30 Best GMT Watches to Buy Right Now
One of the most useful complications in the watch world is the GMT function. In short, GMT stands for “Greenwich Mean Time” - The standard establishment for dividing the world into it’s necessary timezones. And while most of the world has moved onto UTC (Coordinated Universal Time) much of Europe and Africa still uses GMT time as a means of diving up 24 hour timezones.
Nevertheless, the watch industry has widely adopted “GMT” as it’s standard for watch movements that can determine multiple timezones, typically two, simultaneously. This means that instead of just having the time and date, a second 12 to 24-hour handset is added to the watch so one can read “Local time” and “Home time” - Making GMT watches incredibly useful for travelers.
I thought I’d take a look at 30 of my favorite GMT watches. Check out the list below:
Rolex GMT-Master II “Pepsi”
I will kick this list off with an obvious contender with the Rolex GMT-Master II “Pepsi” (Ref. 126710BLRO). When this watch was initially released, it became an instant classic not only for the Jubilee bracelet but also the fact that it was incredibly difficult to obtain - with few allocations out of the gate. Even when the watch became more “widely” available, many who sought it out were still left empty-handed (wristed?) thus driving many enthusiasts to the Grey Market to pick one up. This in turn drove prices through the roof and firmly rooted the Pepsi seated as the second most sought-after Rolex, after the Panda Daytona of course.
The watch measures in at a modest 40mm and features all of the typical Rolex hallmarks. The stainless steel is alternating brushed and polished, while the bezel features Rolex's excellent ceramic insert in a Pepsi 24-hour configuration. If you can get it at retail, it’ll come with a price tag of $10,900 USD, but it’s selling of upwards of $20,000 USD on the secondary.
Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean 600m GMT
The Omega Planet Ocean 600M GMT has been argued to be the true competition to the Rolex GMT Master-II, so naturally, it takes the second spot on the list. First, the watch is widely available so you can probably go and pick one up today if you watched to.
Some differentiators for the Planet Ocean 600M is a crown at 10 o’clock, as well as its 43.5mm wear size. So the diver is a hefty watch, there’s no doubt about it. The dial and bezel are highly legible and easy to read, and the white and black bezel gives off a unique, modern aesthetic. The stainless steel bracelet is incredibly comfortable, and the fact that it runs on the in-house Omega Co-Axial movement, the 600M GMT is a solid value proposition at $8,700 USD.
Tudor Black Bay 58 GMT ‘Coke’
Earlier this year there was a lot of speculation as to whether Rolex would re-release a GMT-Master “Coke”, that is, a GMT with a black and red bezel. It is clearly something collectors have been clamoring for. I just didn’t expect Tudor to be the brand to actually do it. With the Tudor Black Bay 58 GMT ‘Coke’ you get the classic Coke design, but with a vintage-esque theme. The watch boasts a gilt dial with vintage lume, as well as a gold bezel scale. And at 39mm, it is just the perfect size. You can pick up the COSC and METAS Certified Tudor Black Bay GMT 58 for $4,600 USD.
Bulgari Aluminium GMT X Fender
To spare yet another Pepsi GMT (which is the watch that made the Bulgari Aluminium GMT popular), we’ve opted to include our favorite colorway with the Aluminium GMT X Fender. Featuring the second time zone as a ring on the inside of the dial, allowing for the Bulgari branding on the bezel.
Interestingly enough, the watch material is an Aluminum / Titanium alloy that makes the watch extremely light and easy to wear. The rubber strap locks at the center of the case and provides a very flexible and secure fit. The bezel is also made with a rubber insert to provide shock resistance as well as a unique feel that I really like. Plus, the brown gradient dial, and the brown bezel and strap are just incredibly unique. You can pick up the the Bulgari Aluminium X Fender GMT for a very modest $4,200 USD.
H. Moser & Cie Heritage Dual Time
A major favorite of mine is the H. Moser & Cie Heritage Dual Time. Moser has long been know for their Fume dial watches, so when they released their version of a Pilot watch with the Fume dial, everyone lost their mind. It was beautiful and fun, and featured all the hallmarks of a solid Pilot watch from the independent. So naturally, the next step was to add a GMT function to it and complete in the GMT space. Moser added a black hand that operates on a 24-hour track. They call this a “Dual Time” watch. The watch measures in at 42mm in stainless steel on a really unique Kudo leather strap. Price for the H. Moser & Cie Heritage Dual Time is $21,900 USD.
