Testing the Longines Avigation Oversize Crown

The Longines Avigation Oversize Crown, launched in 2013, is modeled on a Longines pilots’ watch from the 1920s. Its most salient feature is, as its name suggests, its crown, which is prominent not just because it’s huge but because it protrudes very far from the case.

In the chronograph version of the watch, the one we tested, a chronograph button is integrated into the crown. The watch is a monopoussoir: the same button is used to start, stop and reset the chronograph.

The movement is ETA’s automatic Caliber A08.L11, which Longines renamed the L788.2. That name appears in gold-filled lettering on the winding rotor. The L788.2 is a variation of ETA’s A08.L01, which debuted in 2010 and is derived from the ETA 7753. ETA sells the A08.L11 only to Longines; both companies are owned by the Swatch Group. Unlike the ETA 7753, which has coulisse switching, the L788.2 has a blued column wheel. It also has a longer power reserve, 54 vs. 46 hours. Other modifications made to the ETA movement include altering the shape of the regulator mechanism and of the shock absorbers.

Thanks at least in part to the column wheel, the chronograph is easy to operate: little pressure is needed to trigger the start, stop and reset functions. The column wheel is invisible, though, because the watch has a steel caseback, which is pressure-fit rather than screwed in place. It is rather unexcitingly   engraved with the model’s long name, “The Longines Avigation Oversize Crown Single Push-Piece Chronograph,” and with its serial production number. Historically, pilots’ watches from Longines and other brands had opaque metal backs with nothing on them but engraved lettering; this watch is upholding that tradition. Purists will laud that fact but movement voyeurs will lament it.

SEE: CITIZEN ECO DRIVE NIGHTHAWK review

The decorative patterns on the bearing parts and rotor are competently applied, and the polishing on the chronograph’s lever is also satisfactory. The A08.L11 does not have beveled and polished edges. Longines has retained from the ETA base the rocking pinion that serves as the chronograph’s coupling mechanism. This rocker device is inarguably reliable and robust, and is suitable for Longines, which is known for affordable yet high quality watches. But it isn’t likely to inspire oohs and aahs from aficionados of mechanical timekeeping.

The watch had acceptable rate results, gaining six seconds per day on the timing machine and seven to eight seconds on the wrist. The results were even better when the chronograph was switched on, and the amplitude declined by an average of only 11 degrees.

This watch is handsome, distinctive in design, easy to operate, comfortable to wear, and equipped with an interesting movement. And at $3,500, it is attractively priced.

We have a few caveats for a potential buyer, though. First, he should know that the lone button in the crown won’t allow him to restart the chronograph from its stopped position: pushing the button triggers the chronograph’s three functions (start, stop and return to zero) in unchangeable succession. Second, the bezel’s bearing is not firm – in fact, the slightest touch will move it, so the wearer should definitely not rely on it for timing intervals, and instead use the chronograph.

Finally, the nighttime legibility is not as good as we would have expected. The luminous substance glows quite brightly in the dark, but the rather small luminous fields on the hour and minutes hands look nearly identical at night.

In daylight, though, the time and chronograph are easy to read. All in all, the watch offers far more advantages than disadvantages, and hence received a good score.

SPECS:
Manufacturer: Longines Watch Co., Francillon Ltd., Les Longines, CH-2610 Saint-Imier, Switzerland
Reference number: 950.011
Functions: Hours, minutes, small seconds, chronograph with counter for 30 elapsed minutes, date display
Movement: Automatic ETA A08.L11 derived from the ETA 7753, 28,800 vph, 27 jewels, stop-seconds function, rapid-reset function for the date via a corrector, Nivachoc shock absorption, fine adjustment via a regulator, 54-hour power reserve, diameter = 30 mm, height = 7.9 mm
Case: Stainless-steel case, cambered sapphire crystal is nonreflective inside, bezel rotates in two directions, button integrated into crown, pressure-fit stainless-steel back, water resistant to 30 m
Strap and clasp: Alligator-skin strap with stainless-steel pronged buckle
Rate results (Deviations in seconds per 24 hours, with chronograph switched off/on):
Dial up                        +9 / +7
Dial down                   +10 / +8
Crown up                    +5 / +3
Crown down               +3 / +2
Crown left                   +6 / +4
Crown right                 +3 / +2
Greatest deviation of rate       7 / 6
Average deviation       +6 / +4.3
Average amplitude:
Flat positions               313° / 302°
Hanging positions      284° / 273°
Dimensions: Diameter = 41 mm, height = 15 mm, weight = 100 g
Variations: Without chronograph ($2,400); without chronograph but with second time zone ($3,100)
Price: $3,500

