Timekeeping at the Edge of the World: Four Watches Across Iceland

Iceland is a place of extremes: glaciers, geothermal hot springs, and black sand beaches shaped by volcanic fury. It’s also a place where time seems to slow down, and I thought it was ideal for reflecting on both nature and time spent with family—shaping memories I’ll never forget. Watches were also part of the journey, of course. And as I prepared for the trip, the exercise behind choosing which timepieces to bring was something I deeply enjoyed. Now that I’m back, I just wanted to reflect on those choices and how they played a role on my first trip outside the US since the COVID era. I needed it, and it was awesome.

I’m really running the risk of making this sound like a cheesy travel blog here, but I really did try my best to simplify preparations for this journey. Two small pieces of luggage, one camera (the trusty Fuji X100F), and a handful of watches that I could ideally share with my wife. My hope was that it would be less about variety and more about trust. What could handle the wind-whipped coasts, hikes, long gravel roads, and that hygienically questionable geothermal soak at Blue Lagoon? Also, I missed my dog dearly, so I needed something with the ability to track a second time zone any time I stopped to think about her.

The answer was a small but diverse lineup. Four watches—each chosen with intent, each one tested by the rawness of the trip. An automatic diver. A quartz GMT. A beater digital. And one unlucky field watch that didn’t quite make it. Together, they all formed a compact collection built not for my vanity, but for function, durability, and the quiet satisfaction of knowing that whatever Iceland had in store, time would be on our side. It sounds dramatic, but hey—it had been a while since I’d taken a big trip and I wanted to take the opportunity to infuse one of my deepest passions into the journey, while trying my best to capture the beauty we encountered along the way.

We landed in Reykjavik groggy but eager, shaking off jet lag with brunch and a long stroll around the city’s coastal edge ….

Just kidding. I’m not going to do that to you. Let’s talk about the watches and how they held up.

Doxa Sub 300: An Automatic Diver for the Elements

If you’ve been following TBWS for a while, you’ll know this is my watch. This is the one. I try to get as many passport stamps with the Doxa as I can, and I thought it would be perfect as an all-around, resilient sports watch on this trip. Seriously, I got this thing in 2017, and it has never let me down. Could it use a service at this point? Probably. But for now, I’ll keep putting it through whatever life throws my way. Seeing that dial contrast against the sheer, infinite beauty of Icelandic landscapes was a real treat, and it made switching to the other watches in the bag pretty difficult.

I’d argue the Doxa Sub 300 is just about as iconic as the Icelandic landscape itself—bold, rugged, and distinctive. The bright orange dial is more than just a design choice; it’s a practical feature that makes this thing absurdly legible in low light and foggy conditions, both of which Iceland has in spades. At 42mm, the case hits a sweet spot—big enough to feel substantial against the elements, but never clunky or overbearing. It wore comfortably through just about everything: rain, wind, and snow. And yeah, I’ll admit it—the orange dial paired with my olive green REI parka was a look. I didn’t take it into any hot springs (I’ve seen what that mineral-rich water can do to a watch over time), but for everything else Iceland threw at us, the Doxa didn’t flinch.

Look at it….

No, seriously—give in to your lizard brain and keep looking at it.

In a way, this trip felt like the kind of moment the Sub 300 was always meant for. I’ve had this watch since 2017, and no other brand has stuck with me quite like Doxa. There’s something about the design language, the heritage, the niche charm of it all that just hits right. At this point, it’s not just a watch anymore—it’s part of the story. Iceland was harsh, beautiful, and unpredictable. The Sub 300 took it all in stride, as it always has. And after everything it’s seen with me over the years, it still earns its place one trip at a time.

Sangin Professional GMT Triple Aught Design Limited Edition

Tracking a couple of time zones was important to me, and a favorite of mine has been a recently added Sangin Professional quartz GMT. If you dig into the Instagram space, you’ll see these watches in some of the most hostile and kinetic environments on the planet—worn by special operators, service members, and all-around tough-guys everywhere. It’s an impressive cult following, the good kind. In these photos, you’ll see the watch on my wife’s dainty wrist. It was one she wanted to test drive, after the 7S26 movement in her Seiko 5 was sent to the afterlife. After a couple of days, it was hard to convince her to pass it back to me. She found a deep appreciation for its function and enjoyed using the secondary time zone function anytime she wanted to communicate with the pet sitter back home.

With a 300-meter water resistance rating and a 120-click bezel secured by four retaining screws, the Sangin Professional GMT stood up to Iceland without missing a beat. That’s not to say it needed to. Let’s be real—this is an over-built military-focused quartz diver that found itself in the middle of a family vacation. Still, the watches that have made it this far in my collection have earned their place, as they should. The Sangin proved itself yet again, and it was fun to see her get a kick out of just how powerful the SuperLumiNova BGW9 is on both the hands and the bezel. I swear … this thing is nuclear.

Casio F-91W

When it came to the Blue Lagoon, I knew better than to risk bringing a more expensive watch into the mineral-rich waters. Enter the Casio F91-W—simple, reliable, and completely unfazed by the elements. Its lightweight, no-frills design made it the perfect choice for a soak in the healing waters of one of Iceland’s most famous natural spas. For a watch that’s often written off as a “beater,” the F91-W still gets a lot of love from me. It’s been a go-to for casual days when I need something that tells the time without any fuss. Despite being submerged in the mineral waters, the Casio kept ticking away with no issue.

