In a fast-paced world, slow and steady progress is often not the chosen path of growth for small watch brands. However, Traska chose this path, and as a result, he has cultivated a passionate and dedicated following who loves the brand and its strategy. I have been keeping an eye on Traska for the past few years and have become more and more interested in its offering. So when I heard about the latest iteration of the popular commuter series, I jumped at the opportunity to review Commuter 38 Adriatic Blue. After wearing the watch for a few weeks, I can already reveal that it has become one of my favorite experiences with this year’s watch. Let me explain in detail about that.
The venture particularly fascinated me when I first noticed Truska. I’m a fan of GMT watches, so it suits my go-to watch style. But I soon discovered that the Florida brand had masterfully constructed a collection with a fascinating aesthetic that connects a variety of models. Brands are clearly stuck to their design vision and rarely apply it to all models. If you browse Traska’s current collection, you will see that all five base models have the same case silhouette and bracelet. With it as a solid canvas, the brand creates different models based on functionality and a specific feel. This has created a diverse collection of watches that display all Traska design signatures instantly.
Traska Commuter 38 Stories
But that’s just half the story, as Traska’s team steadily improves the functionality and quality of the release without significantly increasing prices. This has earned many loyal fans the brand, and I was already one of them, even though I didn’t spend my time on one of the Traska watches until recently. But that doesn’t mean we don’t cover the trusca. Vincent waxed repeatedly poeticly about the brand, including a profile highlighting a range of amazing achievements. He also wrote about my first favorite, the Venturer GMT, and the commuting series I focus on.
What I love is that this young brand takes a consistent approach and continues to optimize its offering without feeling the need to dramatically change them. This is a familiar strategy, but there aren’t many watch brands that have successfully applied it over the years. Still, what it became famous happens to be the most famous watch brand in the world, so there is no denying it works. Traska was founded in 2018, so we need to look into whether this will work in the long run, but we pay tribute to the brand and its management for sticking to this path.
A perfect example of this stable approach is the commuting series. Commuter 36 debuted in 2021 as a fantastic everyday watch. In late 2023, Traska decided to expand the collection with Commuter 34 and Commuter 38. In addition to that, the brand has introduced new dials with all drops, from Sunburst to Semi-Matte and Full Gloss, including all drops, including different colors and different finishes. This expansion will allow commuters to attend all wrist sizes and tastes.
Traska Commuter 38 Adriatic Blue
I had the opportunity to try out the Adriatic Blue version of the biggest model. It is one of the four Commuter 38 variations currently available. The other three are Oxblood Red, Sterling Silver and Slate Black. In addition to the dial color, another choice you need to make when selecting a commuting model is whether you need a date window at 6am. For reviews, I was intrigued by its clean aesthetic, so I requested the dateless version.
But first let’s explain the specifications. The Commuter 38 has a 38.5mm stainless steel case with a 46mm lug-to-lug and a 10.5mm profile. It’s a beautifully proportional, lovely slim case with a branded screw-down crown. However, without the box-style double dommy sapphire crystal, the case is only 8.75mm thick, which is even better once you realize it’s very noteworthy. This gives a beautiful, slim fit, which is an absolute joy for the wrist. But we’ll figure it out later.
The case comes in a brushed finish with polished chamfers and sides. Topped with a radial brushed bezel with polished chamfer. The finish is beautifully done, adding small hints of visual glow, making it a joy to see. In particular, you can see an elegant stack of polished surfaces where the refined chamfer of the case band combines the refined area of the bezel.
Amazing bracelet and scratch resistant coating
This watch features three rows of oyster-style bracelets in 20mm with beautiful 4mm tapers and quick release spring bars on the clasp. With a completely clear link, you can stack them. This is a playful testament to the bracelet’s incredible flexibility. The bracelet uses a single-head screw pin and a clasp with a push button release, and utilizes a beautiful penetrating finish on the folding arm for added visual glow. The clasp is also equipped with a gorgeous Torres 6-stage fine-tuning system.
Simply press the button down and you can completely size the watch. This is the best of many Toolless Micro-Adjustment systems I’ve seen from a small brand. The clever thing is that the ends of the steel that appear when stretching the bracelet are as wide as the bracelet itself. We don’t see it often, and it’s very satisfying to see the extension of the bracelet instead of the small steel popping out when you size it.
Another reason to emphasize the bracelet before the dial is that both it and the case are handled with a scratch-resistant coating. I’ve seen other brands apply this, like RZE and VPC, but the miracle is working. It’s an absolute joy to still see the pristine brushed clasp with the brand’s logo after wearing the commuter for two weeks. As your potential daily driver, commuters will reassure you that you don’t need to be afraid of injuries.
Traska Commuter 38 Adriatic Blue looks
Let’s go to the dial and the overall aesthetic. It’s hard to deny that the Commuter Series has a lasting vibe of a powerful Rolex Oyster, but that’s a bit unpleasant. I have a permanent love for Oysters and in the world of derivative design, I am grateful for the well-balanced person who draws inspiration from the watches I love.
The dial design is simple, but stylish. Featuring a complete set of baton markers filled with white Super Luminova. At the boundary of the dial is an open minute track with slightly larger markers every five minutes. The diamond-cut baton style hand matches the index style and also features a white Super Luminova.
The Adriatic Blue Dial is a fantastic shade of greyish blue with subtle sunray patterns. Its true beauty is only fully visible during the daytime. I’m very noisy about the blue and green dials, but I love this shade of blue. The logo and brand name adorns the dial in the top half, and the word “automatic” does it in the bottom half.
The latter refers to the Miyota Caliber 9039, which runs the clock. It operates at 28,800VPH and has a 42-hour power reserve. The caliber is part of Miyota’s premium product, offering accuracy of -10/+20 seconds per day after Traska regulates it in four positions. Movement choice plays a major role in keeping prices affordable. On top of that, the 9000 series has proven to be a very reliable set of calibers for many small brands.
I’m wearing Traska Commuter 38 Adriatic Blue
After wearing the Commuter 38 for a few weeks, it’s nothing more than blown away by what Traska accomplished with this product. Thanks to its slim profile, incredibly comfortable bracelet and charming looks, the watch is worn like a dream. Even with a busy schedule filled with different clocks, I’m always back at commuter 38. If you’re constantly changing your watch, like Fratello, you rarely find a watch that connects beyond the continuous replacement of the watch. However, I love this Traska Commuter 38’s great daily watch, especially considering the price of 670 US dollars (about 575 euros).
There is no better watch for that money. It’s really easy. The watch is wonderful, sturdy and well made. Adding intricate finishes and fantastic eyes to every detail, the Commuter 38 easily doubles its price and is still worth it. With so many watches coming into the office for reviews, it’s becoming increasingly difficult for brands to impress us. But it quickly stands out when the clock runs like the Traska Commuter 38.
Final Thoughts on Traska Commuter 38
This brings us back to Traska’s overall approach. Creating watches with a clear goal of steadily improving them works very well for brands. Looking at the entire collection, all models range from 600 to 750 US dollars (approximately 575 to 645 Euros). Considering what you get for money, I label Traska as the best class in all categories of watches the brand offers.
I love commuters and venture companies, but the brand also offers two great diving watches: Freediver and Seafarer. Finally, the Summiteer is a great modern field watch. They were all affordable and were created with the same clear vision in mind. It’s hard to blame Traska for his grand endeavor to create a great and affordable watch. It’s really that simple, and sometimes the simplest can lead to the best results. The Traska Commuter is the perfect proof of that.
