The 5 Best GMT Watches Under 1000
More individuals than ever are taking advantage of the opportunities afforded by today’s incredibly low costs of international travel. However, there’s the matter of adjusting to new time zones as you travel. We timepiece nerds have to use a GMT watch for this purpose.
A world time (GMT) watch has a second-time zone that may be changed independently. Traditional users of these timepieces have been pilots who observe Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). As a result, we have the “GMT watch” expression. The secondary dial, however, may be adjusted to whatever time you choose.
It’s easy to keep track of your partner’s home time zone when you both reside in New York and travel the world. Here, I’ll give you a rundown of the top five GMT watches you can buy for under $1,000.
1. Glycine Airman Double Twelve
The Glycine Airman Double Twelve, named after the original pilots who carried GMT clocks, is remarkably precise for an automated timepiece. It has a Swiss automatic GL224 movement that has 25 jewels and a power reserve of 38 hours. Its rapid 28,800 ticks per hour make for effortless motion. The Airman Double Twelve doesn’t have a secondhand, not that you’ll notice.
What seems to be secondhand is really an indication of the second time zone. The bezel acts as a time reference. It’s broad and level, and on it are engraved numbers from 1 to 12. The fact that you still have to remember when it’s morning or afternoon is a minor bummer, but the design is so sleek and functional that it more than makes up for it.
The casing has a slim 12.4mm of thickness and a diameter of 44mm. The display back is scratch-proof mineral glass that screws down securely. The whole mechanism, including the eye-catching rotor, is on display for your inspection. The crystal on the top is just as beautiful. The dial remains legible thanks to three layers of anti-reflective coating and a domed design with rounded corners but no unnecessary curves.
The 100-meter water resistance of the shell and crystal is more than adequate for any use. The main time is adjusted using the crown at 3, while the second time zone is adjusted using the crown at 4. Each of the crowns has screws in them to prevent them from being taken out by mistake. Glycine includes a luxurious calfskin watchband as the cherry on top.
The initial index is just as alluring. The navy dial contrasts nicely with the fine white hashes used to mark out the minutes. The smaller digits represent the hours, while the larger hashes represent intervals of five minutes. The thin, metallic points of the broad, beveled hands go all the way to the outside hash marks, and the middle of the hands is striped with dazzling lume. The last touch is a little date window.
2. Farer Lander II
The Farer Lander II is another GMT watch that gets its name from its aviation origins. The overall design is elegant, without any modern-looking mechanical accouterments. It utilizes an ETA 2893-2 “top grade” movement, which features 21 jewels and a serviceable 42-hour power reserve.
The Lander II’s overall appearance is relatively minimalist, and at first glance, it could be easily confused with a more mundane watch. The case measures 39.5mm in diameter, providing a medium wrist presence with a round profile and a smooth, curved bezel. The bezel leads seamlessly into a domed crystal that’s made of sapphire with an anti-reflective coating to ensure a clear, unobstructed view.
Even at its highest point, the case and crystal have a total thickness of 10 mm, making them slim enough to slide under a shirt cuff, even a relatively tight one. And the watch is waterproof to 100 meters, sufficient for showering and swimming without any concerns. It’s secured to your wrist with a Barenia bridle leather band that has a smooth, clean finish.
The dial is a bright aquamarine color, without any obstructing or cluttering complications. Even the date window is understated, a small circle that bucks the trend of today’s square date windows. The primary index is easy to read, with large, white lume numerals at every hour position. There are no hashes for individual minutes, but the white lume hands are easy enough to read without them.
Meanwhile, the outer index is almost invisible at first glance. The hashes are truly tiny, and even the 1–24-hour numerals don’t stand out much. But the GMT hand is highly visible, thanks to a high-contrast red finish that really pops. All in all, the Lander II is an elegant, minimalist watch that doesn’t sacrifice functionality.
