Round-UpBreaking The Monotony: Five Exquisite Yet Reliable Timepieces To Carry On Your Vacation

Over the last few weeks, as authorities have relaxed lockdown-related restrictions, the travel industry witnessed a boom, with more and more people trying to escape the monotony of staying indoors. The resurgence of tourism is twofold—the ebbing of the second wave of the pandemic, and the ongoing mass vaccination drive. However, like other industries, travel, too, has undergone a major transformation as tourists are going the extra mile to make a quick and safe getaway, all while keeping the deadly coronavirus at bay.

Tourism experts suggest that people are meticulously planning their holidays based on several variables such as: where to go, how to reach the destination safely, the rate of infection at the destination, and the itinerary. Most importantly, tourists are opting for socially-distanced experiences that may involve going to remote places with outdoor activities such as cycling, trekking and camping.

Undoubtedly, such planned escapes from the hustle and bustle of the city have would people with a much-needed breather after months of living in the shadow of anxiety and grief. So when you do venture out for your outdoor-activity getaway, within your COVID-safe bubble of people, you’d surely want everything to be perfect. And for you horophiles out there, a watch that’s best suited for your adventure would definitely be a plus. A perfect timepiece accompanying you on vacation shouldn’t just be reliable, accurate and durable in the harsh outdoors, but should ideally also offer the right features and complications that could come in handy during a host of activities. Let’s take a look at a few incredible timepieces that would make for great companions on your getaways, whatever activities they might involve. 

Cycling

Tissot T-Race Cycling Chronograph 

Many would agree that there’s no better way of seeing the world than on a two-wheeler. A long, scenic bike ride isn’t only enriching for your mind and soul but also an efficient way of exercising. There are a ton of mesmerising biking destinations that are ideal for both professional and amateur cyclists. You can ride through the mountains in Manali or breeze through the vineyards of Nashik. You can even follow the pristine coastline of Goa, Karnataka and Kerala, while absorbing the enchanting view of the sun-kissed beaches. It doesn’t matter where you go, the Tissot T-Race Cycling Chronograph is a perfect timepiece to accompany you on bike rides. Crafted in stainless steel, the watch is built for passionate cyclists and offers a design that combines comfort with top-notch functionality. Sized at 44.5mm, the case of the watch comes with a tachymeter-style bezel made of aluminium, a crown inspired by a bicycle tyre, and chronograph pushers that resemble bicycle brakes. The well-balanced and legible dial has a typical chronograph layout with sub-dials at three, six and nine o’clock, and two large luminous hands, in addition to a colour-coordinated, chronograph seconds hand with a Tissot ‘T’ counterweight. Thanks to the Swiss quartz movement beating inside, the T-Race Cycling Chronograph offers extraordinary accuracy and durability with almost no need for maintenance. 

Diving

Oris Aquis Date Calibre 400

Serene, tranquil and almost magical… Exploring the underwater world is meditation in itself. The colourful coral reefs, hundreds of different kinds of fish dancing together in their impressive formations, the slowly and calmly moving sea turtles, and the sight of countless other majestic beings conjure up a dream-like scenery. To appreciate all this beauty without worrying about correctly calculating the dive time, a reliable and resilient diver’s watch that can easily endure the high pressure underwater would surely be handy. The Oris Aquis Date Calibre 400 is exactly built to do that and features the brand’s ultra-modern and highly durable in-house movement, the calibre 400. With a power reserve of a whopping 120 hours, this self-winding powerhouse can bear anti-magnetic fields up to 2,250 gauss and offers accuracy that would meet COSC requirements even. It features a captivating dial, available in three different hues—blue, green and anthracite—and displays Super-LumiNova-treated hour indices and timekeeping hands that make it perfectly legible even in low-light conditions. Set in a 43.5mm stainless steel case, the timepiece comes with a unidirectional bezel, which is fairly smooth to operate. Water resistant up to 300m, the Aquis Date Calibre 400 is presented on a solid and comfortable bracelet, equipped with a quick-release system. 

The Oris Aquis Date Calibre 400 is a reliable and resilient diver’s watch that can easily endure the high pressure underwater

₹3,50,000

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Set in a 43.5mm stainless steel case, the timepiece comes with a unidirectional-rotating bezel, which is fairly smooth to operate

₹3,50,000

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The watch features a captivating dial that is available in three different hues—blue, green and antracite

₹3,50,000

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The dial displays Super-LumiNova-treated hour indices and timekeeping hands that make it perfectly legible even in low-light conditions

₹3,50,000

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The timepiece features the brand's ultra-modern and highly durable in-house movement, the Calibre 400, which supplies a power reserve of a whopping 120 hours