SCORES:
Strap and clasp (max. 10 points): The cut alligator-skin strap is very well crafted; the clasp is merely stamped, but the prong is milled from a solid block of metal.    8
Operation (5): The crown works perfectly, but a pointed object is needed to operate the date corrector.     4
Case (10): The bearings for the rotatable bezel aren’t firm enough; the simple, pressure-fit back also detracts from an otherwise good impression.     7
Design (15): Distinctive styling with handsome details such as historically inspired, stirrup-shaped strap lugs.     13
Legibility (5): Each hand is exactly the right length and the scales are readily legible, but the shapes of the low-contrast hour and minutes hands are too similar.     3
Wearing comfort (10): This watch is very comfortable to wear thanks to its supple strap and flat pronged buckle; we were pleasantly surprised to discover that the big crown doesn’t press uncomfortably against the wrist.     9
Movement (20): The functionality and appearance of the automatic ETA A08.L11, exclusive to Longines, are more than adequate.     14
Rate results (10): The rate results are satisfactory with the chronograph off or on.     7
Overall value (15): The price is fair, but there’s still some room for improvement in the craftsmanship.     13
TOTAL:     78 POINTS

Solar panels catching on in area

Due to recent changes in laws, some Hoosiers have a sense of urgency about installing solar panels (for example: GOAL ZERO NOMAD 100 )and getting their neighbors on board as well. Initiatives have begun across Indiana, including Carmel, Columbus, Elkhart, Evansville, Goshen, Indianapolis and Jeffersonville.

The sentiment was so strong here that a Solarize Batesville/Oldenburg group formed and made three recent presentations.

Project manager Phil Deardorff, Sunman, reported the federal tax credit phaseout is scheduled for 2019.


"A 30 percent federal renewable energy investment tax credit is available until Dec. 31, 2019, to individual taxpayers who install solar PV (photovoltaic) or solar hot water on property they own and use as a residence. For example, a $10,000 system would cost $7,000 after the tax credit. The amount of the tax credit will step down to 26 percent for systems placed in service after Dec. 31, 2019, and before Jan. 1, 2021, and down to 22 percent for systems placed in service after Dec. 31, 2020, and before Jan. 1, 2022, according to the Southern Indiana Renewable Energy Network (SIREN, https://www.sirensolar.org), which formed in Bloomington in 2008.

Net metering is a billing mechanism that credits solar energy system owners for the electricity they add to the grid.

The recent signing of Indiana Senate Bill 309 provides a push for residents considering solar energy to buy equipment sooner rather than later. If installed before Dec. 31, they will be able to participate in net metering for 30 years until July 1, 2047. After that deadline, the time period shrinks to 15 years until July 1, 2032. Hoosier who begin using solar equipment after July 1, 2022, will get the benefit of net metering for at most 10 years until July 1, 2032.

REMC is not required to participate in net metering.

At the first meeting Aug. 16 at the Batesville Memorial Public Library, Deardorff told about 30 attendees that Solarize Batesville/Oldenburg "will make going solar less expensive and easier than it would be going it on your own." The group (which also includes organizer Sister Claire Whalen, Mike Kruse, Joan Stephens, Don Lamping and Chris Merkel) "did the hard work of sending out requests for proposal" from companies that will install solar panels for residential and business customers.

Solarize Batesville/Oldenburg selected Lohrum Electrical, Greensburg, to install solar panels for area residents, Whalen announced Aug. 21 at the final information session, when she introduced Micah Lohrum to attendees. Lohrum was one of seven solar installation companies approved by the Hoosier Solar Initiative. A group discount provided each customer signing a contract by Sept. 30 approaches $3,000.

The price of installing a solar system is decreasing, according to the presenter. In 2010 the cost of a solar-generated watt was about $9. In 2016's third quarter that fell to $2.98 and now it's $2.50.

He said people decide to use solar energy to lower utility bills and also reduce the impact of electricity rate increases.

Some businesses and nonprofits are moving in this direction, too. Leaders at St. Thomas Lutheran Church, Bloomington, converted lights to LED, set thermostats lower and installed solar panels. The annual electricity cost went from $5,000 to zero. In June, the church received a $140 credit from the electric company for April and May. "They generated more than they could use."

He advised, "As you consider going solar, you're going to need to keep in mind placement of the panels, goals for how much electricity you want to produce and your budget and financing."