Longines Spirit Zulu Time Titanium
One may not think about Longines when you’re looking for a GMT watch, but the brand has a long history with the complication. One of my favorites that has come out of the brand is the new Spirit Zulu Time Titanium. The watch comes in grade 5 titanium with some really nice high polish on the chamfers of the bracelet and lugs. Additionally, the bicolor bezel has a black polished ceramic insert and grey matte ceramic insert. Something I haven’t seen before. At 39mm in diameter (like the Tudor Black Bay 58 GMT), means that it is an easy wear. Price for the COSC-certified Longines Spirit Zulu Time Titanium is $4,275 USD.
Oris Aquis GMT Date
Oris has many knock-out models in their catalog, but among my favorites is the Oris Aquis GMT Date. The watch combines two key features for the modern adventurer, and that’s dive watch capabilities and a GMT function. The Aquis GMT features a highly legible dial in blue with yellow accents and some seriously amazing Lume.
The case measures in at 43.5mm in stainless steel, which does make this watch fairly large, but I’d argue that comes with the territory of a dive GMT capable of 300M Water Resistance. The bracelet is personally one of my favorites in the industry with a satin brushed center line with polished flanks. The best part is that the Aquis GMT isn’t incredibly expensive considering all the features at $3,300 USD.
Farer Lander GMT
One of the more affordable watches on this list is the Farer Lander GMT. This funky little GMT just oozes with nautical vibes with it’s aqua dial and red and yellow accents. The dial is finished in a sunburst pattern which gives high legibility to it’s white indices. The GMT hand is in bright red, so you can’t miss it even at night. The stainless steel case measures in at a comfortable 39.5mm and comes on a St. Venere leather strap. The watch is simply built to explore your surroundings even if they’re in a different time zone. Price for the Farer Lander GMT is $1,465 USD.
Mauron Musy GMT Sport MU04-203
Mauron Musy has long been a unique brand in that it melds a lot of different aesthetics into one well executed timepiece. Originally, the brand had released a Sport model in the Armure. Now, for the brands third model, they have created a really cool GMT Sport. The watch measures in fairly large at 44mm, but is off-set by the case being Titanium. The GMT Sport also comes with a unique DLC coating that gives the watch a more gun-metal hue rather than the lighter Titanium normally would be. The second 24-hour timezone is captured around the matte black bezel. The watch itself looks very tactical in nature. You can pick up the Mauron Musy GMT Sport for around CHF 16,600 (around $18,700 USD).
Baltic Aquascaphe GMT
Next on my list is the Baltic Aquascaphe GMT. I have long been a fan of Baltic watches, and adding a cool aquamarine-colored GMT to the list of their already impressive catalog just makes me happy. The Baltic Aquascaphe GMT features all the vintage goodness you’d expect from the brand while still being housed in a contemporary watch. The dial is highly contrasting with the GMT hand being a green arrow-tipped hand pointing to the blue and green bezel featuring the second time zone.
The Baltic Aquascaphe GMT measures in at 39mm x 12mm thickness, fitting the watch into a bit of the smaller side - which, I tend to prefer. The stainless steel case features a sapphire crystal on the dial side, and comes on the buyer’s choice of a leather or rubber strap, or the brand’s really unique rice-bead bracelet. Price for the watch is a modest $965 USD.
Grand Seiko Sport Hi-Beat 36000 GMT SBGJ237
Grand Seiko is probably not a brand you often think about when you’re talking about GMT’s, but the brand has one of the slickest GMT’s on the market with the Sport GMT (SBGJ237). Grand Seiko has long had a rich history in high-quality finishing and the SBGJ237 is no exception. The blue sunray dial contrasts perfectly with the rich silver applied indices and the bicolor white and blue GMT bezel. The 44.2mm x 14.4mm stainless steel case is brushed with just the right amount of Zaratsu polishing. And this piece runs on Grand Seiko’s in-house mechanical 9S86 movement with 55 hours of power reserve. The Grand Seiko Sport GMT SBGJ237 retails for of $7,200 USD.
