THE BEST TRAVEL WATCHES (ANALOG WATCHES) FOR MEDITERRANEAN TRAVEL
THE BEST TRAVEL WATCHES
(ANALOG WATCHES) FOR MEDITERRANEAN TRAVEL

WHAT ARE THE BEST TRAVEL WATCHES (ANALOG WATCHES) FOR MEDITERRANEAN TRAVEL?
If you are planning a trip to Europe, along the Mediterranean Sea (think Monaco, Capri, or Cannes), then you may want to raise the bar and invest in a classic-style travel watch. After all, if you are going to travel, then why not travel in style with a timeless analog watch? A classic timepiece is a fashion accessory that is an absolute must when going out to an elegant dinner or enjoying drinks while watching the sun set across the water.
Many people today keep track of time using their cell phones but a backup timepiece is still worth considering. With an itinerary involving train travel or short inter-city or inter-country flights, a dependable watch is a must. And if you don’t plan on getting a roaming service or a local SIM card for your cell phone, keeping track of time could become a challenge. What is the best travel watch? Before you buy one on the street corner at the last minute, you definitely should read further.
To help you find the right watch, I’ve put together a short list of travel watches that you may want to consider before your next trip. Of course, the right watch for you will depend on many factors including what activities you plan on taking part in. As a minimum, there are some basic criteria that the watch should meet.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR:
Dual Time Zone
Of course when you take off on a trip, part of the objective is to leave your everyday life behind but you still might want to check in with friends or relatives back home. And depending on your itinerary you may also find yourself crossing time zones within your trip. A watch with a dual time zone display is the ticket. You will want to look for a watch that you can easily adjust and set to keep you on track during your trip.
Alarm Function
Hotel wake-up calls are nice but this is not necessarily a service that is available everywhere. Don’t miss your train or tour group because someone forgot to call you in the morning. An alarm function will help you keep to your schedule.
Water Resistance
Most watches these days are water resistant, still, you want to make sure you get one that has this as a minimum. Also, make sure that the watch band is durable enough that you don’t lose your watch in the hotel pool or worse yet somewhere on the beach (unless you are planning on bringing a metal detector….).

Accuracy and Reliability
As a bare minimum, the watch you choose should be accurate and reliable, and for most watches, this shouldn’t be an issue. However, if you do go “bargain basement” on this point, you might be in for an unpleasant surprise later on in your trip when punctuality becomes critical.
Visibility and Legibility
If you can’t read the time off of your watch, then you own a wristband. Make sure that you can see the hands, and the hour and minute markings clearly. A backlight or luminescent markings are a must for low light conditions.
Lightweight and Comfortable
On a long trip, you will want to have a watch that is well-designed and comfortable. If the end result is that you choose to leave the watch back at the hotel because it’s uncomfortable then you may have the wrong watch. Find one suited for the activities you plan on doing, and that is light and comfortable and you can save yourself some grief.
Additional Features
Here is where you can get in touch with your inner “James Bond”. The list of additional features can include GPS, compass, altimeter, barometer, temperature, stopwatch, etc… Ultimately it depends on where you plan on going and what activity you plan on doing.
Style and Aesthetics
This is a personal choice and depends on each individual but ultimately, you want to feel comfortable wearing the watch you end up choosing. If you are going to be super active then a more sporty rugged watch might be more appropriate. If you are going to spend most of your time walking through the streets of Rome or Cannes, then maybe a more classic style would be better.
Brand Reputation and Warranty
Considering the result you are looking for, stick with the brands known for their timepieces. Check customer reviews and look for companies that are established in this field.
Budget
There is a wide range of watches to choose from and the price range can be just as extreme. Do your research and consider your itinerary, objectives and budget before making a final decision. I’m a runner and kite surfer so I always land on rugged sport watches. My girlfriend is fashion-conscious so classic and high-end are for her. In the end, go with the watch you feel comfortable with and that will meet your needs.
What are the Best TRAVEL WATCHES?
After you have gone through the list above, you will have likely already decided what type of travel watch suits your needs. To help you along, here is a list of some of the best travel watches on the market today. As noted above these are all analog watches so I’ll be putting together some additional lists of the best digital and smartwatches for travel. The list below is divided into 3 sections outlining the technical specifications for each watch: entry level, intermediate level and luxury. This should give you some valuable insight to guide you towards a purchasing decision:
Top 5 ENTRY LEVEL Travel Watches
Casio World Time Watch (AW80V-5BV):
- Analog and digital watch display with LED backlight
- World time function
- Stopwatch
- Countdown timer
- Five daily alarms
- 12/24-hour formats
- Water-resistant (not rated for swimming)
- Weight 39 grams
Timex Expedition Scout:

- Analog watch display
- Stainless steel or brass case
- Luminous hands and markers
- Scratch-resistant crystal dial
- Water resistance up to 50 meters
- Backlight feature
- Depending on the model, stopwatch, or compass
- Weight 64 grams
Seiko 5 Sports:

- Self-winding movement, no battery required
- Stainless steel case
- Analog watch display, luminescent hands
- Day/date display
- Scratch resistance glass
- Water resistance up to 100 m
- Some models have a stopwatch or GMT function
- Weight 170 grams
Citizen Eco-Drive Chandler Field Watch

