Exploring Iceland: TUDOR Heritage Ranger
Keeping time with the beautiful watch while adventuring across cities, cliffs and the Blue Lagoon
For years now, Iceland has billed itself as the perfect stopover location for travelers roaming between North America and Europe—and, in fact, that’s true. Whether it’s the charm of the capital city Reykjavik or the many wonders lying beyond, travelers can spend days or even weeks exploring breathtaking landscapes, intimate musical performances, uncommon foods and soothing geothermal baths. With time of the essence on a weekend excursion, we took TUDOR‘s Heritage Ranger timepiece out with us. And from a black sand beach hike to the city’s magnificent concert hall Harpa, the watch and its clean, timeless aesthetic kept everything on track when daylight was scarce and the winds offered the most frequent greetings.
The Heritage Ranger draws inspiration from the Ranger models of the late ’60s—popular at the time for its aesthetics and functionality. TUDOR delivers modern flourishes to the updated piece. The domed sapphire crystal and the matte black dial, not only contribute to the vintage feel, but offer exceptional visibility of the painted markers, something exceptionally uncommon these days but utilized on the Ranger of the past. And, with luminous hands (as well as 3, 6, 9 and 12 o’clock markers) even in the depths of the long winter darkness, the watch shines through.
An alternative drive from Reykjavik to the Blue Lagoon, known as the Krýsuvík pass, offering views of stunning black sand beaches abutting snowcapped peaks and a unique, lesser known geothermal water source. Hikes along the beach, supervised or on your own, can last for hours and in the colder months, conditions are quite windy and a chill can sink in—but there is an overwhelming sense of the beauty of nature. The Heritage Ranger’s durable 41mm steel case (which happens to have a lovely satin finish) was built for extreme conditions. The model also features pierced lugs, allowing for an easier switch out of straps.
As for the straps, the Heritage Ranger comes with a series of options: two leather straps (one light brown bund and one tobacco-colored), a steel bracelet and one woven fabric strap (the latter always provided with the purchase of a TUDOR Heritage timepiece). The Ranger’s woven strap happens to be an exceptional camouflage pattern, but unlike camo elsewhere, this isn’t simply printed—it is woven in, and done so in France. It’s a nice touch worthy of an outdoor adventure, but its close attention to detail and fine manufacturing also make the watch perfect for a night out on the town.
With time limited and light even more so, the Heritage Ranger was more than beneficial—it was an essential. Technical sophistication delivers precise timekeeping and the self-winding device offers ease and reliability. This watch is a tool as opposed to just an accessory. It’s not over-laden with unnecessary attributes, allowing for quick checks during icy-stricken winds and snowfall.
As awareness of Iceland’s appeal increases, many new iconic images of exploration and adventure are being forged among Europe’s largest waterfall and pristine glaciers and stark cliffs. The Heritage Ranger harkens back to an iconic timepiece, but delivers the technical needs of today’s travelers. With clarity and class key, the Ranger is worthwhile company fit for the most extreme scenarios.
The TUDOR Heritage Ranger is available nationwide.
Images by David Graver
