Elite Traveler Spring 2024

DISCOVER

Watches by Roberta Naas

TOOLING AROUND

Going places this spring and summer? Climbing a few mountains, hiking the national parks, bicycling across Europe? If so, you need one of these timely instruments on your wrist that can go the distance. Generally referred to as ‘tool’ watches, most of the adventure-style watches prominent in today’s active lifestyles all offer some important feature

watches are made of rugged, durable materials that can hold up under the elements. Some offer additional functions like pulsimeters to measure pulse rate, chronographs to measure distance or speed, altimeters to measure altitude and even compass points to help with direction. In general, these watches boast clean, legible dials, and luminous hands and markers for easy reading in the dark. Here, we take a closer look at seven watches in a wide range of retail prices perfect for your journeys.

ROLEX EXPLORER Having accompanied the fi rst explorers to summit Mount Everest, Rolex aptly continues its Explorer series for today’s adventurers. This 40mm Oystersteel watch is powered by the brand’s in-house-made Caliber 3230 perpetual self-winding mechanical movement that is precise to -2/+2 seconds per day. Thanks to a monobloc middle case and a screw-down case back and winding crown (with Twinlock double waterproof system), the watch is waterproof to 100 meters. It boasts Para fl ex shock absorbers and is a COSC-certi fi ed Superlative Chronometer. It is also incredibly legible in the dark thanks to the proprietary Chromalight display with blue lumen. $7,700, rolex.com

or function relative to the sport you love, whether it’s climbing or kayaking, biking or hiking. Most of these adventure

MONTBLANC 1858 GEOSPHERE 0 OXYGEN SOUTH POLE EXPLORATION

CITIZEN PROMASTER ALTICHRON Powered by light and Citizen’s proprietary Eco-Drive technology, this timepiece will not easily die. A single exposure to light propels it for at least six months in total darkness — sometimes longer. It’s part of the brand’s Land series, and the 47mm Super Titanium case boasts a black DLC (Diamond-Like Carbon) coating for extra durability. It o ff ers an advanced metric altimeter, electronic compass function and high-legibility luminescence, and is water resistance to 200 meters. $995, citizenwatch.com

Montblanc recently released the new Geosphere 0 Oxygen South Pole Exploration Limited Edition 1990 watch; it boasts zero oxygen inside the case to eliminate fogging at dramatic temperatures or altitude changes. The watch recently accompanied explorer and climber Simon Messner on his South Pole trek at an altitude of 700 meters and -20° Celsius (-4° Fahrenheit). Powered by an automatic movement with world-time complication using Northern and Southern Hemisphere globes, the 42mm watch is crafted of lightweight titanium and boasts an iced blue bidirectional anodized aluminum bezel with luminescent cardinal points, and an iced blue dial. $7,800, montblanc.com