Building the Perfect Collection: GMT Watches
GMT watches—timepieces that allow the wearer to track multiple time zones simultaneously—are popular with collectors for a variety of reasons. From their historical connection with aviation heritage, to their practical functionality, to the iconic design of many of the most famous models, GMT watches have a wealth of features that make them perfect for true timepiece aficionados. It doesn’t hurt that they tend to appreciate in value over time due to their high demand and limited production.
These GMT watches are some of our favorites to start the perfect collection:
TUDOR Black Bay 58 GMT
The TUDOR Black Bay 58 has an impeccable pedigree of historical significance—it’s named after the year in which the first TUDOR diver’s watch waterproofed to 200 meters was introduced. This model is fitted with TUDOR’s new mid-size GMT Manufacture Calibre, with a comprehensive METAS Master Chronometer certification for high precision, resistance to magnetic fields, waterproofness, and power reserve. The 39mm diameter case is crafted of stainless steel, with 24-hour bidirectional rotating bezel, black and burgundy anodised aluminum insert bezel, polished and satin-finished steel, screw-down winding crown with the TUDOR rose in relief. Fitted with a black rubber strap with TUDOR “T-fit” clasp.
OMEGA Seamaster Aqua Terra 150M Co-Axial Master Chronometer GMT Worldtimer 43mm
This 43mm Worldtimer is cased in brushed grade 2 titanium with engraved case back, screw-in crown, transparent case back, and domed anti-reflective sapphire crystal. At the center of the black and grey dial, framed by a brushed black ceramic bezel, OMEGA has produced a vision of the planet Earth, viewed from above the North Pole, by laser-ablating continents and colors on a grade 5 titanium surface. Circling the topographic map is a 24-hour indication, divided into night and day sections, with many global destinations circling around the dial and its outer ring. To complement the matte grey dial, OMEGA has opted for blackened hands and indexes, filled with white Super-LumiNova to emit a blue glow in the dark. With an integrated black structured rubber strap with additional decorative link and clasp in brushed titanium.
Breitling Chronomat Automatic GMT 40
Introducing the perfect timepiece for the man with wanderlust—the Chronomat Automatic GMT 40. This is Breitling’s tribute to travel, for both its dual time zone display and its easy going yet stylish aesthetics. The all-steel case and bracelet has a unidirectional ratcheted rotating bezel, screwed-in case back, and dual glare proof cambered sapphire crystal. The tone-on-tone 24-hour scale lets the red GMT hand speak for itself, and lets the user track a second time zone and know at a glance whether it’s day or night. The truly classic Chronomat “onion” crown allows for easy adjustments. The deep green dial features date indicator, central GMT hand, and silver tone hands and hour markers with luminescence. As an all-purpose sports watch—a crossover between Breitling’s air, land, and sea universes—the GMT 40 has an impressive 200 meter water resistance.
IWC Pilot’s Watch Timezoner Top Gun Woodland
When you feel the need—the need for speed—the Top Gun Woodland is reporting for duty. This stunning timepiece features a case made of a dark green ceramic inspired by both the uniforms and flight suits of naval aviators and the forest landscapes they fly over. The dial and rubber strap with textile inlay are elaborately engineered to match the color of the ceramic case. Black hands, printing, and luminescent material in a subdued green complete the design. The case back ring, crown, and pin buckle are made of an IWC-developed material that combines the structural integrity of titanium with the hardness and scratch resistance of ceramic. The patented Timezoner® function allows the wearer to set the watch to a different time zone by simply pressing down and turning the rotating bezel. The city ring contains the names of 24 major cities, each representing one of the international time zones.
Seiko 5 Sports SKX Series
Consistently high levels of reliability, durability, performance, and value—those hallmarks of the Seiko 5 Sports have endeared these timepieces to lovers of mechanical watches worldwide. This SKX Series model has a stainless steel case with 24-hour display rotating bezel, see-through screw case back, and Hardlex crystal with lenses. With complications including stop second hand function, date, hour, minutes, seconds, and GMT, the brilliant white dial features LumiBrite on the distinctive geometric hands and indexes. This is the sports watch that makes other sports watches reconsider their life choices.
