Words: Jonathan Wells
Travel and timepieces go hand-in-hand-on-wrist. Some of the first examples of these accessories were purely practical; pocket watches lashed to pilot’s arms so they could keep track of time while flying. In 1904, Alberto Santos-Dumont, an early Brazilian aviator, even asked his friend — one Louis Cartier — to create a watch that he could wear whilst flying his planes and airships.
Wind forwards to today, and modern watches maintain this inextricable link with travel. Whether you’re a high-flying businessman who needs to keep track of meetings from London to Lanzhou, or a pioneering adventurer relying on the features and functions of a hardy tool watch, a timepiece is a key part of anyone’s travelling kit. Here are eight of the finest options available to modern men…
Vacheron Constantin Overseas Perpetual Calendar Ultra-Thin
Where’s it from? The Canton of Geneva and Vallée de Joux in Switzerland. More specifically, from Vacheron Constantin’s high-end sports collection, Overseas. Elegant and robust, it’s a resilient range perfect for travellers.
What functions and features? The 18K pink gold case of this model houses an ultra-slim perpetual calendar which will display the correct date until the year 2100. There’s also a moon phase with two gold moons.
Who should wear it? Globetrotters with exceedingly deep pockets. At almost £100,000, this is the most expensive watch on our list — and costs almost double that of a round-the-world cruise ticket.
Rolex GMT-Master II
Where’s it from? A watchmaker with a reputation for adventure. Rolex has flown high (GMT-Masters were especially prevalent during the Apollo moon missions) and dived deep (the ‘Deepsea Challenge’ reached a depth of 10,898 metres).
What functions and features? With its bold two-colour Cerachrom bezel insert, this GMT-Master II is designed to show the time in two different time zones simultaneously during intercontinental flights. It’s also waterproof to 100 metres.
Who should wear it? Frequent flyers. With a power reserve of over 70 hours, it’ll keep ticking through even the longest layover, and has a hardy Oystersteel case that’ll survive being bashed around in your carry-on.
Patek Philippe Ref. 5231G-001
Where’s it from? In place, the Swiss municipality of Plan-les-Ouates. In time, the 1930s — when Louis Cottier invented the incredible Patek Philippe ‘World Time’ mechanism, and the tradition of adorning dials with Grand Feu cloisonné enamel maps began.
What functions and features? A self-winding mechanical movement with 24-hour and day/night indication for all 24 time zones. With a white gold case, this latest edition’s dial centres on a map of South-East Asia and Oceania.
Who should wear it? Jet-setters who appreciate artworks. If you travel the globe in search of galleries and exhibitions, the gold wire artistry and kiln-fired, coloured enamel will ensure you’re wearing a work of art at all times.
NOMOS Glashütte ‘Zürich’ World Time
Where’s it from? Saxony, where NOMOS Glashütte makes more watches than any other German brand. But this slick, stylish timepiece, the ‘Zürich’ World Time, crosses the border into Switzerland — at least in name.
What functions and features? Multilingual and automatic, it’s a watch which knows the time almost everywhere, and will tell you the time in a click — in cities from Denver to Dubai, Sydney to Santiago.
Who should wear it? Those most frequently found in business class cabins and lounges. With its elegant, inward-curving lugs, rhodium-plated hands and cosmopolitan midnight blue colour, this is a watch worn best with a trimly tailored suit.
Breitling Navitimer Chronograph GMT 46
Where’s it from? Grenchen, in the Swiss district of Lebern. Since 1952, the Navitimer range has been keeping world travellers on time, and this 46mm Chronomat GMT is just the latest iteration of the dependable tool watch.
What functions and features? The extremely practical, readable dual timezone system centres around an additional red-tipped central hand — which displays the time in another part of the globe on a 24-hour scale.
Who should wear it? Professionals. Whether you’re a long-haul pilot or an explorer, this is an unshowy bit of rugged steel kit. It’s educational, too — flip it over, and you’ll find 25 cities etched into the caseback.
Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra GMT Worldtimer
Where’s it from? Based in Bienne, Omega has spent almost two centuries sending its watchmaking wares to every corner of the world. Most recently, it has done so on the wrist of a famous fictional globetrotter; 007.
What functions and features? Driven by the brand’s Master Chronometer Calibre 8938, the centre of the watch’s dial contains a 24-hour glass ring, with light blue indicating daytime; dark blue indicating night. The circle of cities is printed in red (GMT), silvery (+1h in summer) or blue (places without daylight savings).
Who should wear it? Only those who are actually going to use these functions. Nothing looks naffer than having a watch which is far more mechanically intricate than you actually need. Office workers, this isn’t one
Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra GMT Worldtimer
for you.
Chopard L.U.C Time Traveller One
Where’s it from? Chopard, the well-travelled watchmaker and established sponsor and timekeeper of several international motorsport events — from the Mille Miglia car rally to the Historic Grand Prix of Monaco.
What functions and features? A COSC-certified chronometer movement (the L.U.C 01.05-L calibre) that displays all the 24 time zones simultaneously, a universal hour function, a 60-hour power reserve and a stop-second function.
Who should wear it? The unassuming jet-setters. If you travel regularly — but don’t brag or boast about your air miles — this is an understated option; with those practical markings disappearing into its satin-brushed sunburst dial.
IWC Pilot’s Watch Timezoner Chronograph
Where’s it from? Schaffhausen, a town with historic roots in northern Switzerland. The brand’s pilot’s watches have a similarly sprawling, important heritage; producing its first, the ‘Special Pilot’s Watch’, in 1936.
What functions and features? This Timezoner Chronograph features a 24-hour display for its worldtimer function, a flyback function and chronograph with hours, minutes and small hacking seconds.
Who should wear it? Those who appreciate this depth of history and honed levels of horological know-how. In solid stainless steel and with a basic black calfskin strap, it may not have the luxury look — but it’s among your most capable options.
Want more watches? From Rolex to Rado, these are the best gold watches for men…
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