3. Orient Polaris GMT
The Orient Polaris GMT is another elegant watch that doesn’t look like anything special at first glance. It has a plain, white dial without a lot of adornment. However, there are two complications worth noting. The first is a small date window in the 3 o’clock position. The second is a power reserve meter, positioned just under the 12 o’clock marker.
It tracks the Polaris’ 42-hour power reserve, so you always know how much longer your watch can keep running. The Caliber 40P51 movement operates at a relatively slow (but still accurate) 21,600 beats per hour and is both hackable and hand-windable. This ensures that you can keep accurate time, right down to the second, and you’ll never be more than a few twists away from a powered movement.
The case measures 42mm in diameter and is 11.98mm thick, providing a medium-sized wrist presence that’s suitable for most occasions. It has a flat, scratch-resistant sapphire crystal that provides a clear view of the dial, with a utilitarian, sloped bevel that doesn’t have any sharp edges.
The watch is water-resistant to 50 meters, so it’s not going to die on you in the shower, but you shouldn’t take it swimming. The band is stitched from brown leather with an alligator-scale pattern that’s attractive to the eye despite being artificial.
4. Christopher Ward C60 Trident 600
The Christopher Ward C60 Trident 600 has several variants so that you can customize your experience. Your first choice will be whether to use the ETA 2893-2 movement or the Sellita SW330. Each has its own unique benefits. The first offers a 38-hour power reserve and can also be hand-wound if you need it. The second offers a more substantial 42 hours, although it’s not hand-windable. Both are hacking, which allows you to easily keep the time accurate right down to the second.
The case is constructed from stainless steel and is also available in different variants. You can choose between a 38, 40, or 42mm diameter depending on how much wrist presence you desire. One thing all variants of the C60 Trident 600 share is an almost unheard-of 600 meters of water resistance. If you spend a lot of time in the water, this is the watch for you.
The wide unidirectional bezel serves two purposes. Primarily, it serves as your secondary time index, with markings from 1 to 24 hours. As a secondary function, it also serves as a dive meter. Although it comes in four different colors, all are two-tone, allowing easy oxygen tracking on your scuba tank.
For more conventional users—people who won’t be using the watch underwater—the C60 is still highly functional. Besides the outer, 24-hour index, the inner index is also very elegant. It has tiny hashes to indicate the minutes, with wider hashes to indicate the 5-minute marks. The hour and minute hands are painted with a white lume finish. The minute hand is long and flat, while the hour hand has a squat profile with a widened tip. The second hand and the GMT hand are both slender and long. However, the GMT hand has a high-contrast finish for easy readability.
5. Hamilton Jazzmaster Traveler GMT
The Hamilton Jazzmaster Traveler GMT uses a Caliber 2893-2 movement. One of the most popular movements on the market, the 2893-2 has 21 jewels as well as a 38-hour power reserve for longevity. It’s both hackable and hand-windable, which ensures accuracy as well as a consistent power supply.
The case measures 42mm in diameter with dual crowns. The primary crown is located at the 4 o’clock position, with a secondary crown at the 2 o’clock position to operate the 24-hour GMT hand. A sapphire crystal tops off the package, with a flat profile and an anti-glare finish. The case and crystal are rated for 200 meters of depth, making this a true dive watch. Meanwhile, a brown leather watch band adds a touch of class and formality.
The Jazzmaster is an unusual GMT watch because there are no hour markings on the outer index. Instead, it’s marked with standard 60-minute numerals, which can be confusing until you’re used to it. That said, the GMT hand is easy to read, with a black, arrow-shaped tip that stands out against the silver dial.
A small, square date window adorns the 3 o’clock position, while 12, 6, and 9 o’clock numerals mark off the rest of the primary index. The hour and minute hands are sharp and spear-shaped, with a white lume finish that’s easy to read in the dark.
Conclusion :
We hope that this article has assisted you in your search for a Gmt watch under $100. There are tons of options out there, so choose wisely.
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