The 2023 Traska collection – a watch for every need

Time+Tide

Founded in 2015 by Jon Mack, Traska is one of those brands that has become popular amongst watch enthusiasts for a few reasons: affordable prices (well below $1,000), well-built cases,  nicely finished dials and funky colours. Traska’s debut model, the Freediver, is now in its fifth iteration, indicating the brand’s dedication for continuous improvement. While the brand has built up its collections over the years, it now offers five collections. Each comes with a distinct flavour and purpose, and they were all revamped in late 2022. Here we’ll take a quick look at each model from the 2023 Traska collection, which will be available for pre-order from the brand’s website on Saturday, March 11 at 11am EST (except for the Venturer which is already available). But before we do, let’s look at the general specifications the brand offers throughout its collections.

Common Specifications to All Traska Models

It’s important to know that all models share common specifications. First things first, the cases and three-link bracelets are coated with a proprietary hardening agent. This means they measure 1,200HV on the Vicker’s Hardness scale while naked stainless steel measures 200HV. In other words, they are difficult to scratch, if not impossible, even when desk-diving. Furthermore, they all come with diamond-cut hands, heaps of BGW9 lume, sapphire crystals, applied indices, and Miyota movements.

Finishing consists of satin-brushed surfaces on top of the lugs and the bracelet, and mirror-polished surfaces on the case sides and bezel. The double-pusher clasps are fully milled and showcase a perlage finish and come with five holes of micro-adjustments. The links and end-links of the bracelets are solid and fully articulated, and they are held in place by screws. All models also all come with screw-down crowns and case-backs, offering between 100 to 200m of water resistance.

The Freediver

It is particularly encouraging whenever a brand continues to improve a model. Especially its first one, as it shows that the brand understands that it can always do better. Traska’s Freediver has gone through five redesigns since 2015 and now comes in four colorways, with or without a date complication. Boasting 200m of water resistance, the case of the Freediver measures 40.5mm in diameter, 48mm lug-to-lug, 10.5m in thickness and has a 20mm lug opening. The Freediver is powered by either the Miyota 9039 (no date) or 9019 (date), which beats at 28,800 BPH and come with 42 hours of power reserve.

Traska integrated the port-hole date aperture at the 6 o’clock to preserve the symmetry – bonus point for the brand. Although this might not be everyone’s preference, Traska does not match the colour of the date disc to that of the dial – for once, I don’t mind it. The applied and polished indices are filled with generous quantities of lume and their shape matches that of the hour and minute hands. The seconds hand comes with a lumed lollipop element adding a bit of visual play to an otherwise geometrical ensemble. Being a diver, the 120-click bezel has a fully graduated dive-time ceramic insert and has no back-play.

The Freediver retails for US$695 and comes in four colours: Carbon Black, Artic White, Sun-Bleached Orange and Mint Green.

The Summiteer

If you are like me, you like time-only adventure watches and the Summiteer might interest you. It comes in two sizes, 36.5mm and 38.5mm. The 36.5mm version has a lug-to-lug of 44mm, a thickness of 8.75mm, and a lug width of 20mm. The 38.5mm version has a lug-to-lug of 46mm, and the same thickness of 8.75mm and a lug width of 20mm. Regardless of which size you may be the most interested in, either will feel at home on your wrist. One thing I haven’t mentioned earlier is the fact that the bracelet on all Traska models tapers from 20mm to 16mm at the clasp, espousing the natural contour of our wrists For reference, my wrist has a circumference of 6.25”/16cm.

The Summiteer is a time-only watch displaying the iconic 3-6-9 dial layout. All indices are applied and this is the most noticeable when looking at the Arabic numerals which are, to put it simply, 3D blocks of lume. The centre portion of the dial is ever so slightly sunken-in to add visual interest to this purpose-oriented timepiece. The utilitarian aspect of the Summiteer is reinforced by the sword-shaped hour and minute hands, the former reaching the hour markers and the latter the minute rail track just as I like it. Lastly, the Summiteer comes with 100 meters of water-resistance and is powered by the Miyota 9039 movement.

The Summiteer retails for US$600 (36.5mm version) and US$615 (38.5mm version) and comes in four colours: Charcoal Black, Sage Green, Midnight Blue and Sandstone Yellow.

