Get a Watch: 9 Timepieces That Will Serve You Well In Your Travels

I know that a lot of people see travel as a way to escape and to lose track of time, but when you think about it, to travel is to actually know all about what to do with the time in your hands. Of course, that doesn’t mean that you should plan your day by the hour, but it does mean that you should have an idea about where you should be at a given time, especially if you’re catching flights, following opening hours, or trying to beat the crowd by visiting places at the best time. 

As someone who lost and then gained back the habit of wearing watches religiously everywhere she went, I can attest that wearing a wristwatch when you travel is ten times more convenient than having to grab your smartphone just to check the time. Besides, the more you bring your phone out, the higher the chances of it getting snatched! So, why not make your travels a little bit easier by rewarding yourself with a timepiece that suits your style and needs? 

Granted, any timepiece that’s water-resistant and sturdy could pass as a travel watch, but there are also models that are a cut above the rest. To help you decide which timepieces to invest in, here are our suggestions for the best travel watches to buy in 2021!

1. Casio Baby-G BA110 series

I’ll start this list of best travel watches with my favourite, the Casio Baby-G BA110. If you’re new to watches, think of Casio’s Baby-G collection as G-Shock’s little sister, as it was developed specifically for women. This also means that Baby-Gs similarly have LED backlight, are shock resistant, and sport that indestructible look. The BA110 series specifically features a 100-metre water resistance, making it perfectly suitable for snorkelling. Apt for all types of travellers, this series also highlights a digital auto-calendar and can be adjusted to 29 time zones. 

My favourite thing about Baby-Gs is the range of colour each series always comes in. This series has a model that reflects the Japanese kawaii culture and Harajuku street style fashion (BA110TNM-7A), as well as models with sleek colour combos such as black/gold (BA110-1A) and sea glass (BA110SC-7A). No matter which model you pick, the BA110 series definitely makes a statement. 

2.  Casio G-Shock Gravity Master 1100 series

We can’t talk about the best travel watches without including the Baby-G’s older brother, Casio G-Shock — arguably the toughest timepiece in the world. The latest G-Shock Gravity Master series was crafted for aviation, and therefore has pilot-friendly elements. Its standout features include shock resistance, a  200-metre water resistance, and a super illuminator high-brightness LED backlight. 

But aside from that,  what makes the Gravity Master a true timepiece for pilots is the digital compass with a measuring range from 0 to 359 degrees, plus a thermometer display, and of course an auto-calendar. The Gravity Master 1100 series comes in dark and classic colours such as camouflage (GA1100SC-3A), blue (GA1100-2B), and gold (GA1100-9G). 

3. Fossil Gen 5E Smartwatch

If you lead an active and busy lifestyle even when travelling, a smartwatch like the Fossil Gen 5E could be your best travel buddy. You can accomplish a number of things with this smartwatch because of its built-in features which consist of a speaker so you can answer calls, a music player to change songs and volume while you’re on the go, and a notification feature to receive and reply to texts with just a tap. 

But all that merely scratches the surface. The Fossil Gen 5E, at its best, makes life safer during a pandemic as you can also use it for contactless payment, activating your home smart devices, and even tracking your health goals while you’re exercising. And if you’re big on OOTDs, you’ll love being able to change the dial of this timepiece to match your style — it has a thousand watch faces for you to choose from!

4. Garmin Instinct Solar series

Whether you’re indoors or outdoors, you’ll need a reliable timepiece that won’t die on you as you go about your day. That’s where the Garmin Instinct Solar series comes in. True to its name, this collection harnesses solar energy to keep its battery life running — even when the watch is covered by your sleeve!

City explorers, backpackers, and hikers can make use of the Instinct Solar’s Power Manager feature, which allows the timepiece to have unlimited battery life while offering features such as the Body Battery. This analyses, not just heart rate, but also stress levels and sleep quality. What’s more, the Pulse Ox(SpO2)2 feature monitors oxygen saturation; all these facets luckily make the timepiece a useful tool and health indicator during a pandemic. Get the Instinct Solar in colours like Orchid, Flame Red, and Camo Graphite.

5. Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2

Yet another smartwatch to help you keep a healthy lifestyle while travelling is the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2.  Branded as a watch that has your wellness in mind, the Galaxy Watch Active 2 tracks several exercises, from walking and running to rowing and swimming. But more than that, this timepiece also has a stress tracker and a built-in guide for breathing exercises should you experience panic or anxiety, especially outside of your comfort zone. 

The Galaxy Watch Active 2 was also built with military-grade durability and is water-resistant up to 5atm (50 metres), which makes it reliable in a range of conditions. In case you have an affinity for updating your social media while travelling, you can also use this watch to take photos with your camera and like posts on social media. You can even adapt the watch face to match your outfit by simply taking a photo of your OOTD, and let the watch do the rest as it picks a design that can complement your look!

6. Seiko Astron 5X series

You’ll hardly come across a list of best travel watches that doesn’t feature a Seiko watch. The Seiko Astron 5X series for men is renowned for its high-speed time zone adjustment. Thanks to its re-engineered GPS module, the 5X only needs as little as three seconds to automatically adjust from one time zone to another (can you believe it?!). Even better, the 5X can accurately adjust to a different time zone up to two times a day. That already sounds like a perfect watch for business travellers who need to country hop, or maybe even for those embarking on a Euro trip. 

So, how does it work? It’s simple. All the Astron 5X needs is to see the sky, then it will instantly connect to GPS satellites and reset the time. Sturdy and compact, this timepiece’s case material is made up of titanium, sapphire crystal,  super-clear coating, with a 10-bar (100-metre) water resistance. 

7. Seiko Presage Sharp Edged Series

Another ideal Seiko travel watch is the up-and-coming Presage Sharp Edged Series. Crafted for the convenience of international travellers, this timepiece can show you two time zones all at once, thanks to the eight beat-per-second GMT Caliber 6R64. The GMT hand on each watch has a different colour to make it easier for the traveller to distinguish two time zones. If you look closely, you’ll see that the dial rings are two-toned; one is dark while the other is light in order to indicate between night and day. Everything is basically designed so that you can tell the different time zones at a glance. 

What I find most striking about this timepiece is the dial design that reflects a hemp leaf pattern, also known as a Japanese Asanoha. This has been a cultural Japanese pattern for thousands of years as it symbolises strength and growth. Now, it’s embedded on this Seiko series that comes in the traditional Japanese colours of shironeri, aitetsu, tokiwa, susutake, and sumiiro.

8. Timex Women’s Expedition Mini Watch

Ladies, if you’d like to go for a vintage minimalist timepiece, you can’t go wrong with the Timex Expedition Mini Watch. Sure, it sounds simple and (literally) small, but don’t let that fool you because this watch can easily withstand the elements. Aside from its signature tough leather strap, brass comprises its case material, with a hardware colour of stainless steel. Moreover, it’s water-resistant up to 50 metres and has an Indiglo night-light feature which will definitely come in handy for travellers. Classy yet sturdy, this timepiece only comes in two colours, Tan/Natural and Brown/Green. 

Also read: 14 Cute Clothing Items for Your Next Picnic Chic OOTD

9. Tissot Seastar 1000 Powermatic

Tissot Seastar 1000 is a celebrated go-to timepiece of divers and all types of water sports enthusiasts. But you wouldn’t be able to tell that this sleek and professional-looking watch was actually made for the water if nobody told you. The Seastar 1000 boasts of being able to merge style and performance without compromising the quality often associated with Swiss watches. This watch can go as deep as 300 metres and the strap comes with a diver’s buckle to ensure that the watch stays put on your wrist. 

A remarkable feature of the Seastar 1000 is its sapphire crystal glass, which gives this timepiece extremely high resistance to impact, superior transparency, and makes it scratch-resistant too. Whether powermatic or chronograph, the Seastar 1000 comes in various colours from blue to green and rose gold to orange. 

Also read: 10 Travel Gadgets and Accessories Worth Investing In

Every person is a different type of traveller, so it’s only natural that we’ll also have different preferences when looking for the best travel watches. Nonetheless, I hope this list helped narrow down your options for when you finally buy yourself that well-deserved travel watch. If you have more travel watches to suggest, be sure to drop us a comment on our Facebook page!