What's a good travel watch?

[Valjean]

Dear all

What's your take on a good watch for travelling? Let's limit this discussion to mechanical timepieces only.

My take is that the ideal watch would need to:
(i) have date function;
(ii) have GMT function;
(iii) not too expensive (lest you attract the wrong attention);
(iv) fairly rugged;
(v) versatile (dressy/casual) for different occasions;
(vi) still be a decent piece worth having in the colleciton.

Some candidates (not all of which meet all the above criteria!):
- Rolex Explorer II or GMTIIc (too showy?)
- Panerai 88 (very versatile with the strap options)
- Breitling Navitimer World (classic from Breitling and seems suitably a GMT watch)
- Sinn U2 (simple and rugged)
- IWC Spitfire UTC (not the IWC watch to buy?)

What's your take?

[stektan]

Depending where you go, i think rolex tends to be showy, especially in SE Asia markets. Otherwise, US, europe or ANZ is ok. Pam 88 is nice but the polished case seems too fragile for travelling. I think Breiting is a good choice, it's not too obvious to most people but recognisable for people who know watches. For me, I just wear my regular and reliable omega speedmaster although it's not a GMT.

[triton]

when i travel, i take along my sinn 856.

[seiko.citizen]

depends on the locale. otherwise, i just grab my trusty seiko

[Valjean]

Depending where you go, i think rolex tends to be showy, especially in SE Asia markets. Otherwise, US, europe or ANZ is ok. Pam 88 is nice but the polished case seems too fragile for travelling. I think Breiting is a good choice, it's not too obvious to most people but recognisable for people who know watches. For me, I just wear my regular and reliable omega speedmaster although it's not a GMT.

I love my patch speedy but wouldn't bring it for travel because it has no date function and is handwind. Too many things to do when travelling! I took my Seiko Samurai overseas for a recent trip instead.

Agree with you that the Breitling Navitimer does seem to make the most sense for a GMT watch, if there can be said to be "sense" in a hobby as personal as watches. Personally, I'm not too sure of the very complicated dial though.

[exxondus]

depends one whats the purpose of the trip

If lesiure, I just use Casio.Reason being that i want to enjoy the trip to the max and not have to worry if i would accidentaly scratch it due to trying out activities. The least thing i want on my mind is to worry abt the watch on my wrist, and just enjoy the trip fully.

If business, I wear my GMTIIc since I have to wear long sleeves most of the time, as well as the fact that I will most prob have no time for gg any 'weird' places.

[Valjean]

when i travel, i take along my sinn 856.

That's another option from Sinn. I love the clean and symmetrical layout of the U2 dial though (I noticed how the GMT hand looks the same as the hour hand, but in a different and more subdued colour, whereas GMT hands on other watches tend to jump for attention), although still not as unique as the U1's.

[Valjean]

depends on the locale. otherwise, i just grab my trusty seiko

Yup, I grabbed my Seiko for a recent trip too!

depends one whats the purpose of the trip

If lesiure, I just use Casio.Reason being that i want to enjoy the trip to the max and not have to worry if i would accidentaly scratch it due to trying out activities. The least thing i want on my mind is to worry abt the watch on my wrist, and just enjoy the trip fully.

If business, I wear my GMTIIc since I have to wear long sleeves most of the time, as well as the fact that I will most prob have no time for gg any 'weird' places.

Makes sense, but even for leisure I would love to be able to dress up with the watch depending on occasions. Your GMTIIc is a great piece.

[R-oyster]

How about a Steinhart GMT diver: GMT function, go swimming in the hotel pool, not too expensive watch to wear.

[exxondus]

Makes sense, but even for leisure I would love to be able to dress up with the watch depending on occasions. Your GMTIIc is a great piece.

thanks, i like your 312 very much!! but now still premium priced. cannot afford so will have to wait le

[rotan]

Really depends... If going for travel in South East Asia countries, I would go for Casio or my Pam cos not a lot of pp know about them. Rolex is definitely a no no for me. Like what a lot of Bros say, I would want to enjoy my holidays without worry of being robbed or scratched.

[exxondus]

Really depends... If going for travel in South East Asia countries, I would go for Casio or my Pam cos not a lot of pp know about them. Rolex is definitely a no no for me. Like what a lot of Bros say, I would want to enjoy my holidays without worry of being robbed or scratched.

the funny thing is, PAM is same price a a ROLEX!!! keke..

so both equally dangerous

[rotan]

the funny thing is, PAM is same price a a ROLEX!!! keke..

so both equally dangerous

But not a lot of pp know about Pam... Only the watch enthusiasts will know... My friends ask me how much my watch I just tell them few hundred. So its good in a way hehe...

[Valjean]

But not a lot of pp know about Pam... Only the watch enthusiasts will know... My friends ask me how much my watch I just tell them few hundred. So its good in a way hehe...

Agreed that Rolex, even the more affordable pieces, are risky when travelling because they are just too well-known internationally. Thus I suppose GMTIIc is out as a travelling watch for me, even though it is the iconic GMT watch.

Wah, if you tell your friends that your Pam 233 costs only a few hundred, what if they ask the second question - "Where can I buy it?"

[116520]

If travel in S.E. Asia, no need GMT watch, rite? only one hour diff...

Normally I just wear something I feel like wearing... the most I lock it in hotel safe if I think not so safe wearing it to some places but most of time I am safe...

Really depends... If going for travel in South East Asia countries, I would go for Casio or my Pam cos not a lot of pp know about them. Rolex is definitely a no no for me. Like what a lot of Bros say, I would want to enjoy my holidays without worry of being robbed or scratched.