After more than two years of not being able to travel anywhere due to the global pandemic, the world is finally opening up to movement. While COVID-19 is definitely still around, people are ready to venture out and resume their normal lives.
Keeping in tune with the current situation of more and more people stepping out of their homes and flying across the globe, the watch industry unveiled many travel watches, or GMT watches, at the 2022 edition of Watches & Wonders, which was held in Geneva last month. We bring you the top five travel watches you need to own as you get ready to fly across the globe.
Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF GMT Rattrapante
One of the most interesting aspects of this watch is that it houses the world’s first complication with two super-imposed hour hands: one in rhodium-plated gold and the other in rose gold. How does that work? “Pressing the pusher at 8 o’clock causes the upper rhodium-plated gold hand dedicated to local time to jump one hour forward, thereby revealing the rose gold hand which displays time in the wearer’s place of residence, known as “home time”. Once the second time zone information is no longer required, pressing the crown-integrated rose gold push-button re-positions the rhodium-plated hand on top of the rose gold hand in the same manner as a split seconds chronograph hand,” as mentioned by the brand.
A perfect travel watch, this new and first-of-its-kind Tonda PF GMT Rattrapante comes in a 40mm polished stainless-steel case with a “Milano Blue’ dial decorated with fine barleycorn guilloché pattern surrounded by the sandblasted minutes track. The watch is strapped to a polished stainless steel bracelet.
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Jaeger-LeCoutre Master Grande Tradition Calibre 948
When it comes to travel watches, most of the watches in this list are simple, easy-to-read timepieces. But if you are on the lookout to get your hands on a more complex iteration of a travel watch, then the 2022 Jaeger-LeCoutre Master Grande Tradition Calibre 948 is the one for you.
Complex in its complication and design and impressive when worn on the wrist, the Jaeger-LeCoutre Master Grande Tradition Calibre 948 is a masterpiece to say the least. The watch is available in a 43mm white gold case with a blue translucent lacquered guilloche base dial set with a revolving champlevé enamel world map and an orbital flying tourbillon. The map has been created by the master artisans of the Manufacture’s Métiers Rares® (Rare Handcrafts™) atelier.
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Patek Philippe Annual Calendar Travel Time
Giving vintage vibes, the all new Patek Philippe Annual Calendar Travel Time is the ultimate travel watch. Available in a white gold case, the watch is set with a charcoal textured dial that houses the annual calendar and travel time indications. This includes central local hours and minutes, central 24h home time, day/night indications, small seconds, moon phase and day and month display.
All of these functions of the watch is powered by the Calibre 31-260 PS QA LU FUS 24H whose immaculate decorations can be viewed by the see-through sapphire crystal caseback. The Ref. 5326G-001 is delivered with two interchangeable straps, one beige calfskin with nubuck texture (original version), the other black calfskin with embossed textile finish and beige decorative stitching.
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Hermès Arceau Le Temps Voyageur
One of the most beautiful watches on this list, the Hermès Arceau Le Temps Voyageur makes for the ultimate travel companion as the world gears up to give travelling another chance. Available in either platinum and titanium or in steel, the timepiece is set with a galvanised dial available in light grey or blue for the continents and laser-engraved oceans that are lacquered. These features speak of a new expression of style and evokes the spirit of travel according to Hermès.
The dial holds a fantasy map imagined by Colliard for the “Planisphère d’un monde équestre” silk scarf. Here, the mobile and home time indication can be viewed via 12 o’ clock. All of this is made possible with the help of the Hermès H1837 mechanical self-winding movement. The mechanism powers the hours, minutes and dual-time display with city indication.
The Hermès Arceau Le Temps Voyageur is available in two models- a 41mm model in platinum with a matt black DLC-treated bezel and a 38mm steel version. Both are fitted with alligator or Swift calfskin straps made in Hermès Horloger’s own workshops.
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Rolex GMT-Master II
Definitely one of the most talked about pieces from the fair, the Rolex GMT-Master II features a crown on the left side along with a date window now located at 9 o’ clock. The bidirectional rotating bezel comes in a black and green combination echoing the aesthetics of the GMT-Master created in 1955. The GMT-Master II is equipped with Calibre 3285 – which is labelled as a “new-generation movement entirely developed and manufactured by Rolex”. It clocks in a power reserve of 70 hours and has 10 patents filed. The watch is available with an Oyster or Jubilee bracelet.
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Image Courtesy: Respective Brands