I'm glad I answered the call - A 2022 Tudor Ranger Review

Hey everybody.

When the Tudor Ranger was announced to the press and various YouTubers made videos about it, I was quickly interested in the watch. You may call it bland and boring, but a clean and legible dial is exactly what I am craving for. Hence my Explorer 1 and different IWC Pilots.

I expressed my interest in the watch to my AD, which rather quickly put me off and explained, that 

  1. There's no chance in getting a discount and
  2. It might take a while until they can offer it to me, as the demand went to the sky instantly.

Fast forward to last week - about 4 months after the release of the Ranger - when I got a call from a number I didn't recognize just after heading into the weekend. The millenial that I am, I considered not answering the phone but did anyway, as I had nothing better to do. It was one of the sales guys of my AD which offered me the one and only Ranger model that they just got in. I happily accepted the offer.

Now to the watch:

First thing to notice is that it looks much better and less bland as some people might call it, than on the photos and videos. It is an explorer type of watch, which was made to be clean and easily legible. I'm personally a huge fan the design, although I would've preferred applied numerals instead of printed ones. I think it would've added greatly to the list of improvements that Tudor has made to the Ranger with this release.

The movement is the in-house calibre MT5402, the same reliable and precise one that beats in the Tudor BlackBay 58. Since I've received the watch, it has gained around 1 second in total, which means a total rate of around +0.5 seconds per day. That is absolutely crazy. But since my BB58 is running at around the same rate, this accuracy was to be expected.

The Ranger now comes with an Oyster style bracelet, offering a T-fit clasp. That essentially means it has a quick-adjustment system, that lets you adjust the length of the bracelet on the fly. And I have to say, it's one of the best things about the whole watch. Unfortunately though, the clasp and the outer links are pretty sharp and it somehow feels like they forgot to deburr the metal parts before sending them to the assembly line. The clasp of the BB58 feels a lot better in my opinion, but doesn't offer the benefit of quick-adjustment.

Compared to my 39mm Explorer 1 (214270), it wears about as comfortably. The height is ideal for wearing it as a daily, it hasn't bothered me and I also haven't hit it against the door knob, desk or other. 

All in all I can say, that answering the call and accepting the offer was the right decision. I'm a little bit afraid that it will compete with my Explorer, as they are very similar in shape and design, but only the time will tell. Even if I'd decide to sell it again, I wouldn't even make a loss with the current (bad) availability of the watch and the price situation with Tudor watches in general. I hope though, that I won't even get to that point. It's a great watch for people that want a legible dial, people that have problems reading the time at a glance (this includes me), people that don't want to spend close to 10k€ on an Explorer but still want a high quality explorer style watch, or people that want a Tudor but can't stand the snowflake hand and rather want a butt plug hand.

I'm glad I answered the call - A 2022 Tudor Ranger Review

4.4
Yes No
4/5
4/5
4/5
5/5
5/5
  • In-house movement
  • Quick adjustment clasp
  • Reasonable price
  • Sharp edges on the bracelet and clasp
  • Printed instead of applied numerals
  • Low availability
Reply
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I like this watch a lot too and purchased it but have had a bad experience with the movement. The watch kept stopping for no reason so I had to return it for warranty service almost immediately after purchasing it. I'm still waiting to see when I will get I back. I stopped in at my AD yesterday and was told that another customer had the same exact problem and also had to return his watch for service less than 2 weeks after purchase. Apparently, there are QC issues with these movements. Really unacceptable at this price point, especially when Tudor is doing so much to promote the movement.  I'd rather have a proven ETA movement than this "in-house" kenissi movement that doesn't work. Make sure you buy your Tudor watches from an AD so you get the warranty. The Ranger is the first Tudor model I have really loved (design-wise), but my negative experience will likely keep me away from Tudor in the future if I see another model I like. 

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Excellent review. I think I’d score the watch identically. It really is a comfortable watch and one of the few I can forget I am wearing during the day. Congrats on the pickup! 
 

I also agree that the online photos are awful.  I’ve tried to capture a few that look better on my own, with varying degrees of luck. 

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BigIona

Excellent review. I think I’d score the watch identically. It really is a comfortable watch and one of the few I can forget I am wearing during the day. Congrats on the pickup! 
 

I also agree that the online photos are awful.  I’ve tried to capture a few that look better on my own, with varying degrees of luck. 

