In the world of affordable travel watches, now is an exceptional time for enthusiasts seeking high-quality pieces without a hefty price tag. The introduction of Seiko’s NH34 and Miyota’s 9075 GMT movements in 2022 revolutionized the market, providing a plethora of GMT watches under $1,000 from renowned brands like Seiko, Jack Mason, and Nodus. It’s a golden age for budget-conscious buyers looking for functional and stylish travel companions.
While GMT watches are popular for tracking multiple time zones, another fascinating category exists: world timers. Unlike GMTs, which typically show two time zones, world timers display 24 time zones simultaneously, offering a romantic glimpse into global time. This feature is most famously associated with luxury watchmaker Patek Philippe, known for their exquisite world timepieces.
However, the availability of affordable world timers has been limited, primarily due to the complexity of the mechanism. Yet, with the advent of cost-effective GMT movements, it was only a matter of time before a budget-friendly world timer emerged. Enter the Viajero by Chicago-based microbrand Haim Watch Company.
Haim Watch Company has steadily built a reputation for crafting affordable and attractive watches. The Viajero, however, stands out as the brand’s most ambitious offering to date, likely to garner significant attention. Drawing inspiration from Patek Philippe’s iconic World Time watches, such as the 5231G, the Viajero exudes a traditional design aesthetic. Its dial, reminiscent of a watercolor painting, features a printed world map in 3D relief, adding depth and texture. The topographical representation is adorned with metallic hour markers and protractor-shaped hands, enhancing the vintage cartography theme.
Encircling the dial is a 24-hour scale on the chapter ring, divided into day and night sections akin to a GMT bezel. A rotating inner bezel displays 24 major cities worldwide, further emphasizing the world timer functionality. The dial is protected by a sapphire crystal with five layers of anti-reflective coating, ensuring clarity and ease of reading—an essential feature given the complexity of world timer displays.
The Viajero’s stainless steel case measures 38.5mm in diameter, 12mm in thickness, and 45.5mm from lug to lug, making it well-proportioned for various wrist sizes. Haim describes the case as “hand-finished,” with a mirror-polished surface and a brushed bezel. The watch is paired with a handmade Epsom leather strap featuring a tang buckle with an Art Deco-inspired design, complementing the overall classic aesthetic.
Powering the Viajero is a modified Seiko NH34A automatic movement, enhanced by Haim to function as a world timer. The brand also added a custom rotor visible through the sapphire exhibition caseback. This bronze-toned rotor, designed to resemble a globe with longitude and latitude lines, adds a distinctive touch to the otherwise standard movement.
The Viajero is available in three colorways, each representing a different mode of travel: “Air” (blue), “Land” (green), and “Water” (turquoise). Currently, the watch is available for pre-order on Haim’s website at a discounted price of $700, with the regular retail price set to increase to $800 after the reservation period. An optional beads of rice stainless steel bracelet is also available for an additional $100.
Haim Watch Company plans to begin shipping the Viajero in early Q3 of this year, making it an exciting and accessible option for those interested in a sophisticated travel watch without the luxury price tag.
