Ten years ago, my wife and her sisters planned a trip to Paris for her mom?s 60th birthday. To prepare for that trip she signed up for French lessons with a couple from the Western Alps temporarily living in the States. We became fast friends. Finally, 10 years later, it was my turn to head not only to the City of Lights, but this time, to visit our friends in the mountains of France as well.

Earlier this year, I was catching up with my friends Gabriel Vachette and Jérôme Burgert, the co-founders of Serica Watches, based in Paris. Serica is a relatively new watch brand, but they?ve managed to quickly establish themselves as an enthusiast favorite by creating clean, badgeless, modern watches that nod to vintage references, yet they also have a design language that?s all their own. I, of course, let them know of my pending visit to Paris and the roadtrip that would follow. I was thrilled to learn they?d be opening a new boutique right around the time when I?d be in town. The wheels instantly started cranking. I felt it’d make for fun edition of Tool/Kit and they quickly agreed to lend me a model that I could pick up at the boutique toward the beginning of our excursion.
I knew that they?d just released a CSOC version of their popular 5303 diver, so I naturally assumed that?s what they?d want to feature. But Gabriel, insightfully suggested, ?You are traveling, you need a traveler?s watch.? He picked up their 8315 GMT Chronometer released at the Windup Watch Fair in...