- Light powered
- Stainless steel case
- Analog watch display, luminous hands
- Scratch-resistant crystal dial
- Water resistance up to 100 m
- Some models have a stopwatch or dual time zone
- Weight 165g
Fossil Neutra Chronograph:

- Analog watch display
- Stainless steel case
- Stopwatch function
- Scratch resistant Mineral crystal dial
- Water resistance up to 50 m
- Weight 100g
Top 5 Intermediate Priced Travel Watches
Tissot T-Touch Expert Solar II:

- Swiss made
- Solar-powered with rechargeable battery
- Analog watch display with digital display
- Luminescent hands
- Stainless steel case
- Scratch-resistant sapphire crystal dial
- Water resistance up to 100 m
- Altimeter, barometer, compass, thermometer, chronograph, and alarm Functions
- Perpetual calendar, countdown timer, and multiple time zone display
- Weight 78 grams
Hamilton Khaki Field Auto Chrono:

- Military inspired design
- Automatic self-winding
- stopwatch function
- Stainless steel case
- Analog watch display
- Scratch-resistant sapphire crystal dial
- Water resistance up to 100 m
- Weight 77g (up to 449g depending on the model)
Victorinox Swiss Army I.N.O.X. Professional Diver:

- Swiss made
- Stainless steel case
- Analog watch display with luminescent hands
- Scratch-resistant sapphire crystal
- Professional diver’s watch with water resistance up to 200 m (ISO 6425 standard )
- Unidirectional rotating bezel with minute markings for tracking elapsed Time underwater
- Screw-down crown and case back for added water resistance
- Shock-resistant
- Weight 145g
Oris Aquis Date:

- Swiss made
- Stainless steel case
- Screw-down crown and case back for enhanced water resistance
- Analog display with luminescent hands
- Scratch-resistant sapphire crystal
- Professional diver’s watch with water resistance up to 300 m
- Helium escape valve for saturation diving
- Weight 187 grams
Longines Conquest V.H.P. GMT:

- Multiple time zones
- Analog display
- Stainless steel case
- Hand and markers for tracking a second-time zone
- Screw down crown for enhanced water resistance
- Scratch-resistant sapphire crystal
- Water resistance up to 50 m
- Long battery life
Top 5 LUXURY Travel Watches

Rolex GMT-Master II:

- Rolex Caliber 3285 automatic movement
- Oystersteel (stainless steel), 18ct white gold, or 18ct Everose gold case
- Triplock screw-down winding crown for enhanced water resistance
- Analog display
- Dual time zone function
- Hand and markers for tracking a second-time zone
- Shock resistant
- 70 hours of power reserve when fully wound
- Weight 151grams
Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean GMT:

- Analog watch display
- Multiple time zones
- Stainless steel, titanium, or 18K Sedna gold case construction
- Screw-down crown and case back for enhanced water resistance.
- Scratch-resistant sapphire crystal
- Professional diver’s watch with water resistance up to 600 meters (2000 feet)
- Helium escape valve for saturation diving.
- Approximately 55 to 60 hours power reserve when fully wound.
- Weight 15.84 ounces (449g)
Breitling Navitimer World:

- Analog display
- Stainless steel case
- Screw-locked crown and pushers for enhanced water resistance
- Slide rule bezel for performing various calculations related to aviation
- Scratch-resistant sapphire crystal dial
- Water resistance up to 30 m
- Dual time zone function
- Stopwatch
- Weight 112.8g
IWC Pilot’s Watch Timezoner Chronograph:

- Stopwatch
- Stainless steel case
- Screw-down crown for enhanced water resistance
- Analog watch display
- Scratch-resistant sapphire crystal dial
- Water resistance up to 60 m
- Dual time zone
- Approximately 68 hours power reserve when fully wound.
- Weight 162.5g
Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris World Time:

- Analog display with luminescent markers and hands
- Stainless steel case
- Water resistance: 100 meters (330 feet)
- Scratch-resistant sapphire crystal.
- World time with city disc
- Weight 148g
FINAL THOUGHTS – BEST TRAVEL WATCHES (ANALOG WATCHES) FOR MEDITERRANEAN TRAVEL
A trip to the Mediterranean Sea should include a sense of style and sophistication. After all, if you are going to travel all this way then you want the full experience. A classic analog watch with the right features will provide the functionality you need with just the right amount of refinement and elegance. Hopefully the travel watches presented above strike the right cord and inspire you to invest in one of these impressive timepieces.
(For helpful tips and ideas about the Mediterranean check out our related posts: Mediterranean Lifestyle and Travel and Guide to the Mediterranean Coast of Spain.)
Reg Auge
Reg holds an MBA, is a former Captain in the Canadian military and has worked as a consultant in industry for over 20 years. From his home in Spain, he has spent the last 10 years traveling throughout the Mediterranean, exploring the various countries and regions. He also regularly runs, windsurfs, and kite surfs, maintaining a healthy and active way of life. Captivated by this Mediterranean lifestyle, he began a Blog last year to inspire like-minded souls to learn about and discover this unique region for themselves.