The Commuter

After creating a diver and an exploration/field watch, Traska took on the challenge of creating an everyday watch: the Commuter. Housed in a case 36.5mm in diameter, it has a lug-to-lug of 44mm lug-to-lug and a thickness of 8.75mm. The Commuter is your go-anywhere, do-anything type of watch. As do all Traska models, it has a solid build and comes with a robust Miyota calibre, the 9039 for the no-date variant and the 9019 for the date variant, just like the Freediver. Being an everyday watch, it has baton-style hands and applied markers and a simplified chapter ring. The date window was placed at the 6 o’clock and is framed.

While the Freediver and Summiteer have matte dials, the ones on the Commuter’s have a sunray finish, adding a subtle visual effect to the stripped-down dial layout. There is actually not much more to say about the Commuter as it is a discreet everyday watch. And the fact that there isn’t much to talk about means Traska has done its job well designing a watch that is inoffensive and slides under the cuff without you or anyone else noticing.

The Summiteer retails for US$595 and comes in four colours: Slate Grey, Sterling Silver, Aegean Blue and Mint Green, the latter being a fan-favourite.

The Seafarer

Following the release of the Commuter, Traska delved back into the aquatic world by releasing the Seafarer. This compressor-style diver comes with a case of 38.5mm in diameter, 46mm lug-to-lug, 9.5mm in thickness and 20mm lug width. As you can now see, there’s a trend here: Traska likes to keep the dimensions of its watches reasonable. The Seafarer draws inspiration from the Freediver as it comes with a similar handset, including the lollipop seconds hand. However, the rest of the dial comes with a new design: batons at the 3, 6, and 9 positions, doubled at the 12, and circular markers everywhere else. The Seafarer also offers 150m of water resistance making it a versatile timepiece. Note how the circular markers seem to almost be attached to the five-minute markers on the chapter ring.

As it is now customary with Traska, the Seafarer is equipped with the Miyota 9039 calibre. Its no-date configuration works well with its symmetrical dial layout. The other difference with the Freediver is the fact that the dive-time bezel is inside the case, not outside, and that it is not fully graduated. This, and the addition of a second crown at 2 o’clock to operate the inner-rotating bezel, means that Traska offers two distinct dive watches that each come with its own character. If you prefer a traditional design, opt for the Freediver. But if you prefer something different and vintage, go for the Seafarer.

The Seafarer retails for US$635 and comes in four colours: Charcoal Black, Stone Grey, Sun-Bleached Orange and Mint Green.

The Venturer True GMT

Last but not least, let’s take a look at the Venturer GMT. Released a few weeks ago, the Venturer is a true GMT watch, in other words, it is the local hour hand that jumps, not the GMT hand. Traska is one of the rare brands to offer a true GMT model for under $1,000 – US$695 to be exact. This is made possible by using the Miyota 9075 calibre, a true gift for micro and independent brands that not all brands have access to, as Miyota/Citizen have a selection process. Regardless, Traska managed to keep the dimensions of the Venturer slender: 38.5mm in diameter, 46mm lug-to-lug, 10mm in thickness, and 20mm lug width.

The GMT scale is printed on the bi-directional inner-rotating bezel, the latter being operated by the crown at the 10 o’clock. From a visual perspective, the Venturer borrows design elements from another Traska model, the Commuter. I find it particularly interesting that the brand transfers designs from one model to another and then blends them together to create something different. Lastly, and although it might not be easy to see on photos, the Venturer has a lacquered dial, something else impressive for the asking price.

As we know, the Venturer retails for US$695 and comes in four colours: Carbon Black, Artic White, Steel Blue and Woodland Green.

Final Thoughts

Writing about micro and independent brands is not easy. We all have our own definition of what a good deal is. Personally, I find that Traska delivers a compelling offer both in terms of design and price/quality ratio. I’ve handled all of their models and they are all equally well-built. But don’t take my word for it, you need to experience them for yourself. With that said, Traska’s five collections surely offer a variety of horological experiences, depending on what kind of watch you are looking for—a diver, a field watch, a GMT, or an everyday one.

You can learn more about Traska and its offerings by visiting the brand’s website here.