Hands-On: the Trafford Watch Co. Daytripper

I have the unfortunate obligation to begin this review with a shocking admission: Zach Kazan was right. Some time ago, during one of my back-to-back travel periods where I jumped through time zones, I had a spirited debate with our Managing Editor. I maintained that I not only enjoyed having a GMT, but needed one to keep my timing straight; while Zach insisted that I was wrong. In the past, a traveller’s GMT had been an invaluable tool in the workplace, keeping me mindful of editors working in other time zones. Yet, Zach argued that all you needed was an independently adjustable hour hand and some basic math skills. If you are working across time zones, do the math. If you are traveling through them, change the hour without messing with minutes and seconds. Immediately upon landing back in New York from a trip to London, I started looking for an Omega Aqua Terra. 

During my search, it struck me as odd that this jumping hours complication (without an associated GMT) was not more widely seen, and never really on the more attainable side of things. Sure, you can find it in models from Omega, parts of Citizen’s The Citizen collection, the Ming 17.09, and newer Grand Seiko 9F models; but all of those will set you back a few thousand dollars. That is, until now. As if from some stroke of divine intervention, I received word of a new watch coming from Trafford Watch Co., utilizing a clever movement alteration to achieve this complication at a much more attainable price point. Enter the Trafford Watch Co. Daytripper collection. A well-spec’d everyday watch making the most of the colorful Trafford design language and a familiar movement. 

A short time ago, I spent some time with the Trafford Touring GMT collection on a road trip to West Virginia for some backpacking and astrophotography (I will link both the Touring GMT Review and Astrophotography articles here). Those who read the review will be familiar with this case shape, strap, and bracelet, so maybe skip through the next two sections and pick it up with what is new. If you missed those very compelling pieces and are choosing not to click on the links, allow me to walk you through the entire design.

Measuring in at 39mm in diameter and 45.6mm from lug to lug, the rounded case shape takes on the appearance of modular construction despite being of one piece. The twisting lugs finished with a polished flair transition into curved and vertically brushed case sides, lending a gentle drape towards the wrist. The primary case body seems to ride just within, shaped in an organic fashion that reminds me of the Bauhaus juggernaut Junghans. On its underside, a polished facet frames the brushed see-through screw down caseback with milled tool grips similar to that of a marine hatch with a large porthole showcasing the whirring red rotor. Returning to the anterior surface, a polished bezel meets the domed sapphire crystal, diminishing the case’s appearance when viewed head-on. Despite the division in the enthusiast community, I find the case interesting without stealing the show or being offensive. I find that the polishing works to diminish its visual heft while letting the strap and dial colors be the main talking points.

Set between the 20mm lugs, the Daytripper comes equipped with a leather strap with contrasting stitching. Indulging its peacocking spirit, the vibrantly patterned leather strap backer bleeds onto the front display by way of a single strap keeper. The mullet of straps (business in the front with a party on its back) is a reminder that this piece and our collective hobby is meant to be fun while separating it in a crowd. You won’t forget what watch this strap comes on when it’s swimming in that ziplock bag filled with other options. It tapers to a milled steel pin buckle with a subtle Trafford cross colored in red on its top, with a nice bit of milling underneath to help it wear a bit closer to the strap. For an additional $149, you can opt for a three 3-link bracelet displaying a mix of brushed and polished surfaces. Thanks to its articulation and hidden on-the-fly micro-adjust, finding the right fit is simple, aiding in the comfortable overall wearing experience. What Trafford is achieving here for the price is impressive, as most bracelet options on sub-$1,000 watches call for an immediate change. My one gripe comes with the solid end links, where on my sample model, I did have the slightest bit of gaping. Is this enough to turn a self-proclaimed bracelet guy away from this option? No, though the more discerning of you should take note. 

The Daytripper comes in four bold colorways, each named after a stretch of interstate spanning the US. I found myself gravitating towards the I-95 most often, whether due to the more subtle coloring or the independent dial texture, I couldn’t tell you. Unlike the other three, the I-95 has a white primary dial surface featuring a gentle grain pattern that boldly contrasts the chapter ring and indices. The other three (the I-70, I-40, and I-75) each feature a darker-hued primary dial with a radial, somewhat sunburst, texture that brings to mind well-worn vinyl records or maybe a tree crosscut. While they do contrast against the indices and chapter ring, they are not quite as set apart as the aforementioned sibling. At their perimeter, the chapter ring rests above the dial with a ribbed texturing interrupted by minute markings and PM hours indicated with Arabic numerals. The polished applied indices rise from the primary dial surface, holding a generous portion of colored lume. Due to their pigmentation, the lume lacks staying power, particularly in darker shades, making nighttime legibility fairly difficult. The same can be said for the lume filling the polished syringe hands. 

Remember, this is the Daytripper, happy to let you lose track of time at night as the house band winds down and the conversations grow loud in that random dive bar you find on the road. I have absolutely no reason to include this, but I do hope it paves the way for a Nightripper equipped with playful dark accents contrasting against a fully lumed dial. Full of color and texture, these dials each bring their own unique style. I have enjoyed taking part in the Trafford Owners Group on Facebook, as members debate their favorite dial options, almost always landing perfectly split. A staple feature of the brand now, founder and designer Nathan Trafford  is not afraid to experiment with color, which really pays off in separating the watches in the space. People quickly criticized the Touring GMT models as being similar to those from Farer, which was fair in terms of dial design. But I wonder if any brand can hold a light to the broad range of color used at Trafford Watch Co.? I am not one to typically go for watches so playful, but still find the overall design language here purposely fun. Nathan is not just throwing colors at the wall to see what sticks; each has been well thought through, drawing from the same inspiration behind the name and purpose. 

Finally, the movement. Trafford has fitted the Daytripper with the same Miyota 9075 caliber powering the Touring GMT. This time, though, they have removed the GMT hand entirely, left the standard hour hand location on the cannon pinion empty, and placed the hour hand where the GMT was. This allows for a quick set local hour hand when hopping through time zones, leaving the minute and second hand in place for more accurate timekeeping. It’s a simple solution to bring this highly specific complication to a much more attainable price point. I have absolutely no doubt that other brands will take note and follow suit in offering a competitive option with a truly useful complication. 

Same as before, the automatic Japanese Miyota 9075 caliber is fitted with a skeletonized red rotor and regulated in-house to a claimed +/- 10 seconds per day. At this point, I think it is safe to say the 9075 has been a reliable workhorse movement now found in a wide array of attainable GMTs. Operating at 4 Hz with a power reserve of 42 hours, it offers peace of mind as you rest it on the nightstand after a long day on the road, ensuring it will be ready for the next day’s adventure. It is the perfect choice for a travel-ready watch, also boasting 100 meters of water resistance and a hardened case to avoid scratches. 

To properly review a watch, we typically refer to some form of reference that the writer and intended audience are familiar with. That is hard for the Trafford Daytripper, as calling it something cheesy like “An Attainable Omega Aqua Terra Alternative” just doesn’t seem fair. The Daytripper, for now, has defined its own category that brings a complication reserved for a higher price point down to the masses. Others have forged a similar path, only to be placed high upon the attainable icon list and mentioned in countless videos. Hopefully, we see a similar status bestowed upon Trafford for their efforts to innovate despite facing so many difficulties in the market. 

At the time of writing, the Daytripper is available for pre-order with a deposit of $99 and an estimated final retail price of $799, shipping in the late summer of 2025. Trafford Watch Co.