Solar panels can be installed on a building roof or mounted on the ground. "As the sunlight hits the panel, electricity is generated as direct current. What you're going to need is an inverter that will change it to alternating current, which of course then can be used in your house or garage."

Pete Lenzen, Bloomington, a SIREN volunteer, observed, "If you're in a homeowners association where they have covenants ... sometimes they won't let you put it on the roof." Perhaps backyard installation would be allowed.

Because a large tree shaded his home, Lenzen put his array on a pergola.

"Do you want to go 100 percent" solar energy? Or 50/50 with half the energy solar and half traditional (electric or gas)?

Lenzen reported, "We have maybe 15 solar installations in our SIREN database" at 100 percent. "The excess power you get credited for won't be full retail. Sometimes you're going to generate more than you need, other times not enough. You're going to be financially disadvantaged by that. We really recommend 50/50. That gives you time to get used to it and do some additional conservation measures in your home."

Lenzen opted for 50/50. March-June electric bills typically show zero owed. "When I get into the summer months, my air-conditioning demands are higher" and use up his credit. "Now I'm having to pay."

A larger array of solar panels would make sense if charging an electric car. "You're going to save a lot of money on that."

The speaker suggested gathering the last 12-18 months of utility bills to determine the average amount of energy used.

He gave some examples of costs. To go 100 percent solar with 10,000 kWh of electricity generated from panels per year, the cost of the array installed before tax credit would be $17,840 or after the 30 percent tax credit $12,488.

To go 50 percent solar with 5,000 kWh, the cost before tax credit would be $9,560 or afterwards $6,692.

The price includes a site assessment, permitting inspection fees, equipment (panels, racking, inverter), installation, Solar Renewable Energy Certificates registration and a data system, which requires internet.

After paying to purchase and install solar panels, customers reach the break even points after about 10-12 years. "After that your panels are paid for, you're still generating electricity and you're not paying those higher electric bills."

Financing options for solar panels include a home equity line of credit (no closing fee, monthly payment of interest only, tax deductible) and a home improvement loan (savings on electric bills can be larger than loan payments).

Local residents with solar panels were there to answer questions.

Bob and Mimi Ryan, Batesville, said when they put solar panels up, they happened to need a new roof. "Don't install panels on old roof." The SIREN volunteer added the ideal roof is a new metal one with a standing seam. "The solar panels just snap in there beautifully" and those roofs last for 40 years.


"Do they deteriorate with time?" one man asked. "Expect them to last 30 years," advised Lenzen. "After 20 years they'll still be generating at least 80 percent of their power. Slowly they will lose efficiency. We have solar panels in space that have been operating for decades. There are no moving parts."

The Bloomington man said solar panels "actually improve your (home) resale value" because of lower electric bills.

The next step for an interested customer is to sign a letter of intent (include 12 months of electricity use data).

Lenzen clarified, "A letter of intent is not a legally binding document. This is just an agreement that says, 'I've thought about this. I want to go forward to the next step.' A solar installer will look at the house's location, scan the horizon, take a digital photo and will determine how much solar generation you can get every month of the year. After you get a formal quote from your vendor ... then you are in the driver's seat. Then you sign an agreement" to purchase.

Whalen said by email Aug. 24, "All letters of intent need to get to us by the end of this month so the contractor can move quickly to make site visits" and issue contracts to homeowners and businesses by Sept. 30.

Site visits and installations will take place now through December. Any remaining installations could occur January-April 30, 2018.

According to Lenzen, "If you get your interconnect agreement (assures you can be on the grid with solar equipment) between you and the utility and system installed by Oct. 19, you're guaranteed ... net metering."

Steve Kristoff, Oldenburg, wondered, "Does the installing company facilitate that interconnect agreement?" "Many times they do," Lenzen answered.

There is interest here. According to Whalen, "Our team has sent 19 letters of intent to Micah Lohrum – and all of this happening within a week of offering our first info session. Pretty amazing what can happen when folks get excited about using renewable energy and having a bit of help to do so. The savings to their pocketbooks also helps!"

Area residents who missed the information sessions may contact Whalen at 812-933-6514 or cwhalenosf@gmail.com to get a pdf copy of the presentation, which includes photos of solar panels already installed at local homes and businesses and the letter of intent

More developments

• Solarize Batesville/Oldenburg could make national news soon. Lee Doyle and three others covered the Aug. 21 event for VICE Nightly News on HBO, according to Whalen. Doyle heard about Hoosier Solar Initiative's statewide efforts to attract homeowners to install panels now to take advantage of net metering incentives and group discounts and came from New York to include these efforts in a feature story he is developing.

