If you want your GMT to stand apart from the crowd in 2024, you had better bring your A-game, as Washington, D.C.’s Lesablier has done with their new LS-04 Travelgraph. I had the privilege of trying a pair of prototypes ahead of the May launch, and I’m here to tell you that the Lesablier Travelgraph has just raised the bar for sub-$1000 GMTs.
The Travelgraph’s case measures 40mm wide, 42mm long, and about 13mm thick from the caseback to the double-domed and AR-coated sapphire crystal. Its octagonal shape is softened with rounded corners, but it still presents as a stout, aggressive unit, an impression underscored by a knurled, screw-down crown. Without a doubt, the Travelgraph is more about sport than dress, and can back that up with 100m water resistance. that said, it is far prettier than your typical dive or tool watch.
On my 6.75″ wrist, the Travelgraph’s short overall length, tightly tapered strap/bracelet, and small dial make it appear far smaller than one might think, especially given its relative thickness.
Lesabilier adopted a tall and multifaceted bezel two models ago with 2019’s Sport Classic, and it has become the brand’s signature look. For the Travelgraph, the bezel has 12 cuts, each polished like the chafers on the case sides to contrast against the otherwise brushed surfaces.
The movement is a modified Miyota 9075. Like the rest of the 9000-series, it is a slim, smooth (28.8k bph), and reliable unit with a 42-hour power reserve. In GMT form, you get a jumping independent hour hand for quick adjustment when arriving in a new time zone, and a second hour hand. In the Travelgraph, that GMT hand is manifested as a day/night 24-hour disk. This is where it gets really cool.
You see, the Travelgraph is also a world timer. On a typical world timer, the city index would be on a bidirectional bezel that you would turn to align with a given hour. On the Travelgraph, it is a fixed internal index that you read against the 24-hour disk. That’s not all, notice how many cities have a line and an arrow off to the left? The center of the city’s name is standard time, and the arrow shows the adjustment for the cities that observe daylight savings time. Naturally, the center of the Travelgraph’s world is D.C.
The longer you look at this dial, the better it gets. Note how the 24-hour disk sits far below the chapter index and dial. It’s a nice effect in and of itself that offers the additional benefit of directing your focus on the smaller, primary dial. The applied markers are polished, as are the hands and the lovely second hand with its lollipop tip and hoop counterweight.
I should note one major change that will take effect before production: they will delete the serial number below the logo. Numbered dials have been a thing with Lesablier since the beginning, and the brand even allowed customers to reserve their own. While I can see the appeal, that has got to be a logistical nightmare. I think the dial will look cleaner without it.
Buyers have three options available: Midnight (sunray black), Constellation (blue Aventurine), and Azzuro (sky blue). The Midnight dial is sober and lovely. The Aventurine is mind-blowing. You really need to see it in real life to appreciate the depth and shimmer. My photos do not do it justice. While I did not take an Azzuro dial for the review, I have seen it in person, and it is a gorgeous silvery blue.
In keeping with its practical side, the Lesablier Travelgraph has BGW9 Super-LumiNova on the hands, markers, and 24-hour disk. Granted, those tiny numbers will require sharp eyes when the lights go off, but the day/night effect is pretty darn cool.
The Travelgraph comes equipped with an excellent bracelet, a smooth and stylized H-link that is brushed on the H and polished in between. On the prototype, a signed butterfly deployant clasp maintains a sleek profile. Production models will have the more popular adjustable extension clap.
As you can see in my photos, I also gave it a whirl on Lesablier’s 20mm Chronosport leather strap, a $35 accessory. It happens to be a perfect fit, its 22mm flare grazing the edges of the Travelgraph’s lugs, and tapering dramatically to a 16mm signed buckle.
I liked the black leather on the Midnight and preferred the bracelet with the Azzurro and Constellation dials. Whichever you like, you’ll find the integrated quick-release pins on both will make replacement painless.
The Lesablier Travelgraph packs tremendous value into its $795 package. It’s attractive, innovative, and assembled right here in the U.S.A. Only 50 of each color will be made. If this intrigues you (and it should), head over to lesablier.com for more information and the opportunity to grab a Lesablier LS-04 Travelgraph for yourself.
