Going for a real trip, The Grand Voyage by DeSanders Horologie

Precision timing has always been a quest in watchmaking, measuring time to the second can be traced back for eons, but there is one chapter that many people forget, the need for precision timing on railways its a very important place for us watchnerds.

Precision timing was crucial to the railway system, because trains shared the same tracks and stations, even small delays could create dangerous conflicts or major disruptions.

Accurate standardized timekeeping allowed railways to publish reliable schedules, coordinate arrivals and departures, and manage train movements safely. Especially on single track lines where trains had to pass at specific points, it also reduced the risk of collisions by ensuring engineers and conductors followed the same time reference, making the entire network more efficient, predictable, and again, safe.

That said, once everything was in place, refinement became key in the railway system, and it paved the way for the golden era of train travel, no longer were people bound to one territory, they could travel in style and across different time zones. This was the period when rail was the main way people moved around long distances, and many famous luxury trains and grand stations were at their peak, before cars and airplanes became dominant.

Revisiting this era, DeSanders decided to launch two new models under the name The Grand Voyage, a variant of the lovely Voyage GMT, with subtle details that evoke that golden age of railway travel.

With both cases in PVD yellow and rose gold, the warmth they produce is not only unique but outstanding, we are lucky to have both variants with us, and from the dial, hands, and curves, we are sure this is a review you do not want to miss. Let us begin

Specifications

Like its GMT cousin, the Grand Voyage measures 40mm in diameter, which is ideal for a travelling watch, the very short lug to lug of 47mm also makes it feel compact and wearable, the dial breathes nicely beneath the flat sapphire crystal, revealing every detail with ease, and it is not short of them.

Starting with the dial, the Grand Voyage varies not only in metal but also in its canvas, the yellow gold version comes in blue, with a Continental Europe map and red dots marking important travel stations, the details are incredible, and it is hard to imagine how much work has gone into this watch. The rose gold version, which includes green accents, features a UK map with a similar concept, it is hard to decide which one is my favourite, but either feels classy and exuberant at the same time.

Many details have been tweaked to make this a unique version and not just a colour scheme variant, from the map in the background to the GMT hand, which features a train carriage motif that feels fun while also reminding you why the watch exists, its inspiration.

Then when you turn the watch over, the incredibly detailed rotor covers half of the movement and includes a railway motif that is beautifully executed, the attention to detail deserves a closer look.

The sculptural case has both brushed and polished surfaces that transition beautifully, the screw down crown, which changes the cabochon depending on the colour variant, is a welcome touch, and the watch offers 100 metres of water resistance. The watch also houses the TMI NH34 movement, which is not only precise but easy to use, it is quiet, and I have enjoyed living with it for a long time.

On the wrist

One of the best things about DeSanders is that they know how to make cases with unique shapes, and the Grand Voyage is no exception, the 13mm thickness feels just right, the way the lugs curve down is excellent, and it sits on my 6.25 inch wrist exactly as it should.

The Grand Voyage also comes with three different straps, which adds to the versatility, I would not call it a sports watch, but the rubber strap paired with the yellow gold model is a look I have enjoyed over the past few weeks, it is a dressy watch but by no means a formal one. It has presence and elegance at the same time, it is something to enjoy.

I wore the Grand Voyage mostly to the office, and it translates well into what a luxury watch should look like and feel like, yes this is PVD gold rather than solid gold, but that helps keep the price down, and it is not done to pretend, it is done to make you feel something.

Concluding thoughts

With this new execution and delivery, in my opinion DeSanders has managed to create a highly impressive watch that almost any collector will want, another detail worth highlighting is the colour scheme, the muted luxurious blue and green they chose are perfect for taking you back to that era of travel, everything feels in place, which is not an easy thing to achieve.

There is currently no official pricing for the Grand Voyage, and we feel very special to be among the first people to try it on, this is a watch that will not only stay in our heads but will also help us reinterpret how we think about train travel, our trains in the UK might not be so glamorous today, but when I glance at the Grand Voyage, it makes me feel better during my daily commute to the city, it makes me smile.

For more information please visit: https://desanders.no/pages/grand-voyage

Technical Specifications

·       Yellow gold & dark blue

·       Rose gold & dark green

·       Each watch comes with 3 different straps.

·       40mm diameter, 13mm height and 47mm lug to lug.

·       Display caseback

·       100m water resistance

·       Sapphire crystal glass

·       BGW9 and C3 lume