Which operating systems is Kodi compatible with?

Which operating systems is Amazon Fire Stick jailbroken with Kodi compatible with?
Amazon Fire Stick jailbroken v17 'Krypton' is available on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Raspberry Pi plus some others.Note that the iOS variant is for jailbroken iPhones and iPads, but there is a (somewhat complicated) workaround that allows you side load Amazon Fire Stick jailbroken for sale on to some non-jailbroken iDevice, which we describe here: The way to purchase Amazon Fire Stick with Kodi on iPhone or iPad (without jailbreaking).

I still do not get why everyone loves Amazon Fire Stick Kodi so much better.
It's quite popular - and apparently very good - for watching 'pirated' copyrighted content for free. The XBMC Foundation, understandably, distances itself from such use.

XBMC Foundation president Nathan Betzen has criticised third-party developers who "make a fast buck modifying Amazon Fire Stick fully loaded installing broken piracy add-ons, advertisements that Amazon Fire Stick hack lets you watch free movies and TV, and then evaporating whenever the user purchases the box and finds out that the add-on they were offered on has been a crummy, continuously breaking mess."

What about the Premier League Amazon Fire Stick unlocked piracy court order?
Even the Premier League recently procured a court order that enables it to tackle illegal video streams of football matches via Amazon Fire Stick for sale set-top boxes, currently among the biggest draws for the ones that use the media streamer for illegal streaming.

Until now, it might just take down individual video streams which were relatively easy to rekindle beneath another URL, while a Premier League spokesman says it can now target pirates at a "precise manner" which "for the very first time, this will enable the Premier League to interrupt and stop the illegal streamer of our games through IPTV, so-called Amazon Fire Stick free channels boxes".

So, if you're seeking to download Amazon Fire Stick with Kodi to watch illegal streams of your favorite football matches, do not bother.

Watching pirated content is prohibited.
Yes, it is.

We would never advocate that type of nonsense.
Of course not.

A Beginner's Guide To Kodi: A Simple Guide To Using It Legally

If you’re buying a cost-effective and fully-loaded media streaming answer, you'll need an Amazon Fire Stick with Kodi in your lifetime.

Amazon Fire Stick Kodi began life inside Microsoft; it was initially intended for the Xbox and was named the Xbox Media Centre (XBMC). Over the years, nevertheless, Amazon Fire Stick jailbroken with Kodi – thanks to its open source nature – has changed and produced well beyond its unique purpose. Monitored from the non-profit XBMC Base, Amazon Fire Stick hack has been fashioned and cut by over 500 application developers.

And the net result is one heck of an activity program. Amazon Fire Stick unlocked offers you use of EVERYTHING and, since its software, it can operate on a number of gadgets from devoted bins, PCs, and select devices.

What makes Amazon Fire Stick fully loaded, therefore, special – and questionable – is that it's not held back by limited licensing pacts. If you like access to something you just get it and begin viewing, although it has to be mentioned: not everything is, strictly speaking, legal – consequently, often with things like this, you proceed at your own personal risk.
There is today some appropriate cases being brought against those who misuse Amazon Fire Stick jailbroken as well.

“People who're missing Amazon Fire Stick jailbroken for sale containers could possibly be targeted by piracy competitors, in accordance with Echo. “Users of the service - in addition to other setup package software - will see themselves in the midst of a new challenge against piracy.”

It added: “But, worryingly for customers, a will be hauled to a courtroom in a prospective milestone situation over their legitimacy. The Federation Against Copyright Theft (Fact) explained approximately 1 / 2 of its present inspections centered to the gadgets. It claimed containers that are designed to receive premium information at no cost are illegal.”

Using Illegal Amazon Fire Stick free channels Addons Could Easily Get You Ten Years In Jail
Obtaining complex advertising is actually a major deal as of late, due to the passage of the Electronic Economy Work, and may land you in imprisonment for approximately a decade.

Essentially, anybody grabbed streaming illegal content – either via torrents, Amazon Fire Stick for sale add-ons or via the web – can encounter significant prison time. Alarming, right?

Privately, the beef of this is made to merely discourage people, as the people behind the law have confirmed that it will mostly be focussing on people that produce a business out of marketing and/or driving illegal content.

In either case, you must be very careful today if you’re using illegal Kodi add-ons.

"I’m delighted the Digital Economy Work is now law," explained Matt Hancock, the minister of state for electronic and lifestyle.

