5 of the Best Luxury Travel Watches for Men

Words by Tony Wilkes

Many of the world’s most famous watches are built for transit. There are pilot’s watches, diver’s watches, racing watches, each able to withstand what most of us have lined up for our holidays. But what exactly makes a good travel watch? Materials, for one thing. Rubber, ceramic and stainless steel are the most robust and won’t be marred by saltwater (the sea) or chlorine (the pool). A GMT function, allowing you to keep track of two time zones, will also come in handy. Then there’s the overall look. As tempting as they are, we’d advise leaving your flashy wrist furniture and precious metals at home in favour of more restrained pieces that are less likely to attract the wrong sort of attention. Beyond that, the rest is up to you. Read on for five of the best travel watches from Tudor, Panerai, Hublot and more.

TUDOR

Black Bay Pro Stainless Steel 39mm

Any discussion of watches for adventure must begin with Tudor. Since its founding in 1926, the Swiss manufacturer has been favoured by the world’s most daring explorers: founder Hans Wilsdorf supplied watches for the two-year British North Greenland Expedition in 1952, and its best-selling Black Bay – its most famous model – was designed for divers in the US Navy. Today, the brand continues its legacy with the latest Black Bay Pro model. Built for professional use, it utilises durable stainless steel and has a built-in GMT function, 24-hour graduated fixed bezel and is waterproof to 200m – so will work as hard on the beach as it will in the Arctic.

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PANERAI

Stainless Steel Submersible 44mm

Travel can be trying – and Panerai’s Submersible is a survival instrument. An offshoot of its signature Luminor range, first designed for the Italian Navy, today’s Submersible is one of the toughest and most capable diving watches around. Highlights include its celebrated security lock at the side of the case, luminous hands and markers for easy legibility, and a rotating bezel to track the elapsed time of your dive – a feature unique to this model. It’s also water-resistant up to 300m, and even if you plan to stay on dry land, you’ll appreciate its sturdy materials and high-functioning mechanical movement.

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PARMIGIANI FLEURIER

Stainless Steel Tonda PF GMT Rattrapante 40mm

Designed as ‘a timepiece for the modern globetrotter’, Parmigiani Fleurier’s Tonda PF GMT Rattrapante has an innovative dual-time complication, allowing you to read two time zones without the need for traditional sub-dials. The jumping white-gold hour hand can be set to whatever new time zone you require, alongside another hand for telling the time back home. But don’t let its pure minimalism fool you. On its sapphire case back, you can admire the PF501 calibre movement, featuring its micro-rotor in 22-karat rose gold decorated with signature Grain d’Orge guilloché – executed to the highest standards of watchmaking.

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IWC SCHAFFHAUSEN

Pilot’s Performance Chronograph Watch 41mm

Brad Pitt and Damson Idris may be the stars of F1® The Movie, but not far behind are their watches. IWC Schaffhausen has designed several special editions inspired by the film, like this Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41mm, worn by Idris’ character Joshua Pearce. But the watch is of course also designed for the air. It’s robust enough to withstand fluctuations in temperature (for when pilots had to face the elements in unheated cockpits) and air pressure, as well as interference from magnetic fields – a durability further enhanced by its 18-karat 5N gold case and black rubber strap. In short, it will have you covered across land, sea and sky.

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HUBLOT

Ceramic Classic Fusion Black Magic Chronograph 42mm

Exceptionally durable, scratch-proof and lightweight, it’s no surprise that ceramic is one of the most trusted materials in watchmaking. Hublot has pushed the boundaries of ceramic even further, offering the material in a range of deep, eye-catching colours, resulting in a ceramic aptly named ‘Magic’. Case in point, this Classic Fusion Black Magic model reimagines sophistication in sleek monochrome, enriched by a blend of matte and polished details on the case. While other options are certainly bolder (at Watches and Wonders this year, the brand unveiled a Big Bang in high-octane red), this understated model proves that power can also lie in restraint.

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How to Travel with a Luxury Watch

The safest way to travel with a watch is simply on your wrist. If you’re away for less than two or three days, it’s best to just stick with one. If your trip is longer, or you want more variety, you’re in need of a case. Options like Ettinger’s Capra 3 and Buben & Zorweg’s Traveller 2 are crafted from durable leather and have soft interiors to keep your watches in place and prevent scratches. These are compact enough to easily slot into hand luggage, the best way to safeguard against theft and loss. For something more high-tech, Scatola del Tempo’s Rotore 7RT has three Bluetooth watch winders controlled by an app, so each will be ready to wear without the hassle of resets.