Imagine snagging a tough, everyday field watch that harnesses the sun's power to keep ticking indefinitely – all for under $300. It's the kind of smart upgrade that could revolutionize how we think about affordable timepieces, especially for outdoor enthusiasts who hate winding or replacing batteries.
Dryden Watch Co., a fresh-faced American brand hailing from Kansas City, Missouri, has just given its popular Heartlander field watch a game-changing solar twist. If you're new to watches, a field watch is designed for practicality – think military-inspired durability for hikes, camps, or daily adventures, with easy-to-read dials and lume that glows in the dark. And solar quartz? It's a movement that charges via light exposure, eliminating the need for manual winding or battery swaps, making it incredibly low-maintenance. Dryden assembles and fine-tunes every piece right there in their workshop, keeping their lineup simple yet comprehensive: a dive watch for water lovers, a chronograph for timing pros, and this field option – all hovering well below the $1,000 mark.
Launched back in 2022, the original Heartlander paid homage to the sweeping prairies of Kansas, where founder Jerry Wang spent his childhood. It came as a compact 38mm automatic model with just hours and minutes, its dial echoing the classic Tudor Ranger's clean, no-nonsense vibe, and it sat pretty on a luxurious President-style steel bracelet. For beginners, an automatic watch relies on your wrist movement to power itself, which is charming but requires regular wear to stay accurate.
Over time, the Heartlander lineup expanded with about a dozen dial styles – some fully lumed for maximum visibility at night, others adding a date window – but they all stuck to automatic Miyota movements from Japan and those signature Ranger-like hands. But here's where it gets really exciting (and maybe a bit controversial for watch purists): the new Heartlander Solar shakes things up entirely. This version is a time-and-date field watch driven by Epson's Caliber VS42 solar quartz movement, which is essentially a reliable, everyday take on the solar tech Orient uses in their pieces. No more mechanical heartbeat – instead, it's powered by light, converting sunlight or even indoor lamps into energy stored in a rechargeable battery that lasts for months.
Alongside the power upgrade, you'll find more classic field watch hands – think straightforward and legible – plus a quick-release strap made from durable FKM rubber with a secure pin buckle. It's perfect for swapping bands on the fly, whether you're heading to the trail or the office. And this is the part most people miss: the biggest win is the price tag. The suggested retail for this solar gem drops to just $279 – nearly half what the automatic version costs – making high-quality watch ownership accessible without skimping on features.
Staying powered up effortlessly
The Heartlander Solar sports a revamped dial that's both familiar and fresh. From the edges in, it mixes a precise ruler-like seconds scale (like the original time-only model) with bold printed numerals for the hours, reminiscent of the date-equipped versions. Dryden's logo still sits proudly at the top, now accented with 'solar' beneath it, and the model name switches to a crisp, all-caps sans-serif type for a modern edge.
The date window, which used to peek out at six o'clock on the automatic, now sits traditionally at three o'clock in a clean, lined frame – super easy to glance at without disrupting the dial's flow. Everything from the hour markers and dots to all three hands gets a generous application of blue-glowing Super-LumiNova, that premium luminescent material ensuring you can read the time even in pitch-black conditions, like during a midnight hike.
Right out of the gate, it launches in four versatile dial shades: lush green, deep blue, sleek black, and subtle gray. Each one uses crisp white printing throughout, with the 'Heartlander' text popping in yellow on the green and gray options for a subtle contrast that draws the eye.
Classic field watch aesthetics
Keeping the familiar footprint, the Heartlander Solar uses the same 38mm oval-shaped case in brushed stainless steel as its predecessor, complete with a discreetly signed crown that's been refined in recent iterations. For the black dial variant, there's an optional black PVD coating – a tough, scratch-resistant finish that gives it a stealthy, tactical look without adding bulk.
The real showstopper, though, is the all-new hand design. Gone are the Tudor Ranger influences; in their place are elegantly beveled syringe-style hands for hours and minutes, paired with a pointed arrow seconds hand that's pure field watch tradition. All versions have that satisfying brushed steel finish on the hands for texture and light play. Fun details: the gray dial's seconds hand tips in yellow for a pop, while the blue one's ends in red, adding personality without overwhelming the clean design.
When and how to get yours
This eco-friendly evolution of the Heartlander is a total crowd-pleaser. It packs the same solid build quality you'd expect from a watch twice the price – think scratch-resistant sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating, that 38mm brushed steel case, and reliable Super-LumiNova – but slashes the cost in half compared to the automatic. For folks who aren't die-hard fans of mechanical movements (and let's be real, who has time for constant adjustments?), the Epson solar quartz is a breath of fresh air: accurate, hassle-free, and wallet-friendly. Imagine never worrying about your watch stopping during a long trip – that's the solar magic at work.
You can grab the Heartlander Solar straight from Dryden starting November 7th. The blue, green, and gray dials ring in at $279 each, while the black PVD-coated edition bumps up to $289 for that extra rugged flair. Craving the original's steel bracelet? It'll be an option for the solar model come December, and Dryden offers a full lineup of compatible straps to mix and match your style.
Dryden Heartlander Solar
Quick Specs
Case Diameter: 38mm
Movement: Epson Caliber VS42 Solar Quartz
Water Resistance: 100 meters (plenty for swimming or rain, but not deep diving)
A bit about the writer: Brad Lanphear serves as an associate editor at Gear Patrol, diving deep into watches and style topics. Prior to this, he contributed to Heddels and Men's Health. These days, he's on an endless hunt for the ultimate Japanese denim pair.
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But wait, is solar the future of affordable watches, or does it rob us of the soul in mechanical movements? That's the debate raging among enthusiasts – solar's practicality versus the romance of gears ticking away. What do you think: would you ditch automatics for this solar steal, or stick to tradition? Drop your thoughts in the comments below; I'd love to hear if you're team convenience or team craftsmanship!
