Under the Radar

[Drdrew]

Hello! Looking for suggestions and recommendations on my next piece.

Will be doing a lot of international travel, and I am looking for something under the radar. Price is not the main concern.

Looking for a high quality timepiece that will last. Going to be spending a lot of time in airports, beaches And the occasional business meeting.

Looking for something respectable that I could be proud to wear amongst other enthusiasts but can take a beating.

I have seamaster diver 300 but it’s too top heavy.

Pieces I’m considering are:

Speedmaster sapphire sandwich.
IWC mark xx
40 mm Polar Explorer two
39 mm explore one
Pelagos 39
Black Bay 58
GS white birch

I like to switch out between bracelet, strap, NATO, etc. cell looking for a piece that works well in multiple configurations.

Ideally looking for something 40 mm in diameter or smaller with a lug to lug of 50 mm or smaller

Looking forward to your thoughts!!

[m j b]

Speedmaster.

[tifosi]

International travel and not one GMT watch mentioned?

Rolex 116710LN GMT would be the ultimate under the radar, do anything piece.

[Easy E]

The Polar is a good choice

[shammad10]

Blancpain fifty fathoms. Real history there and can take anything you throw at it.

...sorry didn't see your 40mm limit. But the lug to lug of the FF is actually really short!

[TheWatchmen]

Any of those would work well but IMO, as someone who travelled 40 weeks a year for work - I wore an Explorer during those years.

[Bxtek]

GMT would be a great travel watch. SS Explorer II, GMT Master, or maybe even a SS Sky-D? Or how about a Tudor BB GMT?

[Krash]

Definitely Speedmaster based on wanting to switch out between bracelet, strap, NATO, etc. It's a strap monster.

BB58 would be my 2nd choice out of those you listed.

[peptide45]

My vote is for the polar... has a second time zone function and is understated. Looks great on multiple bands!

[ndane]

Black Bay!

[Drdrew]

Interesting to hear everyone’s thoughts.

I am hesitant to wear a Rolex as I won’t be visiting the friendliest of airports on my travels.

I am typically pretty hard on my watches. For some reason, even with some wrist awareness, I tend to bang them into beach chairs, door frames, etc.

Are the added complications may be nice, but are not a dealbreaker for me. Time only would be fine. I mostly use my phone to check the date etc.

[fskywalker]

Originally Posted by tifosi

International travel and not one GMT watch mentioned?

Rolex 116710LN GMT would be the ultimate under the radar, do anything piece.

This!


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[Agamemnon]

I propose from your list:
- Speedmaster Sapphire;
- Explorer 39mm.
But I also recommend the GMT Master II 116710LN to have your home time zone for overseas travel.
As you can see, I own all three of these watches and I can recommend them to you.

[Krash]

Originally Posted by Drdrew

Interesting to hear everyone’s thoughts.

I am hesitant to wear a Rolex as I won’t be visiting the friendliest of airports on my travels.

I am typically pretty hard on my watches. For some reason, even with some wrist awareness, I tend to bang them into beach chairs, door frames, etc.

Are the added complications may be nice, but are not a dealbreaker for me. Time only would be fine. I mostly use my phone to check the date etc.

FWIW, when I travel nowadays, I just bring my Apple Watch. This wasn’t always the case. I always did bring one of my mechanicals, but never more. Now I just don’t see the point. Although I do have a wedding later this year to go to. I’ll probably bring my DJ on that trip.


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[ibzk]

Originally Posted by tifosi

International travel and not one GMT watch mentioned?

Rolex 116710LN GMT would be the ultimate under the radar, do anything piece.

Doesn't the explorer 2 have a get function?

[Bigdaddy38]

Originally Posted by Krash

FWIW, when I travel nowadays, I just bring my Apple Watch. This wasn’t always the case. I always did bring one of my mechanicals, but never more. Now I just don’t see the point. Although I do have a wedding later this year to go to. I’ll probably bring my DJ on that trip.


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I wonder assuming traveling to similar countries as your home country is it more likely to have rolex theft while traveling vs. at home where patterns can be watched.

IDK, but certainly if I was traveling to Hondurus or something I wouldn't bring a watch

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[Kevin of Larchmont]

I will never understand how people can’t know what watch they want and need help deciding. I always have a list of watches in my head organized by the hierarchy of obsession. Having gotten that off my chest I’ll play. I own versions of five of those watches, the Speedmaster seems most useful in the widest variety of circumstances however considering beach use I’d vote for the Pelagos.

[amh]

Pelagos and you won't get mugged.

[tifosi]

Originally Posted by ibzk

Doesn't the explorer 2 have a get function?

Yes it does. The original intent of the Exp2 was not to keep track of second time zone and I just don't think of it that way. Plus the GMT has a rotating bezel which adds more time tracking capabilities.

[JRell]

Speedmaster is not under radar by those who know watches, but you don’t hear a ton of stolen speedmasters. Plus I love the look, go speedy.

[BroncoOne]

Originally Posted by tifosi

International travel and not one GMT watch mentioned?

Rolex 116710LN GMT would be the ultimate under the radar, do anything piece.

Polar Explorer has a GMT hand

[tifosi]

Originally Posted by JRell

Speedmaster is not under radar by those who know watches, but you don’t hear a ton of stolen speedmasters. Plus I love the look, go speedy.

I can't live my life by "the radar". I just buy what I want to wear. I don't understand it.

[Krash]

Originally Posted by Bigdaddy38

I wonder assuming traveling to similar countries as your home country is it more likely to have rolex theft while traveling vs. at home where patterns can be watched.

IDK, but certainly if I was traveling to Hondurus or something I wouldn't bring a watch

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Well, actually, safety has nothing to do with it. It’s a matter of me preferring to travel as light as possible.

Also, I’m more likely to travel within the US with a Rolex simply because where I go, it’s always pretty safe. It’s especially safe where I live.

I just decided that going forward, I just want to limit what we bring with us. For example, we’re going on a 2 week trip to Europe later this year. The Apple Watch is the perfect travel companion for us.


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[Tridor]

Polar

[JRell]

Originally Posted by tifosi

I can't live my life by "the radar". I just buy what I want to wear. I don't understand it.

Yeah me neither. I will say I don’t travel much and in Pittsburgh all you get is - Yinz guys got that Invicta? Not like I really need to be under the radar lol.

[Oyster Sauce]

For beach and/or business, with travel, the best out of the choices you listed is the 40mm Explorer II. For even more under-the-radar, Tudor BB Pro fills a similar niche. Best wishes

[SLWoodster]

I heard 50mm or less lug to lug, business meetings, global travel, will take a beating, price is not a concern

Sounds like the Patek aquanaut travel time.

[BDII]

I’d go explorer 2.

Not mentioned but since we are all adding our .02, I’d throw in a 90’s black bezel GMT. Strap monster.

[the dark knight]

I own or have owned all the watches on your list except the Grand Seiko. This is a super easy answer based on your criteria. IWC Mark XX. It has an interesting quick strap change system that leaves the springbars on the watch. So you buy it on bracelet, add an IWC strap in rubber/leather for the quick change, and it’s super easy to put a NATO on when you want to as well.

It’s also ridiculously comfortable with an awesome on wrist microadjustment which is great for travel. Plus it’s probably tied with the GS as the most unrecognizable watch from your list.

[jb335]

Explorer 39mm

That was the first watch that came to mind when I read your subject line.


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