Q Timex GMT
I remember when the Timex Q GMT was released, it literally broke the internet - Well Timex’s website anyway. The demand for the quartz-GMT was highly driven by the Pepsi GMT phase (and it didn’t hurt that Rolex had just released their own Pepsi GMT). The Timex Q gets a bit of undeserved flack for the “Fauxtina” yellowed indices, but I find it charming.
The stainless steel case measures in at a modest 39mm, but wears a bit smaller. This keeps in line with the original Timex Q series watches. The stainless steel bracelet tapers nicely and wears comfortably, and obviously, the watch is incredibly legible. The only thing that sets this apart from some of the other watches on our list, is that it’s quartz, so the battery will have to be changed. But honestly, it hardly seems fair to hold that against the watch considering this watch is a complete steal at only $229 USD.
Jacob & Co. Epic SF24
If there is any word that you wouldn’t be able to use for the Jacob & Co. Epic SF24, it would be “Modest”. The Epic SF24 offers one of the more unique ways to determine a second time-zone on the market. Instead of a hand and a ring, Jacob & Co. has opted to utilize an entire module fastened to the top of the dial with a split-flap style display that allows the wearer to press a button on the side of the module, and watch the flap change to a different city and the time associated with that city.
The 163-component movement is incredibly complicated, but also incredibly fun for the wearer. This kind of “On Demand” timezone change gives a level of engagement to the wearer instead of just passively pointing at a number on a dial or bezel. The watch comes in rose gold and measures in at 45mm, but an extra 16mm is added from the split-flap complication - so this is a big watch. But, I don’t imagine anyone who picks this up will care how big it is on the wrist. Price for the Epic SF24 is $160,000 USD.
Panerai Luminor Quaranta BiTempo Luna Rossa PAM01404
When it comes to GMT functions in watches, Panerai is often overlooked - But the reality is they have a number of fantastic options in the segment. My favorite is the Panerai Luminor Quaranta BiTempo Luna Rossa PAM01404. The watch is simply gorgeous with it’s brushed sunburst blue sandwich dial with red accents. It’s highly legible and fun. The GMT function followers a 24-hour track, but you don’t actually have a GMT bezel (so there is a little internal guesswork that has to happen). The watch measures in at 40mm, so this is a much more modestly sized watch than most of Panerai’s offerings. It is nice to see Panera venturing into more modestly-sized watches. You can purchase the PAM01404 for $9,600 USD.
Patek Philippe Aquanaut Travel Time 5164R
We couldn’t do a list of GMT’s and not include one of the all-time most notorious GMT’s on the market - The Patek Philippe Aquanaut Travel Time (Ref. 5164R). The Aquanaut has been one of the absolute most sought-after sports watches in history, so it only feels natural to add a useful GMT complication and make it a traveler’s delight. The Aquanaut Travel Time utilizes a skeletonized seconds hand to track the time between time zones. A unique feature of the 5164A is that you can adjust the time hourly via two pushers on the left side of the case - making it easy to land, change time zones, and move along with your day.
Additionally, you can set the local or home time and it’ll be indicated by an aperture on the dial. As is a sort-of signature with Patek Philippe, the date is determined via a ring above 6 o’ clock. The rose case measures in at a comfortable 40.8mm, but wears a little bit smaller because of the way the case is shaped and situated on the wrist. You can buy the Aquanaut Travel Time 5164A (If you can find one) for $63,040 USD.
Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF GMT Rattrapante
The Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF GMT Rattrapante is one of the cleanest executions of a GMT that we’ve ever seen. The sport watch features a bolder blue color and is textured with a Grain d’Orge guilloché, which can make it difficult to contrast against, especially with skeleton hands. Parmigiani Fleurier has worked around this by including a high polish white gold handset for the Hour and Minute hands and a rich Rose Gold for the GMT hand. This way they pop hard against the dial and don’t get lost in the color or texture.
Similar to the Aquanaut above, the GMT hand can be moved incrementally by an ergonomic pusher at 8 o’ clock. The watch measures in at a modest 40mm x 10.7mm in Stainless Steel and comes with a price tag of $30,700 USD.
You can check out review of the Parmigiani Fluerier Tonda PF GMT Rattrapante here.
