Vacation Watches: Why Did We Choose Them?

It’s that time of the year, where a new year starts and we all venture back to the office for the classic 9-to-5. However, the weather is warming, the sun is out longer, and spring is just around the corner, and with it, the potential for a new vacation, if, of course, we have enough vacation days left. 

It can be a surprisingly fun activity to choose watches specifically for your holiday, even if your non-watch collector friends think you’re completely insane. Going on a ski trip? Sounds like you can wear a G-Shock for when you’re shredding the slopes (is that the correct terminology?), and a gold-plated Orient Bambino for when you’re convalescing by the fire after falling off the ski lift. Or, maybe you’re going to a tropical paradise to escape the harsh winter of your country instead. A Seiko Turtle on a NATO strap and a Doxa GMT to keep track of your original timezone would be pretty great. Regardless of the reason, these are just some of the factors that people in our hobby like to consider before going on an extended vacation. 

---

Jilliano's Vacation Watches

SEIKO PROSPEX LAND GMT - SPB411

My first GMT, and coincidentally, it is a reissue of the Seiko Navigator circa 1968, which was the first GMT Seiko released with a rotating bezel. This watch was a no-brainer for me. I have yet to write a full review of my experience with this, but consider this next part a spoiler: I love this watch.

 It has the best bracelet I have ever encountered from a Seiko (which, technically, says more about Seiko’s bracelet quality than it does about this specific watch), a beautiful sunburst grey dial, and a truly robust movement that I never have to worry about. Right now, I have the GMT hand set to the timezone back in Japan. 

HAMILTON TITANIUM - H70205140

I have already written about this in a proper review, but the reason I chose this particular watch is because of how stealthy it can be. I understand that for many people, a Hamilton is the equivalent of a 10 dollar Casio, but for me and many other people, it is still a luxury Swiss watch. 

When you’re exploring a somewhat sketchy part of an island you are unfamiliar with, it might be a good idea to wear something that will fly under the radar. In this regard, I think this Hamilton is perfect, as it may go unnoticed by everyone else, but for me, it will always be a special and beautiful watch that I was blessed to receive as a gift from my fiancee and my friends. 

VOSTOK AMPHIBIA

One word. Jetskis. I have driven a jetski only four times in my life. 

And it has been an awesome experience each time. 

Unfortunately, the last two times that I rode a jetski, there was a bit of a “misunderstanding” where I paid to drive it for 15 minutes, and the staff signaled to me that my time was up… even though only 10 minutes had elapsed. Anyway, suffice to say, I have never worn a watch while driving a jetski. So, I wouldn’t know how much time had passed exactly. The only reason I knew that only 10 minutes had elapsed was because my dad and my fiancee were timing the entire thing. 

Anyway, I am hoping that now that I will be wearing my iconoclastic, Russian-made automatic diver, the Vostok Amphibia, I can finally drive the jetski without worrying about the time. I will also be using it for some snorkeling, which is exactly what the Soviet Era watchmakers intended when they made it.

Bryan's Vacation Watches

ROLEX EXPLORER II

If watches were characters in an adventure novel, the Rolex Explorer II would be the seasoned guide who’s seen it all, from polar ice caves to bustling city streets. But, this isn’t just a pretty face: the Explorer II was created for explorers — literally. Born from Rolex’s long history of supporting Arctic, desert, and polar expeditions, this watch was engineered to make sense when the sun doesn’t rise or set for days at a time, not that we often travel to such places. 

Visually, the Explorer II toes the line between tool watch and everyday style. Its 42 mm Oyster steel case is rugged yet refined. The orange 24-hour hand adds a pop of color without going overboard, while allowing the wearer to track their home with the fixed 24-hour bezel. 

Whether you’re hopping time zones, hiking remote trails, or just strolling through a new city jet-lagged but happy, this Rolex is like that reliable friend who reminds you to eat breakfast before sightseeing.

TUDOR PELAGOS 42MM 

If your ideal vacation includes water, be it ocean, pool, lake, or waterfall, then the Tudor Pelagos is your ride-or-dive timepiece. The Pelagos is not just a cheaper version of the classic Rolex Sea Dweller, but a perfectly handsome and capable diver with 500 meters of water resistance and a lightweight titanium case. 

Design-wise, Tudor brings both function and flair. Legible dials, bold lume, and a clean layout make the Pelagos easy to read when you’re underwater or just relaxing on deck with a drink.  Its sporty vibe complements active adventures, yet its craftsmanship makes it a stylish companion during seaside dinners or sunset drinks. Remove the bracelet and add a NATO or rubber strap for a different, and dressed down, look. 

NOMOS CLUB SPORT NEOMATIK WORLD TIMER

Enter the minimalist globetrotter: the Nomos Club Sport Neomatik World Timer. This watch isn’t just for telling time, it’s about telling every time in the world with a clever click of a button.

Unlike traditional GMTs that require fiddling with crowns and dials, Nomos’s world timer lets you rotate your city ring with a pusher at 2 o’clock, letting both the hour and the reference city progress together. That means instant updates as you jet between Tokyo, London, and New York.

Inside is the brand’s ultra-thin DUW 3202 neomatik movement, which is not only gorgeous through a display case back, but also engineered to stay low and sleek while delivering world-timer functionality most watches at this price point can’t match. Perhaps more impressive than its look is its thinness. At roughly 40 mm and under 10 mm thick, this watch manages a world of utility in a very wearable package. 

Aesthetically, the Club Sport World Timer blends sporty cues with Bauhaus minimalism. Dials often feature a subdial for home time and a day-night indicator, so you always know whether to FaceTime your friends at a sane hour.

---

Watch collecting has never been about logic or rationality; it's simply about buying and wearing what we like. Choosing a vacation watch is a fun activity in which we pretend as if it truly matters which watch we select, and during that short reprieve from work, it actually does matter. At least to us. And that's the important part.