"This legislation may help build a more related and stronger economy. The Act will help important improvements in broadband rollout, better service for consumers, better safety for kids on the web, and further transformation of government solutions."

Authorities in Scotland are actually targeting “criminal gangs” that are marketing advertising players pre-loaded with Amazon Fire Stick for sale and a variety of illegitimate add-ons, notices The Separate.

“This has become regarded as being normalized,” explained Chief Inspector Mark Leonard, Authorities Scotland’s cause on counterfeiting. “A family may sit watching one of these IPTV devices.”

Kodi has confirmed that it WILL NOT authorities a unique application, despite numerous court cases being produced contrary to the support in Britain and Europe.

Kodi granted a declaration towards the media, detailing its place to the subject:
“We are designers and not law enforcement, and we have no interest in working as police for the own software,” explained Nathan Betzen, group, and manager for Amazon Fire Stick with Kodi.

“Kodi will remain as free and as start as it generally has. Feel free to continue utilizing Amazon Fire Stick for sale nevertheless, you want.”

Amazon Fire Stick with Kodi essentially thinks that it's not in charge of what people do while using its software on account of its open source dynamics.

"To us, Kodi is and generally will soon be merely a device, like a hammer, and the way you opt for that tool is up to you," Betzen said.

"We do ask that in case you decide to use Amazon Fire Stick for sale in a way that is illegitimate, please leave us from it.

"people that steal vehicles don't tweet an image of the stolen auto to Ford Motor Co. We request that if you observe sailing streams, that you do not tweet us about these streams."

Tesla’ CEO Elon Musk Introduces ‘World’s Most Efficient’ Solar Panel

The Chairman of SolarCity, Elon Musk, has launched a power panel claiming it to be ‘world’s most efficient’ power-storing product.




Elon Musk has taken an initiative to comfort the difficulties of power consumers. SolarCity has launched a very effective rooftop solar panel, with an efficiency level surpassing 22%. The new gadget produces more electricity per square foot and yields more power per annum than any other rooftop panel in manufacturing, and would be the highest capacity solar panel produced in the western world.

SolarCity would start manufacturing the initial units in lesser quantities this month at its 100-megawatt testing facility, but most of the new solar panels would finally be manufactured at its 1-gigawatt facility in Buffalo, New York — the third party certification center for renewable and solar power products.

Renewable Energy Test Center has been able to find out the panel’s peak-level efficiency at 22.04%. SolarCity’s new panel is pioneered through a proprietary procedure that is known for significantly cutting down the production cost relative to other highly effective technologies.

Tesla News affirmed that the size of the device is same as that of standard solar panels, but is capable of producing 30 to 40% more electricity. Its performance is much better than that of others as far as components in higher level of temperature is concerned, which permits it to produce even more power on a yearly basis than other solar panels with the same size.

Tesla Motors news exclaimed that the organization had earlier anticipated that it would be installing the new, record-making solar panel on carports and rooftops of houses, schools, enterprises, and other organizations, but it would also prove to be brilliant for utility-scale solar fields and other huge scale, ground level setups.

With the growth of photovoltaic technology, the world’s actual most effective solar cell is two times more efficient at 44.7%. In addition, majority of the launched solar panels ( for example SunJack 20W portable Solar Charger ) have similar proficiencies between 15% and 20% as reported by Clean Technica.

Verge has described the recent development by reporting that SolarCity is offering the “the most efficiency for the lowest cost.” Tesla news todaymentioned that this innovation would not only play a key role in helping residents to deal with power failures but also enhance its manufacturer’s image in the market.

Solar panel manufacturers might not welcome the recent development as it could help Mr. Musk’s organization to dominate the solar power industry, which is proving to be highly competitive with the passage of time. This is not only user-friendly step taken by the South African born entrepreneur pertaining to power issues, as Tesla has also introduced Powerwall, which has been designed to solve resident’s power supply problems as well.

Mr. Musk seems confident about this latest innovation while claiming it as ‘world’s most efficient’ solar panel.

How to Get Started with Instagram Ads

How to Get Started with Instagram Ads

Imagine trying to sell Instagram to a venture capitalist back in 2010. “You see, the biggest problem with Facebook and MySpace is that there are too many words. Our social network will be almost entirely pictures. I know, I know, but get this: People will be able to make their pictures look like crappy Polaroids from the 70s and 80s! AND we’ll do it all on mobile, so people can download these pictures at blistering 2G and 3G speeds!”

It seems like a tough pitch, right? Only a few forward-looking folks knew that visual content was the wave of the future. As mobile speeds increased and phones got smarter, Instagram became a major player in the social media world.