Seiko 5 GMT SSK001
The Seiko SKX is arguably one of the most well-known Seiko’s for its affordability. In fact, I don’t know many collectors who don’t have an SKX in their rotation. It is a solid watch for the money, and you can beat it up. Recently, Seiko has revived the line with the GMT SSK001, completely inspired by the original dive SKX that was so wildly popular with the affordable enthusiast community. The Seiko 5 GMT SSK001 is a breath of nostalgia with an added travel time GMT complication. And it’s less than five hundred bucks. It features all the hallmark traits of the original SKX - the 42.5mm case in stainless steel, the two-tone bezel, the 5-link bracelet, and the 100M of water resistance. It’s a lot of bang for only $475 USD.
Alpina Seastrong Diver Extreme Automatic GMT
Of course, we had to include an Alpina Seastrong Diver Extreme Automatic GMT - the newest GMT from the brand. The Alpina Seastrong is an incredibly modern looking watch. From its triangular pattern dial, to the black GMT bezel with raised numbers, there is no vintage influence at all. And the red accents on the seconds hand and GMT hand just add a bit of funkiness. The stainless steel case measures in at 40.5mm and comes on an integrated rubber strap. The Alpina Seastrong Diver Extreme Automatic GMT is priced at a modest $2,695 USD.
TAG Heuer Aquaracer Professional 300 GMT
Another of my favorite divers that doubles as a GMT is the TAG Heuer Aquaracer Professional 300 GMT. The deep blue dial has a wave pattern that works perfectly with the bicolor black and blue bezel. Plus, the baby GMT hand is a nice touch, and provides a nice easy contrast to make telling the second time a snap. And, since the Aquaracer is a dive watch, you get 300 meters of water resistance. The Tag Heuer Aquaracer Professional 300 GMT measures in at 42mm x 13.1mm, and has a price-tag of $4,200 USD.
Greubel Forsey GMT Sport
The Greubel Forsey GMT has gone through a number of iterations, but we’d me remiss if we didn’t add what’s arguably one of the most complicated and most expensive GMT’s on the market. As you can see, there are a dizzying array of features housed in the Titanium watch. This includes a Tourbillon, a power reserve indicator, a fully rendered globe, an AM/PM indicator, and of course, the time.
The ultra-complicated watch is made up of 435 parts and housed in a Titanium case measuring in at 45mm x 17.8mm - So he’s a big boy. What’s cool about the GMT Sport is that the case is arched to make it ergonomic because otherwise, this watch would feel absolutely massive on the wrist. Price for this is “On Request” but it’s looking like it runs around $300,000 USD on the secondary market.
Bell & Ross BR V2-93 GMT
Bell & Ross is arguably known for their square-shaped dive watches. One of its more traditional (or non-traditional for Bell & Ross) is the BR V2-93 GMT. It’s a paired-down and easily recognizable GMT that really fits well for anyone looking for nothing too crazy but still wants a solid travelers’ watch. The black high-contrast dial is paired with a very monochromatic bezel for the 24-hour indicator. Really, the only color on the watch is the orange-tipped second hand, and “GMT” at 6 o’Clock. The watch is stainless steel and measures in at a solid 41mm. The price for the Bell & Ross BR V2-93 GMT is $3,500 USD.
Christopher Ward C65 Aquitaine GMT
It seems like Christopher Ward has grown exponentially in the last few years. They have become so big, that they are currently the United Kingdom’s largest watchmaker. And one of my favorite pieces from the brand is the C65 Aquitaine GMT. Besides the fact that’s it’s simply a solid dive watch, adding the GMT function just puts icing on the cake. The vintage vibes really resonate with me and despite the time itself blending into the dial a little bit, the cream color is actually kind of charming. The blue tipped GMT hand is superbly legible. The stainless steel case is a very nice brushed texture and measures in at 41mm. Price for the Christopher Ward C65 Aquitaine GMT is a modest $1,610 USD.
