Traska Reveals 2023 Lineup | UPDATE: Reservations Now Open
UPDATE: The reservation system is now open! $50 per watch you want will, as mentioned below, get you a spot to claim it when it goes on sale in a few months. Existing reservations will be filled first and any that are left will then be made available. Spoiler alert: There isn’t likely to be any leftover stock, so get your spot booked now if you want want of these.
The Traska Venturer GMT was revealed last month; now, founder Jon Mack has revealed updates to the rest of the Jacksonville Beach, Florida-based microbrand’s offerings. If you liked what Traska did to the Venturer, you’re pretty-much guaranteed to like the updates to the remaining four models as well.
If you want to read into the intricate details, Traska has a great blog post that picks apart the finer details here. Here’s the download on what’s changed, what’s new, and what I’m most excited about.
Lineup Changes
All remaining four models have gone through some changes. Let’s start with the Commuter line.
Commuter
First up: The black Commuter is gone. There’s a Slate Gray version that comes close, but otherwise, the 36mm crowd favorite also has a couple of very nice color additions that look very stylish: a Sterling Silver version and an Aegean Blue version.
All four are available with or without a date complication, which is available at the 6 o’clock position. All four will feature a white date wheel. The Commuiter has also slimmed down a bit, coming in at 8.75mm.
Summiteer
I still think that the black Summiteer is a killer field watch model, so I’m glad to see it stay in the lineup for this model’s 2023 iteration. Alongside it are Sage Green, Midnight Blue, and Sandstone Yellow.
The big news? All four colorways are going to be available in the original 38mm version AND the 36mm version that was briefly introduced last year as a special edition. That one sold out in about a minute, so Traska has decided to bring it back as a standard offering.
All four colors will be available in a no-date version only, featuring the same Miyota 9039 movement as its predecessor (a good thing, since it’s a great movement) and the same slimmed-down version as some of the others in the 2023 collection.
Freediver
The Freediver is the only one of the batch that didn’t go on a diet; founder Jon Mack says that this was because “the rotating bezel needs its heft to ensure peak operability.”
This doesn’t bother me; the 40.5mm-wide watch still comes in at a very svelte 10.5mm in thickness and a very manageable 48mm lug-to-lug. The Freediver is also available in a date/no-date version for each colorway.
Seafarer
Alright, this is maybe the only model where I disagree with the design changes. Although I’m 100% on-board with the new crystal, new applied markers, and slimmed-down dimensions, the change to the handset is, I think a bit of a loss.
I absolutely LOVED the skyscraper-style handset; it set the Seafarer apart from other dive watches and is still one of my favorite watches. I understand the approach; the new handset brings it more in line with the other dive watch in Traska’s lineup and is, perhaps, more in keeping with the diver aesthetic, but the Seafarer was never a traditional diver to begin with. That handset was, bar none, one of my top-three handsets of any watch and I’m bummed that it’s gone. I’m glad I got mine while I did.
New Reservation System
In addition to announcing the lineup, Traska has also introduced a new reservation system. Starting 11:00 AM EST on Saturday, March 11 through 11:00 AM EST on Monday, March 13, Traska will accept reservations for their watches for a $50 deposit per watch.
This is a big difference from Traska’s usual modus, which typically is to release the watch and start shipping almost right away. Now, the $50 deposit guarantees your selection and, when they’re ready to ship in about three months, those who have paid a deposit will be invited to complete their order.
Final thoughts
The new reservation system is a good idea; it means that you don’t have to go rush the Traska site to get the model you want within seconds on launch day. The pricing seems to be a bit higher than previous iterations, but for the value and features these timepieces provide, they’re still a steal.
I’m still grumpy over the handset change in the Seafarer, but I’ve got the black one, so I’ll shut up about it. The Freediver looks very appealing, so I may grab that one for my collection. I wish they had the Commuter in a 38mm version; I’d grab that Sterling Silver version in a heartbeat.
As always, you can order these on Traska’s website.
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