With the summer holiday season 2025 approaching, many travellers are finalising their itineraries. Whether you're enjoying an evening view in Santorini, exploring alpine trails in the Dolomites, or navigating time zones between Tokyo and New York, a reliable travel watch is a valuable companion.
A good travel watch does more than tell the time. It offers essential features like dual or world time displays, easy readability, and the durability to handle a variety of environments - all while maintaining a versatile design that works for both business and leisure. Whether you’re drawn to the simplicity of a GMT or the complexity of a world timer, the right watch can help you keep pace with your travels.
Here’s our pick of the best travel watches for summer 2025, combining function, style, and dependability for wherever the season takes you.
Before we jump into specific models, here are a few key features that make a watch ideal for summer travel:
Why we love it: This left-handed version of the iconic GMT-Master II features a green and black Cerachrom bezel, making it one of the most talked-about Rolex releases in recent years. Built like a tank, yet stylish enough for a rooftop bar. It also flips convention on its head with the crown and date on the left side - ideal for lefties or anyone who wants to stand out.
On top of that, it retains all the travel-ready functionality GMT fans love, from the robust build to the effortless second time zone tracking.
Key Specs: 40mm steel case, bidirectional rotatable bezel, independent hour hand, COSC-certified, Oyster bracelet with Easylink comfort extension, 100m water resistance.
Why we love it: Designed for the modern adventurer, the Aquanaut Travel Time 5164R-001 combines sporty elegance with practical functionality. Its rose gold case houses a sophisticated dual time zone mechanism—ideal for keeping track of both local and home time while traveling.
The textured dial brings a unique character to the design, while the chocolate brown strap softens the overall look, offering a warmer, more relaxed alternative to classic black—perfect for holiday style.
Key Specs: 40.8mm rose gold case, self-winding Caliber 324 S C FUS, dual time zone with day/night indicators, rubber strap for comfort and durability.
Why we love it: A modern tribute to Tudor’s very first dive watches from the 1950s, the Black Bay 54 brings vintage inspiration into a contemporary, wearable format. Its refined 37mm case size delivers a perfect balance between classic proportions and modern wrist presence, while the lagoon blue dial adds a refreshing pop of colour without overpowering the design.
It’s a subtle evolution of Tudor’s tool-watch heritage, now reimagined with everyday versatility in mind. Built for exploration but styled for daily life, this is a watch that effortlessly bridges the gap between functionality and sophistication.
Key Specs: 37mm steel case, automatic movement, unidirectional bezel, sapphire crystal, 200m water resistance.
Why we love it: A practical and refined travel watch, this Omega includes a laser-ablated titanium globe on the dial, framed by 24-hour and city rings. It transitions easily between professional and casual settings. Its reliable functionality and clean design make it a smart choice for frequent travellers.
Additionally, its durable construction ensures it can handle the demands of varied environments without compromising style.
Key Specs: 43mm case, Master Chronometer movement, METAS-certified, anti-magnetic.