If there is one style of watch that makes the most sense to have a solar quartz movement, it’s a field watch.
So, Dryden went ahead and updated its Heartlander field watch with solar power and, in the process, created one of the best sub-$300 daily-wearing options on the market.
Dryden is a young American watch brand located in Kansas City, Missouri, where it assembles and regulates every watch. The brand’s catalog is limited, but all the bases are covered with a diver, a chronograph and a field watch — all priced well under $1,000.
Introduced in 2022, the Heartlander field watch is a tribute to the beautiful landscapes of Kansas, where the company’s founder, Jerry Wang, grew up. It debuted as a 38mm automatic time-only with a dial strongly influenced by the Tudor Ranger, placed on a President-style steel bracelet.
While the Highlander collection has seen a dozen dial variations, including a fully lumed option and a few with date complications, it has always used automatic Miyota movements and the same Ranger-inspired hand set.