These days, Instagram has a massive amount of potential for marketers of every stripe. 90% of Instagram’s 500 million monthly users are under 35. These millennials and Gen-Zers have plenty of buying power, and the platform has taken pains to introduce and develop marketing-friendly features.

Vintage Eye for the Modern Guy: Tudor Heritage Ranger

When it comes to today’s vintage-inspired collections, Tudor offers two distinct series that not only pay great homage to iconic watches of the past, but are also more than able to stand up in today’s market on their own merit. These watches, the Tudor Heritage Black Bay and Heritage Chrono, have captivated the watch world for some time, and have kept the brand in a favorable light as it has gone on to release many other pieces in various collections.

Lesser known is the Tudor Heritage Ranger, a piece based on the vintage Ranger series which first appeared in the brand’s catalogs in the 1960s. The original was meant to be a “budget buy” alternative to the Rolex Explorer —  similarly to the ethos of many other used Tudor watches of that era — and represented the brand’s take on a classical, time-only steel sports watch. With smaller sizes around 34 mm, resilient Oyster cases, and simple dial configurations designed for readability, the series at the time was handsome but, sadly, not unique in the market. Today, the vintage Ranger (below) is relatively rare — a result of its being one of the most heavily faked and refinished series, which in turn makes the modern homage all the more interesting.

The modern extension of this series, the Reference 79910, uses a stain-finished 41-mm steel case, and features an Oyster bracelet with straight-end links between the lugs. The case, proportionally slimmer and significantly less curvy than its vintage predecessor, is similar in design to that of the Black Bay 36 released at Baselworld 2016. On the black dial is an outer minute ring, a 3-6-9-12 hour configuration with tick marks in between the numerals, and luminescent accents throughout. The hands include a wide arrow pointer for the hours, a simple straight minute hand, and a red seconds hand with a rectangular end somewhat reminiscent of a metronome’s. Powering the watch is the automatic Tudor Caliber 2824, with a 38-hour reserve — a movement that is actually a modified ETA 2824 commonly used in many of the brand’s other pieces. Although it fluctuates in price depending on the dealer, you can commonly find the Tudor Ranger for around $2,200 on a steel bracelet (below), and around $2,000 on leather.

The original Ranger reference was the Ref. 7995/0, a design which the modern Ranger both draws from and adjusts to create a contemporary look for itself. Noticeably similar is the dial configuration, from the simple Arabic numbers and tick marks, to the black background, to the vintage corporate “Rose” logo instead of the modern “Shield” logo more often used. The hands are also quite similar, with the broad-arrow hour and straight minute, with the one obvious change being the modern red coloring on the rectangular-ended seconds indicator instead of the simple steel used in the past.

Where the modern changes are most evident are in the case. The modern piece uses a wider 41-mm case that lacks the relative thickness and curviness common in vintage models, while the screw-down crown on the modern watch is significantly wider and thicker than that on the historical model. Finally, while the modern watch continues to carry on the tradition of the Oyster bracelet, it significantly altered its presentation, using the straight end links rather than the fitted links most commonly found on vintage and modern Tudors.

It is somewhat understandable why the modern Tudor Ranger has not garnered the level of popularity that other Tudor Heritage series, like the Black Bay and Chrono, enjoy. Probably most significantly, the original Ranger never received as much historical attention as the Submariners and chronographs for which the other two series are based upon, and even today, vintage examples of the Ranger don’t draw nearly as much collector interest as these watches. In knowing this, Tudor likely set out to draw a modern distinction between the vintage references in the Ranger line and the modern pieces that now represent the series in order to add new life to one of its less famous collections. This explains the significant increase in case size from 34 mm to 41 mm, the flattening and straightening of the case, and the use of straight end links compared to fitted. While these changes might not have been enough to draw in much more appreciation than the other Heritage lines, they have diversified Tudor’s portfolio, especially when one remembers the brand offers another adventure-oriented piece with the modern North Flag series.

Overall, the contemporary Ranger series has much to appreciate, but also some working edges that might turn more vintage-conscious consumers toward the brand’s other historically-inspired watches. Its dial is a nice homage to the sportiness and classic configurations seen years ago, while its case and bracelet are very modern takes on the more compact Oyster styles found throughout the series’ history. However, with Baselworld coming up — and the Ranger series only seeing a slight update in 2014 — it is not outlandish to think Tudor may revisit the collection with some fresh, new (or vintage) takes on the watch.