Should You Take One Watch Or Several When You Travel?
This article explores the common travel dilemma of how many watches to pack, arguing that a single, versatile, water-resistant watch simplifies the travel experience. The author advocates for the 'one watch' approach, citing practical benefits like reduced risk of loss or theft and elimination of daily decision fatigue, contrasting it with the potential benefits and drawbacks of packing a small rotation.
Packing multiple watches can be justified by the desire to match a watch to different occasions, such as a dive watch for swimming and a dress watch for formal dinners.
Concerns with packing multiple watches include the risk of them being lost, stolen, or forgotten, and potential issues with travel insurance coverage.
A water-resistant watch (e.g., 100m or 200m rating) can handle various situations like showering or swimming without needing to be removed, simplifying daily wear.
The author personally favors the one-watch approach, citing the Tudor Black Bay 58 (200m water resistance) and the IWC Mark XV (60m water resistance) as versatile travel watches.
A good travel watch should be versatile enough to transition between casual and smart settings without causing worry, effectively disappearing into the background of the trip.