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Thank you! I encourage everybody who’s interested in the watch, but not sure yet, to see the watch in person at an AD. Wear yours in good condition 

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RandyC

I like this watch a lot too and purchased it but have had a bad experience with the movement. The watch kept stopping for no reason so I had to return it for warranty service almost immediately after purchasing it. I'm still waiting to see when I will get I back. I stopped in at my AD yesterday and was told that another customer had the same exact problem and also had to return his watch for service less than 2 weeks after purchase. Apparently, there are QC issues with these movements. Really unacceptable at this price point, especially when Tudor is doing so much to promote the movement.  I'd rather have a proven ETA movement than this "in-house" kenissi movement that doesn't work. Make sure you buy your Tudor watches from an AD so you get the warranty. The Ranger is the first Tudor model I have really loved (design-wise), but my negative experience will likely keep me away from Tudor in the future if I see another model I like. 

That’s bad news, but I can’t fully comprehend how that happened. I mean the MT5402 movement is Tudor‘s current goto caliber and runs in thousands if not millions of watches, and I’ve never heard of this issue before. Have they changed the supply-/production chain recently?

I hope you’ll get yours back soon

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Congratulations to your new watch. Your Ranger looks great. 

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Thanks for your review! Really nice watch, also my interesst started right after the press release. However, I've a Pelagos (42mm) and I'm very happy with it... a Ranger would be to similar.

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SwissMadeGuy

Thanks for your review! Really nice watch, also my interesst started right after the press release. However, I've a Pelagos (42mm) and I'm very happy with it... a Ranger would be to similar.

You know what really bothers me at the moment? I have an Explorer 1 and a BlackBay 58 and the Ranger is right in between those two watches. I’m a bit worried about the future wrist time of those three watches and whether I shall sell one or more of them or not in order to prevent them competing against each other. 😕

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thedailynwa

You know what really bothers me at the moment? I have an Explorer 1 and a BlackBay 58 and the Ranger is right in between those two watches. I’m a bit worried about the future wrist time of those three watches and whether I shall sell one or more of them or not in order to prevent them competing against each other. 😕

I feel you... Because of my black Pelagos I've not a BB58. However, maybe some days, a BB58 may find the way into my collection anyway 😉

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SwissMadeGuy

I feel you... Because of my black Pelagos I've not a BB58. However, maybe some days, a BB58 may find the way into my collection anyway 😉

Never say never.. This could happen faster than expected. At least that’s my experience so far 😂

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Congrats on getting the watch! I tried it on and decided it wasn't for me -- I thought the fauxtina look were a bit overboard for my liking. But if you like the looks of it, I am sure it's a great choice! Let's hope the problem @RandyC describes does not happen to your watch (and also my Pelagos 39)

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RandyC

I like this watch a lot too and purchased it but have had a bad experience with the movement. The watch kept stopping for no reason so I had to return it for warranty service almost immediately after purchasing it. I'm still waiting to see when I will get I back. I stopped in at my AD yesterday and was told that another customer had the same exact problem and also had to return his watch for service less than 2 weeks after purchase. Apparently, there are QC issues with these movements. Really unacceptable at this price point, especially when Tudor is doing so much to promote the movement.  I'd rather have a proven ETA movement than this "in-house" kenissi movement that doesn't work. Make sure you buy your Tudor watches from an AD so you get the warranty. The Ranger is the first Tudor model I have really loved (design-wise), but my negative experience will likely keep me away from Tudor in the future if I see another model I like. 

don´t understand your point "Make sure you buy your Tudor watches from an AD so you get the warranty"....the warranty always stays with the watch, also when it changes owner...or am I missIng something?

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I was recently in an AD and I tried one on. I plan on picking one up just after the holidays. They look great. I did forget to see how easily removable the bracelet is. Do you swap the bracelet out with straps at all? It certainly looks like it could work well with a lot of straps. 

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Dingus

I was recently in an AD and I tried one on. I plan on picking one up just after the holidays. They look great. I did forget to see how easily removable the bracelet is. Do you swap the bracelet out with straps at all? It certainly looks like it could work well with a lot of straps. 

I usually swap out bracelets for leather straps to change the look of a watch. It’s crazy how you can magically turn a watch into a completely different looking one just by putting it on a nice strap. Currently it’ll stay on the bracelet though, but I’m about to get some inspirations 

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Elcaballero

don´t understand your point "Make sure you buy your Tudor watches from an AD so you get the warranty"....the warranty always stays with the watch, also when it changes owner...or am I missIng something?

I don't think they honor the warranty if the original purchase is from a grey market dealer like Jomashop. Maybe I'm wrong, but I don't think so. 

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thedailynwa

I usually swap out bracelets for leather straps to change the look of a watch. It’s crazy how you can magically turn a watch into a completely different looking one just by putting it on a nice strap. Currently it’ll stay on the bracelet though, but I’m about to get some inspirations 

Right on man. Enjoy it. I’m sold, now I just gotta wait another month or so… honestly unsure I’ll make it but hey, we’ll try. 

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I tried to register the warranty for a watch I bought from Jomashop a long time ago and they denied me because it was not an authorized dealer. Jomashop is very up front about this. Maybe  Tudor would be different, but I doubt it. 

