Whether you’re a foodie who regularly makes cross-continental pilgrimages to the latest Michelin-star restaurants, or a travel junkie who lives for that perennial next holiday, there is one accessory that should always be part of your “away” wardrobe: a dual-time watch.

Equipped with a second time zone feature that can be adjusted to display the time of whatever city you’re in, dual-time watches are one of the most useful accessories for frequent fliers. Additionally, models like the ones shown here look smart without being stuffy, and go easily from casual settings to formal affairs in the fanciest establishments. Here are four of our favourite two-timers.

White

(Top) Saxon Style
Perfect for those who like their personal accoutrements discreet, the Saxonia Dual Time by A. Lange & Sohne is striking in its minimalist simplicity. As part of subtle renovations to the Saxonia in 2015, the diameter of the latest Dual Time model has gone from 40mm to a more restrained 38.5mm. A blued steel hour hand lies beneath the white gold hour hand, revealing itself to display the home time when the latter is set to a second time zone. This white gold timepiece – also available in pink gold – also features a seconds subdial, and a function that stops the seconds hand during time-setting for greater accuracy.

(Bottom) Precision Instrument
While most of the world’s time zones deviate in whole hours from Universal Coordinated Time, a handful of regions, such as India and parts of Australia, have half-hour time zone differences. That’s where the Blancpain Villeret Half-Hunter Half-Timezone comes in handy. The brand’s first dual time-zone watch is designed for ease of use in mind: The date, home time and local time can all be adjusted using the crown. The 40mm red gold watch looks good from the back, too – the red gold lid on the caseback opens to reveal a decorated movement.

Black

(Top) Global Explorer
Voyages and Vacheron Constantin go back a long way. In 1810, Jacques-Barthelemy Vacheron – the founder’s grandson – kicked off the manufacture’s first overseas foray by taking on the role of travelling salesman. Part of Vacheron Constantin’s sportiest line, the Overseas Dual Time features a second time zone with a day/night indicator that will come in handy for modern-day explorers. The 42mm pink gold watch is powered by an automatic movement with a power reserve of
40 hours.

(Bottom) Ready for Take-off
Unveiled in March 2015, the manufacture’s first modern pilot’s watch timepiece got plenty of Patek Philippe purists talking. But you don’t have to be a fan of the brand to get excited about the new Calatrava Pilot Travel Time Ref. 5524, which packs plenty of appealing qualities into a 42mm white gold case. A midnight-blue varnished dial provides an elegantly sporty backdrop for an easily readable dual-time function. It has two hour hands, one skeletonised and one solid – the latter can be easily adjusted to reflect the local time when the wearer is away from home.