₹3,50,000

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01

Road Trip

TAG Heuer Carrera Indy 500 Special Edition

Probably the most socially-distanced form of travel right now is a road trip. Therefore, it isn’t surprising to see so many people choosing to leave behind the quarantine blues with an open-road adventure. Given that monsoon has arrived in most parts of the country, a car ride to the picturesque mountains or coastlines can be quite a rejuvenating experience. And to make such trips even more memorable and exhilarating, we have the TAG Heuer Carrera Indy 500 Special Edition—a watch built for those who live and breathe motorsports and cars. Introduced in 2019, the timepiece pays homage to one of the oldest car races in the world—the Indianapolis 500 or Indy 500. Before the coronavirus struck, every year, around 3,00,000 spectators gathered to watch this 500-mile race—the largest congregation for a sporting event. Sized at 41mm, the stainless steel case of the timepiece comes with a black ceramic-built bezel that features a tachymeter with ‘INDY 500’ printed in red at one o’clock. Meanwhile, the black opaline dial complements the bezel and sports white chronograph sub-dials, date and rhodium-plated luminescent indices. The watch also has the Indianapolis Motor Speedway logo centred inside the counter at six o’clock. Under the hood, we have the automatic calibre 16, which beats at 28,800vph and supplies a power reserve of at least 42 hours. 

The TAG Heuer Carrera Indy 500 Special Edition is a watch built for those who live and breathe motorsports and cars

₹6,17,100

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Introduced in 2019, the timepiece pays homage to one of the oldest car races in the world—the Indianapolis 500 or Indy 500

₹6,17,100

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Set within this timepiece is the automatic calibre 16, which beats at 28,800vph and supplies a power reserve of at least 42 hours

₹6,17,100

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01

Trekking 

Favre-Leuba Raider Bivouac 9000

Trekking is an all-encompassing way of exploring a mountain, its history, and flora and fauna. However, it can be arduous and lengthy, as climbing mountains isn’t always easy, as one has to acclimatise to the natural weather conditions. But the Favre-Leuba Raider Bivouac 9000 can make things a little less difficult for you. Capable of measuring altitudes anywhere on the planet—even on the peak of Mount Everest—this rugged tool watch is an ideal companion on your wrist while going for treks and explorations. Despite its generous, 48mm barrel-shaped case, made of ultralight yet hard and hypoallergenic titanium, the timepiece is comfortable on the wrist, and is highly suited for outdoor activities. Its dial—available in black or grey—is designed for optimal legibility, and features luminescent hands and hour markers, in addition to the sub-dials for the altimeter, the air pressure display at three o’clock, the small seconds at nine o’clock, and the power reserve indicator at 12. This is a formidable mountaineering watch with a distinctive, central red hand that indicates the altitude on the bidirectional rotating bezel, which carries a scale divided into 50m steps, up to 3,000m. One full clockwise rotation of this hand means a climb in altitude of 3,000m. The Raider Bivouac 9000 utilises the manual-winding FL311 movement that is specially designed for mechanisms with an altimeter and provides a power reserve of 65 hours. The timepiece comes attached to an attractive padded leather strap and offers water resistance up to 30m.

Capable of measuring altitude anywhere on the planet, the Favre-Leuba Raider Bivouac 9000 is an ideal companion on your wrist while going for treks and explorations

₹7,46,000

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Despite its large 48mm barrel-shaped case, made of ultralight yet hard and hypoallergenic titanium, the timepiece is comfortable on the wrist, and suited for outdoor activity

₹7,46,000

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Its dial—available in black or grey—is designed for optimal legibility, and features luminescent hands and hour markers

₹7,46,000

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The dial also sports sub-dials for the altimeter, the air pressure display at three o’clock, the small seconds at nine o'clock, and the power reserve indicator at 12 o’clock

₹7,46,000

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The Raider Bivouac 900 utilises the manual-winding FL311 movement that is specially designed for mechanisms with an altimeter and provides a power reserve of 65 hours

₹7,46,000

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01

Camping

Seiko Astron

Away from the choking air of the metropolitans, the jam-packed roads and crowded malls; camping surely is the best way to find some peace, even in your solitude. Without the risk of running into too many people, this outdoor activity remains immensely popular among tourists since it allows them to spend days in the wilderness, sleep under clear skies dotted with countless stars, and soak in the calm of the mountains or the fresh breeze of the riverside. However, camping isn’t as easy as it sounds, especially without the support of a large group. From a safety kit to a good quality tent, travel stove and food supplies—one has to carefully arrange all the essentials before heading out into the wild. And when it comes to carrying an ideal watch on camping trips, one has to ensure that the timekeeper is apt for rugged terrains, is utilitarian and an exceptional performer. Here is the Seiko Astron, which perfectly encapsulates the phrase ‘one watch to do it all’, and offers every necessary feature that you might need in dense forests or on sand dunes stretching across the horizon. Offered with a maximum accuracy deviation of up to 15 seconds a month, the timepiece sports a day-and-date display, daylight saving time, and dual time. Not only this, the Astron is powered by solar or light energy and has a mind-boggling power reserve of six months when fully charged. Equipped with the innovative and powerful calibre 8X53, the timepiece is water-resistant up to 200m, and is secured on the wrist with the help of a silicon strap that features a triple-folding clasp. 

The Seiko Astron perfectly encapsulates the phrase ‘one watch to do it all’, and offers every essential feature that you might need in dense forests or on sand dunes stretching across the horizon