By This summer I will be flying to Portugal and then driving to various cities in Portugal and Spain for a total of 9 days before returning back to Portugal to fly home.
Most watch geeks always spend copious amounts of time debating what watch to bring with them on any trip. Numerous threads have been posted to Watchuseek regarding this 1st world dilemma. Needless to say, I too have spent copious amounts of time deciding on perfect watch or watches to bring with me.
Do I bring a dress watch? A diver? 1 watch? 9 watches? I ultimately decided on 3 watches, 2 Seikos, and 1 Timex. My reasoning behind each pick is below.
Timex Q
The Timex Q provides a GMT look and feel without the function. GMT watches are used to tell the time in multiple time zones. I don’t really have a need for a true GMT despite there being a 6 hour time difference between Portugal/Spain and NYC. This was picked to satisfy a mental itch instead of function. Same with those who wear an IWC big Pilot yet never fly or a Daytona but never race or use its chronograph.
I will probably wear this on both flights and a few nights out.
Seiko Turtle SRP777
Now, this is a watch I bought specifically for this trip. I had a Seiko 007 on a Strapcode Oyster that I contemplated bringing, but it was too similar to the next watch I am brining, the Seiko SKX011. I have other turtles, the gold Seiko turtle was too much for traveling, the Seiko Padi has too many colors and couldn’t go with any orange strap I choose, both Seiko Save the ocean were too much blue. I wanted something like the Seiko 007 that could go on any strap. In came the bigger brother. The Seiko Turtle SRP777.
Seiko SKX011
This is a fun bright summer watch. I love this strap combo on the Timex Silicone leather Strap I recently reviewed.
This watch I will usually wear for sightseeing during the day and possibly night. It is a diver but due to the Silicon/Leather strap, I do not think I will wear it to the beach as I don’t have spring bars to pop it on a 22mm nato for it since the current strap has quick-release spring bars and I don’t want to carry too many items with me.
I think this is the best trio for this trip, On my return flight, I will do a write up on how well these watches fared, which ones got the most wrist time.
Honorable Mentions:
A few honorable mentions for those watches that did not make the cut:
Bulova Computron
Reason: Due to the lugs and rubber strap, the watch would not fold flat to easily fit in the watch roll as the other options can
Seiko SKX007
Reason: Similar case size to the SKX011 which I am bringing essentially making this watch redundant and lacks drilled lug holes to make changing straps easy like the SRP777 has
Watch and Knife 