This is a hands-on review of the new 2025 Tudor Ranger model with a 36mm case and Dune White dial. The Ranger, which inherits Tudor's spirit of exploration, has gained even more appeal with its smaller diameter and new dial color.
Photographs & Text by Tsubasa Nojima
[Article published on January 22, 2025]
Tudor's adventure watches expand with smaller diameters and new dial colors
The Tudor Ranger now comes in a 36mm case. While many compelling new models were released in 2025, it's the smaller-diameter Ranger that has watch enthusiasts secretly delighted. The Ranger's roots date back to the Royal Navy's North Greenland Expedition in the 1950s. The Oyster Prince, adopted as the official watch there, demonstrated reliable performance even in harsh environments, leading to the creation of the Ranger, carrying on that tradition.
The current collection will be released in 2022 to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the North Greenland Expedition. The model features a 39mm stainless steel case with a black dial featuring the iconic Arabic numeral indexes and arrow-shaped hour hand. While the design is based on the style of the classic Ranger, many vintage fans have expressed their desire for a smaller diameter version.
Three years later, in 2025, Tudor suddenly added a 36mm Ranger to their lineup, and what's surprising is that it now comes with a new "Dune White" dial in addition to the black dial.
Dune is a word that means sand dunes. This dial pays homage to the Dakar Rally, said to be the world's toughest race, and the adventurous spirit of its challengers. The desert is perhaps the most symbolic stage of the Dakar Rally, which takes about two weeks to complete through the great outdoors. The dial of this watch is imbued with that scene.
I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to review the newly released 36mm Dune White dial model. The Ranger has been popular as an adventure watch, and I'd like to take a closer look at its next step.
The 36mm Ranger, announced as a new model for 2025, features a new Dune White dial along with the smaller diameter version. Automatic movement (Cal. MT5400). 27 jewels. 28,800 vph. Power reserve of approximately 70 hours. Stainless steel case (36mm diameter, 11mm thick). Water resistant to 100m. Price: 456,500 yen (tax included).
High-contrast dial for maximum legibility
Considering the origins of the Ranger, what is required of this model is to instantly tell the user the correct time in any situation. This includes maintaining stable accuracy over the long term and being resistant to external influences such as shock and moisture, but the most important requirement is visibility and readability.
As the name "Dune" suggests, the dial is finished in a cream color. The contrast created by the black edging of the indexes and hands is sufficient to ensure excellent legibility. A bright, crisp white would provide even greater contrast, but a color that is too bright could be dazzling and make it difficult to read. With that in mind, the dial of this watch can be said to be suitable for all weather conditions, from direct sunlight to indoors.
The luminous nature of the watch has changed since the black dial model. While the black dial had luminous paint applied to the indexes themselves, the dune dial has luminous dots applied to the outside. The indexes themselves do not emit light, so they are a little unreliable in complete darkness, but the dial itself is a bright color, so you won't have any trouble reading them in just a little light.
Another feature is the matte black finish on the indexes and hands, making them easy to read even in strong light. The tip of the second hand is colored red, adding an accent to the monotone dial. The movement of the second hand is easy to see, making it easy to tell at a glance that the watch is running.
The dial of this watch is also excellent in terms of legibility. The four Arabic numeral indices allow the time to be read correctly regardless of the orientation of the watch. If all the indices were bar indices, it would take time to determine where 12 o'clock is. Conversely, if all the indices were Arabic numerals, it would surely be cumbersome. Another point that enhances legibility is that all the hands have different shapes: an arrow-shaped hour hand, a pencil-shaped minute hand, and a second hand with a trapezoidal pointer. The hands reach the indices and scales clearly, allowing you to accurately read every minute and second.
A return to the original, small-diameter case
The small 36mm case is reminiscent of the original. While the finish is mainly hairline, the polished edges of the bezel and the chamfered lugs give it a sophisticated elegance that would be a shame to dismiss it as just a tool watch.
The 39mm model emphasizes its sportiness with its slightly wider bezel and large Arabic numeral indices, but the 36mm model has a relatively more understated impression, making it suitable for a wide range of uses, from personal to business.
The case is 11mm thick, which is 1mm thinner than the 39mm model. Smaller diameter models tend to be more noticeable and give a chunky impression. However, this 11mm thick model does not give that impression, and the appearance is well-balanced.
The case back is a solid screw-down type, which means that the movement inside cannot be seen, but the watch has a practical appearance, a feature common to many Tudor watches.
The Ranger is available with two straps: a three-link stainless steel bracelet and a fabric strap. Previously, a leather strap was also available for the 39mm model, but it seems to have been dropped from the catalog at some point.
The watch reviewed this time is a model with a fabric strap. The design, with a green base and red and beige lines, complements the cream-colored dial well. Fabric straps tend to have a cheap image, but Tudor is an exception. With a supple feel and a glimpse of durability, it is undoubtedly the best fabric strap I have ever come across. This is no surprise, as the company's fabric straps are individually manufactured on jacquard shuttle looms by a traditional French passementerie (decorative cord) company. The high-density weave makes them both strong and flexible.
At first glance, the fabric strap appears to be a NATO type, but it is actually firmly secured with spring bars. Therefore, even if this watch had a caseback, the strap would cover the interior, making it impossible to see. The buckle is designed with a shield motif, the Tudor emblem, and allows for fine adjustment of the strap length. This adjustment method is inspired by the seatbelt systems found in vintage sports cars. Incidentally, the lug width of the 36mm model is 19mm. If you enjoy changing straps, this can be a bit of a headache.
Kenissi movement with excellent stability
The movement used is the Caliber MT5400, made by Kenissi, a movement manufacturer under Tudor, and boasts excellent specifications such as a power reserve of approximately 70 hours, high magnetic resistance thanks to a silicon balance spring, and high precision that has earned it COSC-certified chronometer status.
As it is a movement that only displays the time and does not have a calendar, there is no difficulty in operating it. Simply unscrew the crown, wind the mainspring, and pull it out one notch to set the time. The winding feel is a pleasant "tottototto" sound, just like other Kenissi movements. There is no rough feeling that is common with automatic movements. When adjusting the time, there is a slightly sticky feel, making it possible to stop the hands exactly where you want them. Even when you push the crown in, the hands do not jump, and there is no stress at all. No matter how high-precision a movement is, it is meaningless if you cannot properly adjust the time.
A one-of-a-kind all-rounder
It may be a bit of a stretch to say that the watch is as easy to use as it looks, but that is indeed the case. Rather than the wearer having to actively read the time, it feels as if the watch is telling the time with just a glance at the wrist. The dial, with its refined functional beauty, is perhaps the Ranger's greatest feature. And this feature speaks volumes about its origins and identity.
The hairline-finished case makes scratches less noticeable, making it easy to wear. Even if it does get scratched, it will look good on you, given its nature as an adventure watch. The small diameter and thinness make it comfortable to wear. You won't feel tired even after wearing it for a long time, and in fact, you'll forget you're wearing it at all. Of course, the supple fabric strap also contributes greatly to the comfort.
While the design leans slightly more casual, its versatility makes it easy to wear both on and off the job. The rounded Arabic numerals and arrow-shaped hour hand create a soft feel, while the simple, small-diameter case exudes elegance. Matching the green fabric strap with a suit can be a real challenge, but simply changing the strap makes it a snap. This all-rounder is perfect for a wide range of occasions, from leisure to business.
