Six Recently Launched Rock-Solid Adventurous Watches

Most watch enthusiasts and collectors are rarely content with their current collection. Sure, it might hold someone’s most desired pieces to date, but there’s always that next one to lust after. And to be honest, I have a long list of watches that are theoretically within my reach and would one day love to own. On the other hand, I often wonder what I would keep if I had to tone it down to just a single watch. I would be looking at something that allows me to do anything, and go anywhere if I’m honest. That watch would need to go with my every-day activities, but also be robust enough to go hiking or kayaking in the wilderness. I’d probably also want a watch easy-to-wear and sits on the wrist comfortably. And of course, it needs to be legible under all circumstances. So what do I end up with? Likely something like one of these six recently introduced adventure watches!

Tudor Ranger

Earlier in the year Tudor brought back the illustrious Ranger with the new 79950 references. This toned-down, no-nonsense watch returned in a more compact size and new movement. The new Tudor Ranger is directly inspired by the early models of the 1960s, when it was known as the Tudor Oyster Prince Ranger. It has a compact 39mm stainess steel case, with a simple design and basically no additional features. The matte black domed dial caries the signature 3/6/9/12 numerals interchanged with baton markers. The hands are also shaped like the ones in early Rangers and are filled with beige Super-LumiNova. Inside we find the Manufacture Calibre MT5402, made with Kenissi. This COSC-certified chronometer offers 70 hours of power reserve. The Tudor Ranger retails for EUR 2,560 on a strap and EUR 2,860 on the bracelet.

For more information, please visit TudorWatch.com

Quick Facts – 39mm x 12mm – stainless steel case, satin-finished – domed sapphire crystal with AR coating – screw-down crown with Rose logo – solid steel caseback – 100m water-resistant – matte black domed dial – painted Arabic indices – arrow-shaped, baton and syringe hands – beige Super-LumiNova – red-tipped seconds hand – Manufacture Calibre MT5402 (Kenisse sourced) – automatic winding – COSC-certified chronometer – 27 jewels – 28,800vph – 70h power reserve – silicon balance spring – hours, minutes, seconds (hacking) – steel bracelet, jacquard strap or fabric-like black leather with folding clasp – Between EUR 2,560 and EUR 2,860

Alpina Alpiner Extreme Regulator

During the Geneva Watch Days, we had a quick first encounter with the new Alpina Alpiner Extreme Regulator. Although this type of watch has been in the collection for about two decades, the new Alpiner Extreme is completely overhauled and looks fresher than ever. As its name suggests it is ready for action, and the robust 41mm wide cushion-shaped stainless steel case looks the part. The unusual split-time display is indicated on a triangular textured dial in grey, with navy blue subdials and applied indices. Alpina uses the Calibre AL-650, which is an automatic Sellita SW 461-1. With 200m water resistance, you can be assured it is up to any task basically. Worn on a navy blue rubber strap, it retails for CHF 2,150.

For more information, please visit AlpinaWatches.com

Quick Facts – 41mm x 12mm – cushion-shaped stainless steel case, brushed and polished – screw-down crown with coloured rubber grip – sapphire crystal front and back – 200m water-resistant – dark grey textured dial with navy blue subdials – regulator style display with central minute hands and offset hour and seconds hand – blue flange with minute track – applied luminous indices – Calibre AL-650 (Sellita SW 461-1) – automatic winding – 31 jewels – 28,800vph – 38h power reserve – navy blue rubber strap – limited edition of 888 pieces – CHF 2,150

Norqain Independence Wild ONE

Next up we have the freshly released Norqain Wild One. This high-tech rugged all-terrain watch introduces us to a new material known as NORTEQ, an innovative carbon fibre composite. The 42mm wide case resembles other Independence models but is in fact designed from scratch. A black and green, and black and blue variant forms the core collection, with a red and grey and black and beige limited edition being introduced at the same time. The dial is laser-cut on three levels, with rectangular indices and skeletonized hands. Norqain once again uses a Kenissi sourced movement, this time around the COSC-certified chronometer manufacture NN20/1 calibre. It comes on an integrated rubber strap with pin buckle, and starts at CHF 4,950.