Vacheron Constantin Overseas Dual Time Ref. 7920V/210A-B334
One of the most famous steel sports watches of all time is the Vacheron Constantin Overseas. It’s part of the “Trinity” of steel sports watches (Nautilus, Royal Oak, Overseas). So I absolutely had to add their Dual Time version to the list. The dial is unique and nobody does blue like Vacheron Constantin. There is a second time zone indicator, and AM/PM indicator, and the time. The steel case measures in at 41mm on a steel bracelet, so this watch is perfectly sized for everyday wear. However, it is Vacheron Constantin, so it’ll be pricey. The Vacheron Constantin Overseas Dual Time will come with a price tag of $30,900 USD.
Hamilton Broadway GMT Limited Edition
For those looking for a larger offering that maintains that classic Worldtimer look, the Hamilton Broadway GMT features a uniquely contrasting dial configuration with a cool bezel. Designed for “Urban Movement” the dial features a cool satin finished stripe do the middle to split up the dial in a way that maximizes the legibility at a glance. Because the watch's aesthetics are designed around being on the go, being able to check the time at a glance was of utmost importance. The stainless steel watch measures in at 46mm and comes with a retail price of $1,545 USD.
Formex Reef GMT
The Formex Reef is a watch we also featured in our 60 Best Dive Watches Buying Guide. Well the Reef line also includes a GMT with the Formex Reef GMT. Most of the characteristics of the original Reef remain on the GMT, including the Nautilus-esque wings at 3 and 9 o’clock. Formex also offers the watch with many different dial and bezel options, including green, black, grey and the black and blue Batman bezel featured on the watch pictured. The Formex Reef GMT is Swiss Made and retails for between $1,860 USD and $2,310 USD.
Mühle Glashütte Seebataillon GMT
One of the cooler watches on this list has a unique history. Muhle Glashutte has a long history with European militaries utilizing their watches as tools. For instance, this Seebataillon GMT was created specifically for the German Navy Seebataillon. The matte texture with alternating blue and whites utilizes a solid black ring with bright yellow accents to be ultra legible both underwater and in low lighting. Additionally, the watch is made with a Titanium case in 45mm, so despite it being fairly large in size, it’s remarkably light. Price for the Mühle Glashütte Seebataillon GMT is $3,549 USD.
Ming 22.01 GMT Gilt
Ming has always been an enthusiast brand. I contribute a lot of that to the fact that Ming himself is kind of a watchmaker’s watchmaker. So when he released the Ming 22.01 GMT Gilt, I knew immediately it would make the list. The 22.01 GMT is kind of a mix of all of the best features of previous Ming versions into one coherent GMT watch. The watch is easily identifiable by it’s oversized skeleton hands in white, providing excellent legibility against the sandblasted grey dial. The indices are “floating” against the sapphire crystal and the GMT hand is a small green pointer for the 24-hour track on the dial. The case measures in at 38mm in grade-5 Titanium but is unfortunately sold out. Hopefully, Ming will bring it back in some for or another.
Horage Supersede K2-GMT
The Horage Supersede K2-GMT is something of a marvel. Powered by a K2 movement with micro-rotor for a fraction of the price that such a watch would cost you from one of the big guys. Horage went all out when designing this piece, including a day/night indicator and power reserve indicator in addition to the GMT. The price of the Horage Supersede K2-GMT is a reasonably $7,300 USD and you can make sure to reserve yours here.
Jack Mason Strat-o-Timer
If you are looking for a quality GMT with a true flyer GMT functionality, it doesn’t get much better than the Jack Mason Strat-o-Timer. The Strat-o-Timer has a turtle-esque case with jubilee bracelet and bicolor bezel. So while there definitely are some apparent inspirations in the watch’s design, it looks good and stands on its own. There are multiple different dial and bezel variations, but my favorite is the Espresso with the black and brown bezel. You can pick up the Jack Mason Strat-o-Timer GMT for $1,069 USD.
Check out our review of the Jack Mason Strat-o-Time GMT Espresso here.
Breitling Chronomat GMT 40
The final watch on this list is one of my favorites. The Breitling Chronomat Automatic GMT 40 mixes vintage vibes (including a steel bezel) with modern touches (applied indexes and a blue sunray dial). And with a bright red GMT hand, there is just that little pop of quirky color that I love to see on an otherwise fairly convservative design. Plus, I love that the Breitling Chronomat GMT 40 is just 40mm in diameter, which is fairly small for a brand that is known for making much larger pieces. You can pick up the Breitling Chronomat Automatic GMT 40 for $6,150 USD.