Now, after the trip, the watch’s plastic case and band show the telltale signs of its time in the mineral waters: deep stains and discoloration. But instead of looking like damage, it adds to the watch’s character, almost like a battle scar—well, not really … I was at a spa. The F91-W may be inexpensive, but there’s something incredibly satisfying about seeing it worn in, each mark telling a small part of the story. Sometimes, it’s the simple tools that prove the most enduring. For what it cost, the Casio F91-W continues to perform as reliably as ever, and now, I think it looks even better for it.

Seiko 5 Mod (Now Dead)

When it comes to everyday wear, my wife’s modded Seiko 5 Field Watch has been her go-to for the better part of a year. Worn on a grey ADPT NATO strap, the Seiko 5 fit comfortably on her wrist, blending in with her casual style while offering more rugged capabilities than most watches in its price range. She’d wear it all the time—at work, church, workouts, everything. But this little watch met its end in Iceland.

After a particularly spirited hike and a visit to one of Iceland’s more aggressive hidden waterfalls, something must have gone wrong. When we got back to our hotel room, we noticed the watch had stopped—completely jammed. The 7S26 movement, known for its simplicity and solid performance, was no longer ticking. And the real kicker here … this is the second 7S26 movement she has managed to kill completely. I don’t know how or why, but apparently, you don’t want to be a Seiko on this woman’s wrist. This is why she eventually swapped to the Sangin Professional GMT for the rest of the trip.

Either way, this marked the end of the Seiko’s run. But not without showing that, like all good tool watches, it had earned its place in the rotation. It probably won’t be worth it to get the movement replaced, but in the meantime, it stands as a reminder of both its resilience throughout the mundane parts of everyday life and its eventual limits. Even the most reliable watches have their breaking points, I guess. She’s started to wear a smaller Tissot PRX since coming home. Pray for that little watch.

A Visit to JS Watch Co. Reykjavik: “Probably the World’s Smallest Watch Manufacturer”

One of the highlights of our trip to Reykjavik was the chance to step inside the tiny, unassuming storefront of JS Watch Co. in the city. Tucked away, the shop feels like a hidden gem. The first thing you notice when you step inside is the wall of celebrity photos. It’s not a gaudy, over-the-top display, but rather a modest collection of snapshots that quietly hint at the importance of the brand within Iceland’s rugged, adventure-filled culture. (I can write a completely separate article on the off-roading/Land Cruiser culture over there.)

Tom Cruise, Ben Stiller, Kit Harington—it was all pretty fun to see. The shop itself is small—almost cramped—but in the best way possible. Watches are stacked and displayed everywhere you look. It’s a watch lover’s paradise, but not in a polished, showy way. It’s clear that JS Watch Co. is all about craftsmanship over spectacle, and you immediately get the sense that this is a brand where function and form go hand in hand. A casual discussion with the watchmaker himself was one of the most enjoyable aspects of the visit. There was no pretense, no rushed sales pitch—just an open conversation about the watches, their origins, and their purpose. You could tell he was passionate about what he was doing, and it wasn’t hard to imagine the amount of care that went into every single watch that left that workshop.

The centerpiece of the collection, for me, was the SIF North Atlantic Rescue Timer. The minute I tried it on, I could feel the weight of its purpose on my wrist—a purpose that doesn’t exactly match with my day-to-day office job lifestyle back at home. Still, it was really tempting. But at the price point, it was a bit out of reach for me, so I had to admire it from afar.

In the end, I didn’t walk away with a new watch, but the experience itself was worth it. Getting the chance to visit JS Watch Co. deep in Reykjavik, to try on a piece of their collection, was a pilgrimage of sorts—one that I’ve always wanted to take part in. I loved how the brand ties into the culture and the spirit that Iceland embodies. Even without a new watch on my wrist, I left with a new respect for the brand and the story it tells.

The End

Looking back on the entire trip, watches were much more than just accessories to me. Iceland’s unpredictable beauty was both challenging and humbling, but it also allowed me to connect with my watches in ways I hadn’t expected. Each piece had its own role to play, from the tried-and-true Doxa Sub 300 that withstood every test, to the modest yet incredibly reliable Casio F-91W. And then there was the Seiko 5, which—despite its untimely demise—reminded me of how even the simplest watches hold value in their own right.

But the trip also brought me closer to a deeper appreciation for the craftsmanship of brands like Sangin and JS Watch Co., whose designs speak not just to utility but to purpose. In a way, this trip wasn’t just about exploring Iceland; it was about exploring my relationship with watches. What started as a simple collection became part of a quick adventure, and now, my memories.

Iceland might be an extreme environment, but it’s the kind of place that humbles you. Watches (and collecting them in a vacuum, in way that’s important to you) are about the journey—not just the destination. And with every wrist check, from a cold, misty coastline to a steamy geothermal pool, I was reminded that time keeps ticking no matter where you are. Whether you’re navigating through a cool hike in an exciting destination or just walking through life, these watches helped me keep track in more ways than one.