For more information, please visit Norqain.com

Quick Facts – 42mm x 12.3mm – NORTEQ carbon fibre composite and bio-sourced material matrix case – sapphire crystal front and back – screw-down crown – 200m water-resistant – three-level laser-cut dial – rectangular indices with Super-LumiNova – skeletonized hands with luminous tips – Manufacture Calibre NN20/1 (made with Kenissi) – automatic winding – COSC certified chronometer – 28 jewels – 28,800vph – 70h power reserve – hours, minutes, seconds – rubber strap with folding buckle – from CHF 4,950

Fortis Marinemaster M-44 woodpecker green

We’re going up in size a step or two, with the new Fortis Marinemaster M-44, and we’ve gone for the Woodpecker Green to keep within the adventurous theme. This bigger variant of the current Marinemaster range comes in a 44mm wide robust steel case with a locking rotatable bezel released and secured by the second crown. The textured black dial is surrounded by a fresh green minute track and finished with large applied indices. The solid caseback hides the Calibre WERK 11, made by Kenissi (hello again!). Next to central hours, minutes and seconds it also indicates the date. It can be worn on either a green rubber strap, retailing for EUR 4,250 or a steel bracelet, retailing for EUR 4,600.

For more information, please visit Fortis-Swiss.com

Quick Facts – 44mm x 14.5mm – recycled stainless steel case – bidirectional bezel with Fortis Lock System – sapphire crystal – solid caseback – screw-down crown – secondary crown for bezel locking – 500m water-resistant – woodpecker green dial with black minute track – applied indices with Super-LumiNova – sword-shaped hands with Super-LumiNova – lollipop seconds hand – Calibre Werk 11 (made by Kenissi) – automatic winding – 26 jewels – 28,800vph – COSC certified chronometer – 70h power reserve – hours, minutes, seconds, date – green rubber strap with folding clasp – EUR 4,250 (on rubber)

Seiko Prospex Alpinist “rock face” SPB355J1

Seiko has a very long and storied history when it comes to dive watches, but that’s not all they do of course. Under the Prospex sub-collection, we also find the Alpinist, which also dates back multiple decades. One of the best-looking variations of Seiko’s explorer-watch is the recent Prospex Alpinist “Rock Face” SPB355J1. This limited edition has a stainless steel case of 39.5mm in diameter, with the familiar dual-crown system (one for setting/winding, one for the internal bezel). The beautifully textured silver dial is offset with blue indices and hands, and surrounded by the grey sloping rotatable bezel. The automatic Calibre 6R35 delivers 70 hours of running time. Limited to 3,000 pieces it comes on a grey canvas strap with an additional blue leather strap and retails for EUR 930.

For more information, please visit SeikoWatches.com

Quick Facts – 39.5mm x 13.2mm – stainless steel case, brushed and polished – sapphire crystal front and back – screw-down crown for winding and setting – secondary crown for inner rotating bezel – 200m water-resistant – silvery dial with rock face texture – sloped inner rotating bezel with two-tone compass scale – applied blue indices and hands – LumiBrite fillings – date window under cyclops lens – Seiko Calibre 6R35 – automatic winding – 21,600vph – 24 jewels – 70h power reserve – hours, minutes, seconds, quick-set date – sand-grey canvas strap and blue calfskin leather strap with folding buckles – limited edition of 3,000 pieces – EUR 930

Delma Cayman Bronze

And finally, we come to Delma and its very capable and accessible Cayman Bronze tool watch. With a bronze suit measuring 42mm in diameter, this is the only one that will bare the marks of your adventures as it gathers patina over time. The case is topped with a unidirectional rotatable bezel with a 60-minute scale. The sand-textured dial is done in black (with other colours available) and features large luminous indexes and a red 24-hours scale. The large bronze crown allows you to set and wind the Sellita SW 200-1 we can see under the stainless steel see-through caseback. The Delma Cayman Bronze comes on a colour-matching Cordura rubber hybrid strap with a bronze pin buckle. At EUR 1,490 and 500m water-resistance, it provides excellent value for money indeed!

For more information, please visit Delma.ch

Quick Facts – 42mm x 13.3mm – bronze case with bronze unidirectional rotating bezel – 60-minute scale – domed sapphire crystal with AR-coating – steel exhibition caseback – screw-drown bronze crown – 500m water-resistant – black dial with sand texture (blue, green and brown also available) – Super-LumiNova C3 indices and oversized Arabic numerals – gold hands with Super-LumiNova inserts – red 24-hour scale – black date window – Sellita SW200-1 – automatic winding – 26 jewels – 28,800vph – 38h power reserve – hours, minutes, seconds, date – hybrid Cordura rubber strap with bronze pin buckle – limited to 999 pieces per colourway – EUR 1,490