Longines Hydroconquest GMT
The Hydroconquest GMT is a true classic among sports watches, with the added versatility of a GMT function. It takes inspiration from the world of water sports, with water resistance up to 30 meters, while also drawing on Longines’ historic expertise in developing watches with multiple time zones. The Hydroconquest GMT combines technical excellence with unparalleled elegance, with a stainless steel case with ceramic unidirectional rotating bezel, screw-down case back, screw-in crown, and scratch-resistant sapphire crystal. The sunray brown dial has applied indexes, gilt hands, and Swiss Super-LumiNova. Stainless steel bracelet with micro adjustment system.
Grand Seiko Elegance SBGJ273
An ode to the charms of changing seasons, this Grand Seiko Elegance showcases a spectacular dial the color of autumn leaves as reflected in traditional Japanese lacquered wood floors. Each dial has a striated surface depicting a dazzling spectrum of reds. The GMT hand is rendered in a rich golden hue, adding another rich fall color to the dial. The movement, a mechanical Hi-Beat 36000 GMT Caliber 9S86, is the culmination of high-precision micro-engineering and the attention to detail of Grand Seiko’s world-class watchmakers. Stainless steel case and case back with box-shaped sapphire crystal and push crown, and a stainless steel bracelet.
Accutron Astronaut LTi
The newest addition to the collection honoring the original 1968 model, the Astronaut LTi stays true to the distinctive design of the original version, while upgrading to a Grade 5 Titanium case and bracelet with ion-plated hard coating. This superlative timepiece is outfitted with the Accutron Caliber 9058 GMT automatic movement with a 50-hour power reserve and anti-magnetic resistance up to 16,000 a/m. Water resistance up to 100 meters. The eggshell-colored dial features super luminous hour markers and hands. The look is completed with a stainless steel bracelet, plus an extra grey cordura nylon NATO strap.
Zodiac Super Sea Wolf Pro-Diver GMT
A sleek new 42mm dive watch tailor-made for adventure under the seas, the Super Sea Wolf Pro-Diver GMT is ISO certified with a 300 meter depth rating, a helium release valve that allows trapped helium molecules to safely vacate the watch case before the built-up internal pressure can damage the watch, and a purposeful left-position crown to prevent the wearer from damaging the back of their hand. The stainless steel in black DLC case has an engraved steel back and sapphire crystal. The black sunray dial features a central GMT hand with Super-LumiNova hands and hour markers. Complemented by an FKM black rubber strap.
Ball Roadmaster Pilot GMT (40MM)
This exceptional Ball Roadmaster Pilot GMT is available in a limited edition of just 1,000 pieces, with a chronometer certified COSC automatic caliber BALL RR1204-C movement. The titanium case features a bi-directional rotating ceramic bezel in blue and red, illuminated with Super-LumiNova, sapphire crystal transparent case back, and screwed-in crown. Blue dial with date indicator, central GMT hand, and luminous hands and hour markers. The tapered titanium and stainless steel bracelet is the perfect accompaniment to this stunning limited edition timepiece.
Discover these and other GMT watches from Feldmar. Browse our online store or stop into our flagship location.
About The Author: Tom Roth
Born in Washington state, Tom developed an interest in photography during college at University of San Diego. There, he got started in music journalism, interviewing artists and taking photos at concerts. A life-long tinkerer and collector, it wasn’t long before Tom became fascinated with fountain pens and watches.
Those interests collided in November 2020 when Tom started at Feldmar Watch Company where he lives out every watch geek’s dream: photographing and writing about timepieces. When he’s not tinkering with his watch collection, Tom can be found traveling, biting his nails while watching PNW sports teams, and taking flying lessons.
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