Time Zone Ready: 13 Watches to Travel the World With

We’ve always been of the opinion that you should bring a really nice watch when you travel. And while modern challenges make that something you have to think twice upon, here are some pieces that we think would be fun to have on your wrist.

The Rolex GMT-Master II is always a great choice, and the 126719BLRO in white gold with a meteorite dial is a piece that will be familiar yet have a unique, individual twist because of the fact that meteorite is never the same.

Photo: Rolex

On a completely different and tool watch level is the Tudor Pelagos FXD Zulu Time. What we like about this watch is the fact that it is a single piece with no removable lugs. What this means is that, number one, you’re committed to straps, and number two, it’s a great sculpted piece to play with.

Photo: Tudor

One of the companies we think has really nailed down travel watches is Grand Seiko. And our example is their high-beat Grand Seiko GMT SBGJ273, which it says is Yuka Momiji, supposed to be kind of an homage to a specific time when fall colors look a particularly deep red. What’s interesting here is that you look at the lines on the watch and what it really is reminiscent of is a very old house near their studio that has been worn, or that has had its wooden floors worn by decades of being under tatami mats. It’s this deep, deep red, coupled with what this watch looks like.

Photo: Grand Seiko

One of the most elegant travel watches I have ever seen is the Parmigiani Tonda PF GMT Rattrapante. It is a wonderfully elegant watch that has the second time zone hide (using the rattrapante) when you are back home. All this with the guilloche work on the dial acting as a backdrop and using a platinum bezel on a steel watch, probably only appreciated by people who understand truly fine watchmaking and who can therefore appreciate Parmigiani. And, this new color of Verzasca is relaxing and enchanting.

Photo: Parmigiani

The Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Geographic is an excellent example of taking the dual-time capability of the flipping case of the Reverso and adding in a world-time ability that also includes its wonderful enameling and engraving work.

Photo: Jaeger-LeCoultre

The Bulgari Octo Finissimo Chrono GMT is an interpretation by Bulgari of its extremely thin yet wonderfully on-display movements. It is a surprisingly wearable and wonderfully enchanting watch to look at.

Photo: Bulgari

IWC has a pilot’s watch with a different kind of a complicationComplicationAny function on a mechanical watch beyond telling the hours, minutes, and seconds, such as a calendar, chronograph, moon phase, or tourbillon. Complications demonstrate a watchmaker's technical skill, and moreGo to Complication Glossary called a timezoner. In this case, it is the IWC Top Gun Ceratinium model, with different indications of dual time that is pretty easy to use and very easy to understand.

Photo: IWC

A very classic travel watch is the Vacheron Constantin Overseas Dual Time, which brings the elegance and wonderful finishing of the maison and adds that dual-time travel option.

Photo: Vacheron Constantin

A serious, serious travel watch is the Breitling Professional Emergency or any of these watches that are both analog and digital. This particular watch is its latest iteration, and it includes an emergency signaling mechanism that allows rescuing aircraft that are looking in your area to find you.

Photo: Breitling

The Patek Philippe Calatrava Pilot Travel Time is a piece that is more of a daily wear than a seriously classical watch. It is somewhat attention-getting but also very casual and relaxed, so it is a great example of when you want to have a wonderful complication on your wrist, but you want to use it more often than just at night.

Photo: Patek PhilippePatek PhilippeA Swiss watchmaker founded in Geneva in 1839 and widely regarded as among the most prestigious in the world, known for complications, hand finishing, and its slogan about passing watchesGo to Patek Philippe Glossary

The A. Lange and Sohne Lange 1 Time Zone in 950 Platinum is the German watchmaker’s take on what a travel watch should be in its world. It has the time-telling sub-dials offset that you would expect, but it also has a ring of city names on the exterior and additional indication. Basically, the dial indicates home time and current time in the second time zone, all available at once and with the usual two-hand indication.

Photo: A. Lange and Sohne

MontBlanc has also gone deep into the travel watch world with a very different look. In this case, we’re looking at the MontBlanc 1858 Geosphere Zero Oxygen Mount Vinson Limited EditionLimited EditionA product produced in deliberately restricted numbers, often numbered, signed, and distinguished by special materials or design. Limited editions create scarcity, urgency, and desirability, and they are common across watches,Go to Limited Edition Glossary. It’s called zero oxygen because there is no oxygen within the case, meant to help stabilize and add reliability and consistency. But what we’ve always liked is the ability to tell different time zones based on the two different world or globe renditions that we see on the face. It is an enchanting interpretation when you have it on your wrist, and a favorite of many frequent travelers.

Photo: MontBlanc

Louis Vuitton, of course, is completely connected to travel, and this edition recently released is the first patented movement of the house. The Louis Vuitton Tambour-Taiko Spin Time Air Antipode is a 42.5 millimeter watch that kind of revisits their whole spin time idea. But what it does give you in a very unique way is displays of time across 24 time zones with the day-night indicator on each cube. Definitely different. Definitely interesting.

Photo: Louis Vuitton