Gear

10 of the Best Luxury Watches for Travelers

by Allie d'Almo  |  Published April 27, 2021

The best luxury travel watches will last a lifetime. They’ll accompany you up snow-capped mountains, down ocean trenches and back to the boardroom, combining style and function at the same time too. 

Best luxury watches for travelers

(Photo: Montblanc)

Historically, it was impressive enough for a luxury watch to offer local and home timekeeping.  As horological technology advances, today’s watches pack a whole host of cutting-edge functions into a tiny body –  shockproof and rustproof components, 600m water resistance marks, antibacterial straps, solar-powered batteries, satellite-operated timekeeping. With so many brands and models on offer, we’ve  dug deep and selected ten of the best luxury watches for travelers on the market today, in order of price. Each watch has been selected based on technical precision, legibility, durability (including water and shock resistance), comfort, style and added functionality like World Time. 

Certina DS Podium GMT Watch 

The most affordable watch on our list, the Certina DS Podium comes in at just under the $500 mark. The watch features an elegant black strap and a stainless steel case, with a black dial featuring luminescent hands and index hour markers. The scratch-resistant sapphire crystal and solid case back adds extra protection for travelers on the move. The three sub-dial displays are easy to read too, with 60 second, 12-hour and 24-hour functions, as well as date display. A good option for those looking to invest in a reliable, functional and more affordable luxury watch. From $469. 

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Casio G-Shock Gravity Master 

Luxury watches for travelers

(Photo: Amazon)

Casio’s G-Shock range has built a reputation as a tough watch that can withstand anything. They’re made specifically for the outdoors, achieving the shock resistance required of a pilot’s watch while weighing in at just 72 grams. The design features a bezel made of 52 layers of carbon sheeting and a sapphire crystal surface to provide the highest level of protection. Exposed metal parts are reinforced with titanium to make them lightweight, strong and resistant to rust too. It also includes a Bluetooth function, which you can connect to your smartphone with a press of a button. Perfect for outdoor enthusiasts in need of a stylish, hardy luxury watch. From $850. 

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Bell & Ross GMT BR 01 93

The Bell and Ross GMT BR 01 93 has developed a cult status recently, with its distinctive square clock face and oversized luminescent hands and markers.It features a black ion-plated stainless steel case with a black rubber strap and a fixed bezel, which makes for a sturdy watch. It was built to withstand tough conditions, with its scratch-resistant sapphire crystal and screw-down crown. It’s water-resistant to 100m and also offers a 40-hour power reserve. A hardy, stylish option for those looking for a watch that can do it all. From $2945.

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Seiko Astron GPS Solar Chronograph

Best luxury watches travelers

(Photo: Seiko Watches)

The main draw of the Seiko Astron GPS Solar Chronograph is its astounding time-keeping technology. The watch receives GPS satellite signals from 12,000 miles and can adjust to precise local time anywhere in the world. If you’re a frequent flyer and continually re-adjusting to different time zones, this is one of the best options for you on the market. It’s also considerably smaller and thinner than its predecessors, which makes it much more wearable too. The sleek, unfussy clock face is covered in a super-clear coating glass which reduces glare by 99%. From $2980.

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Montblanc Timewalker 

The Timewalker offers a winning combination of timeless design, reliability and durability, at the lower end of the luxury spectrum. Inspired by vintage auto-racing, the watch features German luxury goods brand Montblanc’s signature elegant design and expert craftsmanship. You can track three different time zones on the rotating 24-hour bezel, which is easily readable too thanks to the modern fonts. The 43mm stainless steel case is treated against scratches with a brushed satin finish to ensure longevity. It also has a water resistance of 100m, good enough for a serious swimmer and occasional divers. From $3450.

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Tudor Black Bay 

Best luxury watches for travelers

(Photo: Tudor Watches)

The Tudor Black Bay watch isn’t specifically designed for travelers, but we’ve included it as one of our top choices for a few reasons. Firstly, it’s a vintage-inspired diver watch, with water resistance of 200m. It’s also a beautiful watch, with a vintage-effect domed crystal and crown. Finally, it’s much more affordable than other luxury divers on the market, perfect for those looking for a dressy diver under $5000. The time-only three-hander makes it easy to adjust the time manually, with no complex calendar and date functions to mess around with. You can rely on its excellent timekeeping function too. From $3590. 

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Breitling Transocean Chronograph 

Breitling is one of the most revered watch brands in the world. The Swiss brand is the official supplier to the world of aviation and gifted the world with numerous examples of game-changing technology throughout its 134-year history. The Breitling Transocean Chronograph is a 1950s-inspired diver watch that is easy-to-read, stylish and reliable. It’s powered by the Breitling Calibre B05 movement, which includes a World Time function with 24 different cities to choose from. The sleek design is stylish, but best suited to men given its wide and thick case. From $5775.

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Omega Sea Master Planet Ocean 600m

(Photo: Omega Watches)

The Omega Sea Master Planet Ocean easily ranks as one of the best diving watches on the market, holding its own against the likes of historical contenders such as Rolex Submarina. It offers a staggering 600m water resistance, with anti-bacterial coated rubber straps and a stainless steel case. It’s easy to keep track of time deep underwater, with the Super-LumiNova coated indexes and glowing green minute hand and dot. A stylish and sporty design means it won’t look out of place out of the water either, though you may want to reconsider the rubber straps if you’re travelling on business. It also has a helpful second time zone function, with an optional GMT element. From $6490.

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Grand Seiko Elegance Hi-Beat 

Grand Seiko excels at delivering unrivalled readability, and the Elegance Hi-Beat is no exception. It features a black dial offset with a red second hand for reading precision. The balance wheel (the timekeeping device) features four arms, instead of the usual two or three, to prevent the wheel from deforming in different temperatures – a plus for travelers who jet set to different parts of the world. The watch is comfortable and lightweight too, measuring 39.5 mm in diameter, so it’s much more refined and understated than some of our other blockbuster watches. The watch contains a rapid 5Hz movement for technical precision too. From $6500.

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Rolex Explorer

(Photo: Amazon)

The Rolex Explorer was famously worn by the sherpa who guided Sir Edmund Hillary on the first ever ascent of Mount Everest in 1953. It’s developed since then, but it’s still a cult classic. The watch’s distinctive dial features numerals that emit a long-lasting blue glow for optimal legibility in any situation, whether you’re in the water or on a dimly lit aeroplane. The oyster bracelet is both robust and comfortable, with a folding clasp that prevents accidental opening. Those with thicker wrists can increase the bracelet length by 5 mm with the easylink comfort extension link too. The steel watch case boasts maximum resistance to corrosion, using alloys commonly used in aerospace. A timeless watch that will undoubtedly outlive us all. From $9175.

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