idk? But, I could certainly see if this was a gift for a relative or good friend that it could be a cherished and very appreciated watch.. not just for it's brand and price point.. I around or just under $3k isn't super cheap, but it's also not super expensive either for what you get. 
Max you should be a lawyer cause you always bring a compelling story and convincing case.
Look forward to your next video.

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TheMightyOz

While I have no interest in this watch, I agree that strap changes can completely change the experience.  For me, I experienced this most with my Omega Railmaster.  I picked it up preowned, on the bracelet.  As soon as I started changing straps I noticed how much the wearing experience changed.  The watch can be dressed up or down and fit any need, just with a strap change.  

I’m about to change away from my not great OG bracelet on my newest Ball Trainmaster to some other choices. Hope I have your experience. 

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KhronoKraze

Now I want a Tudor Alba.. uh, I mean Ranger. Yes, u sold me on Jessica Alba. But, you also sold me on the potential for what straps can add to a plain average Jane looking watch.
I have to admit over watching or listening to something recently about the Ranger, I'm not sure if I'd put my money down on one (yet). But, this makes for a perfect gift watch (not suggesting from you or anyone, 😂) that I could see actually wearing more often than not. Idk? Perhaps the financial release to get a "plain looking watch" opens me up to accepting it more? Idk? But, I could certainly see if this was a gift for a relative or good friend that it could be a cherished and very appreciated watch.. not just for it's brand and price point.. I around or just under $3k isn't super cheap, but it's also not super expensive either for what you get. 
Max you should be a lawyer cause you always bring a compelling story and convincing case.
Look forward to your next video.

Haha, I remembering reading about how she has one of the most symmetrical faces 😍. Are we still talking about watches?

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Hamilton_Juan

This one is my strap monster.

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Yep, that's another one of them!

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Still not warming up to the Ranger, but I think that’s my bias. I don’t like the wear of Tudors on the wrist. I know a lot of people who do. New straps/bracelets could help. I think (warning MUCH lower price point and brand presence happening now!!) this may be true as I’ve changed bands on most of my Citizen EcoDrives and it’s changed the look/feel completely. Thanks for the review. 

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Robcollects

I’m about to change away from my not great OG bracelet on my newest Ball Trainmaster to some other choices. Hope I have your experience. 

I think you will.  I have a Ball Trainmaster, and like the brand.  Mine came on a honey leather strap, and I haven’t changed that.  But the Trainmaster is a good candidate for being a strap monster.  Any particular straps in mind?

”…the Jessica Alba of watches” 😂 

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Loving this on a tan/ brown strap, completely changes and improves the look, a stunning change!!!!

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Just watched the video and you definitely showed the imagination is the limit to giving the Ranger a completely new look. It's like giving a car a new paint job.

I'm really loving the bracelet, and will be for awhile, but when I'm ready to mix it up I'll be thinking about this video! (The stingray strap will be top of the list, very cool and unique look).

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TheMightyOz

While I have no interest in this watch, I agree that strap changes can completely change the experience.  For me, I experienced this most with my Omega Railmaster.  I picked it up preowned, on the bracelet.  As soon as I started changing straps I noticed how much the wearing experience changed.  The watch can be dressed up or down and fit any need, just with a strap change.  

Railmaster is such a fascinating watch to me. The design doesn't speak to me, but I can see how it'd lend to a lot of strap choices!

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BigIona

I love this watch and look forward to adding to it’s ”wardrobe” and creating many looks. It is a solid, simple, attractive timepiece that will fit so many scenarios.  Give it time, I think many people we start to see what I (we?) see in this watch. 
 

Great video as always! 

I heard they are being discounted already?  Iono my AD had trouble finding me one

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Max

I heard they are being discounted already?  Iono my AD had trouble finding me one

I heard that too, but I’ve also heard they are hard to find in inventory.  Pretty sure I got one of the first two my AD got in stock (the only one they had on a bracelet) and they are still waiting for more to come in. Tough to tell which accounts folks are sharing are accurate.  
 

I keep thinking I could probably put it on a nato and sell the bracelet at a premium for those BB58 owners that hate their faux rivets 🤣 But this bracelet is nice. I have a few natos and a bund on order, can’t wait!!

So, did you purchase one or did you just borrow one for the review?   Curious based on what you said in your video on the previous 41mm version. 

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Richierich

It doesn't work for a number of reasons. The original watch was way smaller, so it won't appeal to history purists. Anyone considering this watch might just as well buy the far better looking BB58. You rightly say that the new clasp is great - which it is. However, this just leaves a bad taste in the mouth of everyone who bought earlier watches and can't have it on theirs. 

The BB58 is an entirely different style of watch... I suppose if your goal is owning a Tudor in general a BB58 would make sense, but if the goal is owning a luxury field watch, the Ranger is pretty much perfect. 

A Tag Aquaracer would make as much sense as a BB58... More really, since it has a date.  

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KristianG

The BB58 is an entirely different style of watch... I suppose if your goal is owning a Tudor in general a BB58 would make sense, but if the goal is owning a luxury field watch, the Ranger is pretty much perfect. 

A Tag Aquaracer would make as much sense as a BB58... More really, since it has a date.  

Gotta disagree. Hamilton do some WAY better field watches at a fraction of the cost. 

