The Traska Summiteer was The Time Bum 2020 Watch of the Year, and for good reason. Its easy-wearing dimensions and timeless design make it an absolute pleasure to have on the wrist and in the collection; its price tag only made it that much more attractive. Not ones to let well enough alone, Traska has made a handful of tweaks to make the Summiteer even better. Instead of a full review, I’ll just give you some lovely photos and highlight the changes and the bright spots. I strongly recommended reading Loren’s original review, as it goes into more detail about the watch.
The most important thing to note about the V2 is that it retains the overall aesthetic of the original model. The changes made were subtle but measurable. Whether they were necessary is debatable (after all, it was The Time Bum 2020 Watch of the Year).
The only change to the dial is a thicker application of lume. Obviously, this means better legibility in low light, but the markers and numerals are lume in their entirety and so it also means a bit more dimensionality to the dial. And if you’re catching the slight ring of distortion from the crystal, you already know another change that was made.
Perhaps the most obvious change for the Traska Summiteer V2 is the new, low-profile box sapphire crystal. The original had a simple flat sapphire that wasn’t doing any harm, but the brain trust at Traska wanted a bit more charm and character–and to channel their adoration for vintage pieces–and so the change was made. Looking back at Loren’s photos and then at these, I think it does improve the aesthetics of the watch.
And here’s the most subtle change. Instead of a flat, slab-sided case, a very gentle curve has been applied to soften things up a bit. Can you see it?
An upgrade to fully articulating lugs with slightly larger screw pins make for an extremely comfortable bracelet that’s easy to size.
The crown on the first Trask Summiteer simply terminated at a hard edge. To make winding and time setting a bit more comfortable, and to complement the lovely ribbon chamfer, a polished bevel has been added to the outside edge of the crown.
(Yes, I do own a guitar.)
Despite the changes, the Traska Summiteer has lost none of its charm. My time with the original was quite limited, so it’s hard for me to say whether the new version is actually better, but I can say it’s certainly not worse. I think the subtle differences will likely make for a more engaging time on the wrist, even if the wearer doesn’t notice. In any case, the Summiteer remains a phenomenal watch and an exceptional value. The new version will be available soon for $550. You can head to the Traska site to learn more and sign up for updates.⬩
