While we often hear watch journalists and content creators talk of the “Holy Trinity” of Swiss luxury brands—Audemars Piguet, Vacheron Constantin, and Patek Philippe—I believe we should also speak of the pantheon of micro and independent brands. In it, I would add brands such as Lorier, Baltic, Formex, Monta, Christopher Ward, Nodus, and no other than Traska. The latter offers a lot of great bangs for your bucks in terms of construction and finish, and if you like the type of watches they design, then you have yourself a guaranteed great deal, whichever model you would go for. As someone who is in the fortunate position of reviewing numerous models from micro and independent brands, I can tell you with great confidence that Traska offers unmatched value.
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A few months ago, the brand gave a facelift to all of its core models and to celebrate the occasion I wrote about the new Summiteer. In that article, I highlighted some of the key differences between the new and previous versions; in a nutshell, better finish and construction, and a slimmed down profile. The key updates can be found on all models, including the Commuter, which we are taking at look at here. The Commuter is Traska’s take on the everyday watch which could double—at least to me—as a GADA watch (Oh yeah, the very sought-after do-anything-go-anywhere timepiece!) Although the Commuter is currently sold out (and I encourage you to sign up to the newsletter to receive stock updates) you should know that this model retails for $595.
So what do you get for your $595, you may ask? Well, objectively you are getting a lot. As specifications are not something that we can disagree on (a good movement is a good movement) I would say that the Commuter is packed with the good stuff. First, it comes with great dimensions that make it qualify for everyday use: a case diameter of 36.5mm, a lug-to-lug of 44mm, a thickness of 8.75mm, and a lug width of 20mm. These dimensions are arguably universal as the Commuter doesn’t feel dainty on the wrist. It’s a robust watch made of 316L stainless steel and everything is solid here: solid links and end-links, a milled clasp, a well-constructed case, and a screw-down crown. With all of this you get 100 meters of water resistance which is plenty for everyday use.
The value of the Commuter also comes from the movements the brand put inside: premium Miyota’s 9019 (for the date version) or 9039 (for the non-date version) which beat at 28,800 BPH (4Hz) and come with 42 hours of power reserve. These two calibres are known to be reliable and accurate off-the-shelf, and I didn’t experience any trouble with either versions (Other models I reviewed from Traska came with the 9039 caliber and all movements ran well within the stated specs of -10/+30 seconds per day). The version of the Commuter I borrowed is the silver dial with the date aperture at the 6 o’clock, a combo which I find to be quite charming.
In my eyes, an everyday watch should be able to withstand wear and tear, and therefore come with certain features that would aid in keeping it in tip top shape. The Commuter does come with these features which I’m happy to highlight here: a boxed sapphire crystal with inner anti-reflective coating, a hardening coating applied to the case and bracelet which makes them highly scratch-resistant, a screw-down case-back and crown, and a legible dial which is equally easy to read whether desk diving during the day or stargazing in the middle of the Atacama Desert. Indeed, the Commuter comes with healthy applications of BGW9 SuperLuminova on the hands and markers.
SPECS
| Case | 316L Stainless Steel 36mm Diameter 44mm Lug to Lug 8.75mm Thick 20mm Lug Width Screwed Crown & Caseback 100m Water Resistance |
| Dial & Crystal | Box Sapphire /w AR Applied Markers Sunray Dial BGW9 Super-LumiNova |
| Movement | Miyota 9019/9039 28 800bpm 24 Jewels 42-Hour Power Reserve |
| Strap | Stainless Steel /w Milled Clasp |
Traska Commuter
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Of Interest
Of interest is the toned-down dial design which is both elegant and versatile. To push the elephant in the room as quickly as possible I would say that yes, indeed, the Commuter has a strong resemblance to a Rolex Oyster Perpetual or Datejust. The baton-style hands and rectangular applied markers do homage the aforementioned models from the Swiss luxury brand. However, I would say “And so what?” Objectively speaking, it is rare to come across a model from a micro or independent brand that looks completely original. And if it does, then it would either cost much more than the Commuter does ($595) or its manufacturing quality would have been sacrificed in the name of the design (I do not claim to know of all watches that exist; I can only speak from my personal experience).
When putting the dimensions and specs side-to-side, perhaps we can agree that the Commuter offers outstanding value. It is certainly built to withstand everyday wear—including the numerous times we watch enthusiasts drag the clasp onto a desk and forget to check for clearance when passing through a door frame—which would guarantee that the Commuter will look good for a long time and continue to function well. These two factors are important to many of us and I see them as constituting the two best arguments for pulling the trigger on a Commuter. And if you are like me in the perpetual search for the perfect everyday watch, then perhaps this could be it.
Regardless of what I said earlier, what further contributes to making the Commuter an everyday timepiece is its design. The dial has a clean layout and showcases a fine sunburst effect which creates interesting light plays. The case has a simple yet effective profile with high polished sides and brushed upper sections, short lugs, and a small fixed bezel that comes with both brushed and polished surfaces. The Oyster-style three-link bracelet is well machined and comes with fully articulated links, female end-links, as well as screws which permit to easily add or remove links to find the perfect fit. Looking at the Commuter from afar, the design is clean, elegant which is what gives it an “everyday ” feel.
Quibbles
At the risk of sounding biased, I would be hard pressed to find faults with the Commuter. The only thing that would perhaps tame your enthusiasm after reading this review is the fact that, as of writing this, you cannot purchase a Commuter. Traska releases its models in small batches throughout the year to guarantee high levels of quality control. The brand implemented a system of pre-orders which requires a small deposit and a guaranteed delivery date a few months later. However, a new pre-order is coming in July which is why I highly recommend you to sign up to their newsletter here (Scroll down to the bottom of the homepage).
Final Thoguhts
For $595, the Traska Commuter gives the Rolex OP or Datejust a run for their money. Even though the Commuter does not come with a COSC movement and precious metals, I would say that a watch like the Commuter offers a much better value than a Rolex as it exists between cheap knock-offs and the real deal that fetch prices in the thousands of dollars. Someone needed to create an in-between that would make us feel we are not missing out by not getting a Rolex. I know, I mentioned Rolex multiple times in this review. Not because I feel that the Commuter is a copy of a Rolex, but to demonstrate that the Commuter is a great watch in its own right–one that can easily claim the status of being both an everyday timepiece and a GADA.
Lastly, you should know that the Commuter comes in four colors: Slate Grey, Sterling Silver, Aegan Blue, and Mint Green. And each color comes with date and no date versions.
But these thoughts are only mine. What do you think of the Traska Commuter? For more information, please visit the brand website.
Vincent Deschamps is a museum professional, originally from France, with more than 10 years experience as a researcher, producing visitor experiences for national and international organizations. He is also the founder of mainspring.watch. You can follow Vincent on Instagram.
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