Tag are marmite watches. You either love them or hate them.

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Another great video Max!

But let's face it - you are really putting lipstick on a pig here.

That vomit-green lume and incredibly dull black dial just whimper apathy.

You really did your best with some great straps, but it just couldn't overcome the blandness.

Simplicity does not need to be bland.

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Hey Tudor - 

How about a richer black dial and, if you are going to use faux-tina, how about something that doesn't look like the floor of a bar after a Saturday night.

I can think of a watch brand that got this look right - maybe you should look at one of your competitors there in Switzerland - this is how you do it (although someone needs to tell Hamilton to lose the date complication):

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ChronoGuy

Another great video Max!

But let's face it - you are really putting lipstick on a pig here.

That vomit-green lume and incredibly dull black dial just whimper apathy.

You really did your best with some great straps, but it just couldn't overcome the blandness.

Simplicity does not need to be bland.

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Hey Tudor - 

How about a richer black dial and, if you are going to use faux-tina, how about something that doesn't look like the floor of a bar after a Saturday night.

I can think of a watch brand that got this look right - maybe you should look at one of your competitors there in Switzerland - this is how you do it (although someone needs to tell Hamilton to lose the date complication):

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From a utility perspective, the date is more useful than symmetry. The one thing the Ranger gets wrong is the lack of a date complication. 

There is a lot of admin that needs to be sorted in the field, and having the date right there on your wrist is useful. 

If you're LARPing I suppose the date doesn't matter, but then again neither does anything else... 

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Sadly, have to say it looks far better in pictures than in the flesh. Tried it at AD and it just didn’t do it for me. While I can’t fault anything in particular, I think the proportions are off. A more interesting strap might help a little. Still prefer my North Flag which is far more interesting with its own unique character.  

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I thought it was just too plain, though it does look better IRL than in pics. The just has zero depth to it. @MWC2020 made a really good point that they could have gone for a similar look but with applied indexes like Vertex did with the M100A. 

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(Pic is from ablogtowatch)

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There will always be watches some love & others don’t. That’s just the laws of individualism. Taste & style are subjective. With that being said I, myself like the ranger. My only gripe is that it says “Ranger” on the dial face. Remove the word & it’s even better…

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Another good video, Max.

But honestly, this watch just doesn't seem to be for everyone. It's not going to scratch either the "GADA" or "luxury" itch. Fair enough.

I was over the moon when I first saw the announcement. As you said, it was the watch we'd been hoping Tudor would release for years. I happen to like every choice they made with this one. I grabbed mine as soon as I could, and have been wearing it most days. It looks and wears great, gives off exactly the vibe I'm looking for, and I wouldn't change a thing.

Oh, and it's great to know that there are so many good strap options... But mine's staying on the bracelet (especially in this heat).

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TheMightyOz

While I have no interest in this watch, I agree that strap changes can completely change the experience.  For me, I experienced this most with my Omega Railmaster.  I picked it up preowned, on the bracelet.  As soon as I started changing straps I noticed how much the wearing experience changed.  The watch can be dressed up or down and fit any need, just with a strap change.  

Ah! I will try changing the bracelet for a strap on my Railmaster. Never tried that! 

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I wish I could say yes as I wanted to love the Ranger, but my answer is still no.  While I am not opposed to its size - the color of the indices is something I simply cannot get over.  No strap can fix that.

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rowiphi

Ah! I will try changing the bracelet for a strap on my Railmaster. Never tried that! 

Oh, the Railmaster is a strap monster!  I’ll try to post a few pics on this thread for you tomorrow.  But that watch really shows it’s potential with quick change straps.

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rowiphi

Ah! I will try changing the bracelet for a strap on my Railmaster. Never tried that! 

I am going to add a bunch of pics of my Railmaster with my 20mm straps.  One of the great things about having a group of Omegas is that I chose two tone models, all Sedna and steel except the Railmaster, that all have 20mm lug widths.  The tan on the Railmaster shares enough color tone that when I had the straps made the tan stitching I chose works on all the watches.  I’m not sure if there is a restriction on number of pics per post, so I am probably going to use more than a single post.  

PS, got all on one message.  The third one down isn’t lit as we as I’d like.  It is a dark navy alligator.

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It’s a weird one. I should like it, but so many reports of the hand lume not matching the dial lume has got me cold on it. Never mind, it’s not like there aren’t a million alternatives 👍

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TheMightyOz

I am going to add a bunch of pics of my Railmaster with my 20mm straps.  One of the great things about having a group of Omegas is that I chose two tone models, all Sedna and steel except the Railmaster, that all have 20mm lug widths.  The tan on the Railmaster shares enough color tone that when I had the straps made the tan stitching I chose works on all the watches.  I’m not sure if there is a restriction on number of pics per post, so I am probably going to use more than a single post.  

PS, got all on one message.  The third one down isn’t lit as we as I’d like.  It is a dark navy alligator.

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Now is that a strap monster or what!?

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rowiphi

Now is that a strap monster or what!?

Yeah, I know, lol!  It really can be many things.  I like it as a travel watch because it’s low key when on a canvas strap, avoids high profile and potential theft.  But I pack a dress strap for dinner, usually the grey ostrich.  Because the straps are quick change I can have multiple looks while only having one watch on hand and no need to pack a band tool.