How To Travel With Your Luxury Watches

The subject of travelling with luxury watches—how many, which ones, whether you should at all—can be a bit thorny.

Some people, generally the overly cautious type, steer clear of the whole debacle altogether, slap on a G-Shock at most and jet off into the sunset. For others, the idea of not introducing their beloved timepieces to the wonders the world has to offer is an anathema.

There are pros and cons to both viewpoints, as there are with every point ever viewed. But, as devoted horologists, my guess is that no trip would be complete without at least one collection favorite hitching a ride.

So, the question then is; how do I keep my piece safe? Read on.

Step 1: Choose your Watch(es)

The first step is an important one. Bringing along the contents of your entire watch box is obviously a non-starter, so you are going to have to make some decisions over which models to take. These judgements will be based mostly around the type of trip you are going on, what you’ll be doing there and how long you’ll be staying.

As a general rule (not hard and fast as such, but close), it is a good idea to limit yourself to just two pieces (I know—you can do it).

If you’re travelling for business, with any additional socializing opportunities taking place in swanky restaurants or networking events, that can all be done with one watch for the whole duration, so long as it slips under a shirtsleeve. Something like Rolex’s Datejust has been covering all those eventualities since 1945.

However, if you’re going on vacation and envisage hiking up a mountain during the day before retiring for a well-earned dinner somewhere fancy in the evening, then adding a more sporty piece as well would be a good idea.

Alternatively, a GMT or World Timer is perfect for the job, what with them being explicitly designed for just this function. Omega’s wonderful Seamaster Aqua Terra GMT Worldtimer collection is a case in point. The range of highly functional and versatile examples, ideally styled to pass as both dress watch and travel companion, also boast 150M of water resistance, so jumping in the pool or even snorkeling with them is taken in stride.

My own recommendation would be to err on the side of the understated. Parading an attention-grabbing, eye-wateringly expensive watch around in an unfamiliar city, one where you’re unfamiliar with the lay of the land or the specific areas from where you would be better off staying away, is really just asking for trouble.

As a workaround for all that, don’t underestimate the effect simply changing the strap on a watch has. Swapping out a metal bracelet for a NATO or rubber strap is often akin to having two completely different models.

Step 2: Packing

By my count, there are a little over a bazillion watch rolls out there for you to choose from. These can range in price from as little as $20 for the Watchpod Travel Case, through something like a Buben & Zorweg carbon fiber case for a few thousand, and even far beyond. As long as they offer a decent amount of padded protection for your watches, other considerations should remain secondary.

Regardless of whether you are taking two watches or 50 though, keep them in your carry-on bag. I don’t know if you’ve ever been through the purgatory of an airline losing your checked-in luggage, but it is as much fun as a heart attack and even less so if you know there are extremely valuable watches in there.

But what about the one you wear for the flight? The TSA have discretion over whether or not you will need to take your watch off as you pass through airport security; some will, some won’t. You can request a manual inspection, although that could well involve a dose of unwelcome intimacy.

I tend to keep an eye on those passengers in front of me. If the agents are strict on them removing all jewelry before walking through the scanners, I’ll slip my watch into the roll in my carry-on—never in the little tray.

It is also worth considering taking along the paperwork which came with your watch; the receipt and/or warranty card. These could be physical copies or else photos on your phone. You could even visit the customs desk before you leave and obtain a certificate to prove you already owned the watch.

Step 3: At Your Destination

You need to be on your game before you even reach your accommodation. Airports are hectic and confusing places, especially unfamiliar ones or those in foreign lands. Have your bags with you at all times, be aware of your surroundings and try to keep your watch inconspicuous. Maybe think about fitting a GPS tracker, such as an Apple AirTag, to your case.

Once at your hotel or lodgings, make use of the safe if there is one. Keep any extra pieces in there when not using them, and consider leaving them all locked up while you sleep.

When out and about, wearers of high value watches, and tourists in particular, unfortunately make great targets for wrong ‘uns and ne’er do wells of every description. My policy, should I ever be faced with someone intent of relieving me of a precious timepiece (and it hasn’t happened yet, knock on wood) is that it now belongs to them. That’s right, regardless of the number of Jason Statham movies I’ve subjected myself to, I’m not going to put up a fight and risk my life for a watch. We all like to think we could take on a mugger, and maybe we could. I am not, however, going to test that theory. At the end of the day, they’re just things.

But robberies don’t have to be violent. A watch is a tricky one to get off someone’s wrist without them noticing, but it can be done. Research those places in your location it would be wise to avoid, and be wary of the unexpectedly helpful stranger.

And don’t forget to update your insurance policy before you go, and make sure it covers travel. A copy of your appraisal is another important document you could bring with you.

Hopefully none of this has put you off either travelling with your watch or travelling altogether!

You have to be incredibly unlucky to suffer a loss of an adored timepiece, and with a little common sense, you will likely be perfectly fine. What’s more, having your favorite watch along with you on your adventures infuses it with some wonderful memories, as well as acting as that one comfortingly familiar object in unaccustomed surroundings.

Happy trails.

Featured Photo: Pixabay (cc) Archive.