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Add Texture to GoogleSome watches seek to evoke the spirit of travel through an abundance of design elements: a heavily detailed bezel, vibrant colors, and an oversized case. The Serica 8315-3 takes the opposite approach. Its design lies in an unexpected, almost subdued combination: a deep olive green, golden yellow accents, and a milky white that sets off the dial. Named the Travel Chronometer GMT “Golden Green,” this third interpretation of the Parisian brand’s GMT model focuses less on technical showmanship and more on understated elegance. A travel watch designed not to demand attention at every moment, yet capable of capturing it the moment you look at it.
A green that defies expectations
The dial is the focal point of this model, reference 8315-3. Serica has chosen oven-fired olive enamel, an option still relatively rare in this price range. This material lends the color a depth that transcends the uniform green of a painted dial. It shifts with the lighting and surroundings—sometimes muted, sometimes warmer—without veering into decorative gloss.
Against this backdrop, the golden-yellow markings lend a sunny tone, while the broad, white-lacquered arrow-shaped hands stand out sharply. They are coated with Super-LumiNova C3, as are the hour markers. The soft white of the luminescent elements complements the light-colored portion of the bezel and evokes “Cloud Dancer,” named Pantone’s Color of the Year for 2026. The overall design is far from a static, nostalgic exercise: it draws on the neo-vintage aesthetic without attempting to replicate a vintage watch.
This color palette is also one of the reasons why the 8315-3 defies the usual categorization of a sporty GMT watch. It doesn’t claim to go with every outfit. On the other hand, it looks right at home in very different settings, from the black sands of Tenerife to a shirt cuff. Its color isn’t neutral, but it remains nuanced enough not to impose a single style on the wearer.
An office GMT, designed for movement
The Serica’s GMT function belongs to the so-called “office GMT” family. The crown allows you to set the display for a second time zone, indicated by a hand with a circular tip, while the local time remains at the center of the traditional dial. This design is particularly well-suited for those who work with people in another city, keep in touch with family from afar, or want to keep track of the time while traveling.
Time is read via a two-tone ceramic rotating bezel. White indicates daytime hours, while Golden Green indicates nighttime hours. Serica does not divide its scale into two equal 12-hour halves—a design choice that gives the watch a more unexpected look. The distinction between the two periods remains immediately apparent, however, thanks to the contrast in tones and the legibility of the GMT hand.
Inside, the Soprod C125 caliber powers the watch. This automatic movement beats at 28,800 vibrations per hour (4 Hz) and offers a 42-hour power reserve. It is COSC-certified as a chronometer—a key feature for a watch whose primary purpose remains precision across time zones. The 8-mm screw-down crown offers a firm grip; it contributes to the direct mechanical feel one expects from a tool watch, without making the design appear overly rugged.
The compact size of a watch ready for the open sea
The case dimensions say a lot about the character of the 8315-3. With a diameter of 39 mm, a height of 12.3 mm, and a lug-to-lug width of 46.5 mm, it bucks the trend of oversizing that has long dominated travel watches and technical timepieces. This relatively compact size reinforces its neo-vintage character while keeping it firmly in the contemporary realm.
Crafted from stainless steel, the case features alternating polished and satin-finished surfaces on its lyre-style lugs. The double-domed sapphire crystal extends this pursuit of balance between historical references and modern demands. The watch is water-resistant to 200 meters, or 20 bars. This feature changes its role within a collection: the Serica can accompany you on a trip, a swim, or a less-than-careful day, without requiring the caution often associated with retro-style watches.
This robustness is all the more appreciable given that the watch avoids an overly literal military or utilitarian aesthetic. Its sturdiness lies in the specifications, the screw-down crown, and the stainless steel—not in an accumulation of design elements. It thus maintains a certain understated elegance on the wrist, even when the bezel and enamel catch the eye.
The Strap as a Testing Ground
The 20-mm bracelet deserves special attention, as it plays a significant role in defining Serica’s identity. Crafted from 316L stainless steel, the brand describes it as woven, folded, and machined. Its integrated end links feature a guilloché-style pattern, an unusual detail on a GMT watch in this price range. They extend the case without attempting to blend it into a solid bracelet; their texture lends visual refinement to a timepiece otherwise designed for active use.
The adjustment system, inspired by expedition gear, accommodates wrist sizes ranging from 14.5 to 22 cm. However, it does take some time to get used to. Tightening it isn’t necessarily intuitive the first time you use it, particularly because it requires a slightly more complex motion once the watch is on your wrist. Once adjusted, comfort takes precedence. It is therefore not a mechanism that stands out for its immediate ease of use, but rather one that prioritizes precise adaptation to a wide range of wrist sizes.
This bracelet also explains why the 8315-3 isn’t simply a colorful variation on an existing model. From the engraved ends to the metal construction, Serica showcases craftsmanship where many competitors settle for a standard bracelet. Details matter, especially in a collection where the difference often comes down to a dial shade or a bezel variation.
The question of price, beyond the immediate comparison
Priced at 1,780 pounds sterling, the Travel Chronometer GMT Golden Green operates in a market rich with alternatives. Below the 2,000-pound mark, there’s no shortage of GMT watches, and competitors may offer a neo-vintage design, a steel case, and comparable GMT functionality. The Serica is notably more expensive than the Christopher Ward Trident Biscay GMT, priced at 1,595 pounds on a Bader bracelet—a difference of 185 pounds.
However, reducing the discussion to this price difference would be to miss the point of the project. The kiln-fired enamel dial and the engraved end links are two manufacturing choices that are not to be taken for granted at this price point. They give the 8315-3 an identity that relies neither on a flashy logo nor on an artificial sense of rarity. The watch’s value lies precisely there: in the attention to detail devoted to the dial, the proportions, and the bracelet, rather than in an overabundance of functions.
The Serica Travel Chronometer GMT Golden Green, ref. 8315-3, features a 39-mm stainless steel case, water resistance to 200 meters, a COSC-certified Soprod C125 movement, and a second time zone display. But its true appeal lies in the carefully balanced tension between travel-readiness and discretion. To explore the 8315 collection, visit the Serica website.