The warranty transfers if you buy from a private seller who bought from an AD. The brands generally don't want people buying from grey market sellers like Jomashop so they won't authorize the warranty for those purchases. 

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thedailynwa

I usually swap out bracelets for leather straps to change the look of a watch. It’s crazy how you can magically turn a watch into a completely different looking one just by putting it on a nice strap. Currently it’ll stay on the bracelet though, but I’m about to get some inspirations 

I bought mine on a bracelet because that was the only model available, but I think this watch belongs on a strap. Unfortunately, I haven't really been able to experiment yet because o had to return my watch for service almost immediately. 

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thedailynwa

That’s bad news, but I can’t fully comprehend how that happened. I mean the MT5402 movement is Tudor‘s current goto caliber and runs in thousands if not millions of watches, and I’ve never heard of this issue before. Have they changed the supply-/production chain recently?

I hope you’ll get yours back soon

I was surprised too. I did find some other people online who had movement issues on BB models but those were mostly from a few years ago. I thought any issues would have been worked out by now. It's also a time only movement so I didn't think there would be issues. Only ever had ETA, sellita, and Seiko movements before. Has me a bit skiddish about purchasing another luxury watch with an in-house movement. 

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RandyC

I tried to register the warranty for a watch I bought from Jomashop a long time ago and they denied me because it was not an authorized dealer. Jomashop is very up front about this. Maybe  Tudor would be different, but I doubt it. 

The warranty transfers if you buy from a private seller who bought from an AD. The brands generally don't want people buying from grey market sellers like Jomashop so they won't authorize the warranty for those purchases. 

That sounds more like a "problem" with Jomashop, doesn’t it? European warranty laws are much stricter than American ones. The premise is - of course - that one buys a watch in a full set. Registering a watch you bought without papers seems to be always problematic. 

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RandyC

I tried to register the warranty for a watch I bought from Jomashop a long time ago and they denied me because it was not an authorized dealer. Jomashop is very up front about this. Maybe  Tudor would be different, but I doubt it. 

The warranty transfers if you buy from a private seller who bought from an AD. The brands generally don't want people buying from grey market sellers like Jomashop so they won't authorize the warranty for those purchases. 

I can only speak from experience in Europe...an new IWC I bought from a so called "grey" dealer in Germany....about a year later I brought the watch to an authorised IWC dealer in Luxembourg cause there was an issue with the watch, and he accepted it without any problem, he did send it in to IWC for repair and all was covered under warranty. 

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Just because you had that experience doesn't mean it's standard. I've bought from Chronext, Zeitauktion, Uhrinstinkt, and many more before and always got the original manufacturer warranty with the watch. And never did I have a problem registering the watch(es).

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Perfect answer if one's too scared to admit they were wrong :D

Have a nice weekend too!

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No matter how often you repeat yourself, it doesn't magically become the truth.

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How can one be so salty? Simply because you had bad experiences when buying grey? Educate yourself on the term "grey market" lol

Did a bit of watch window shopping yesterday and saw this one in the metal. Some may say it's boring, but I definitely think this is a "less is more" scenario. I certainly preferred it versus the cluttered dials of other pieces that I saw. 

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sohne.friends.and.cie

Did a bit of watch window shopping yesterday and saw this one in the metal. Some may say it's boring, but I definitely think this is a "less is more" scenario. I certainly preferred it versus the cluttered dials of other pieces that I saw. 

Absolutely! I must admit that I’m a bit "dial-dyslexic" and in contrast to many people I usually need 2-3 seconds to read the time, but with the Ranger I found it to be much easier and quicker. I love the simplicity and legibility 

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Congrats on your purchase. I purchased my Ranger from my local AD about one month ago. I am very happy with the watch. Like you said, looks way better in person. I love the simplicity of the dial. I have similar complaints about the painted dial but I'm really happy the watch is almost fully brushed since I am a clumsy bastard, so the scratches have been well hidden for me so far. I have gotten some "butt plug" jokes about my hour hand from a couple friends who are into watches, also my wife making fun of it now. But I am personally fine with it. And just keep trying to tell myself it is a warrior arrow hahaha. I'm jealous about your 0.5 accuracy. But I should not complain since I am getting +1 a day since I purchased mine. Enjoy fellow Ranger owner!

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Really good review.   It's not my thing and I'm one of those people that the dial isn't interesting enough for me.  I did try it on but feel the same way.  Congrats on the watch and always wear what you love 🍻

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It's probably the only Tudor watch I would consider buying. It's very nice .

Good review , of a very tasteful watch.

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Droptuned83

It's probably the only Tudor watch I would consider buying. It's very nice .

Good review , of a very tasteful watch.

Let me guess: it’s because you don’t like the snowflake hand, right?