Tested: The Absolute Best GMT Travel Watches for Your Collection

With the holidays upon us, many are preparing for their trips, both near and far. But in order to travel, one needs certain accouterments. A suitcase is essential, a passport sure comes in handy, and comfy travel clothes are a must. And then there’s the GMT travel watch. You may think that you don’t need a watch while on vacation. After all, your phone tells you the time, right? But you’d be wrong, as the best GMT watches are indispensable travel partners.

Yes, your phone tells you the time, but does it tell you the local time as well as the time at home at a glance? Didn’t think so. A GMT watch will do this, offering you the time in two places at once with a quick look at your wrist. Not only that, but the best GMT travel watches will also complement any outfit you have on and act as a companion that accompanies you on all your excursions, making memories alongside you. Are we being just a bit romantic about GMT watches? Maybe, but once you know the history of the GMT watch, it’s hard not to wax poetic about them.

GMT watches often conjure images of mid-century jetsetters and playboy pilots — think Leonardo DiCaprio in Catch Me If You Can and you’ll be on the right track. That’s because the watches were born in that era for those types of customers. Back in the early 1950s, long-haul intercontinental flights were becoming more and more common. Pan Am, the largest airline of the day, put out a request to watch companies to develop a watch that could track two timezones simultaneously so pilots could monitor the time at both their destination and origin. Two companies answered the call. The first was Glycine, which unveiled the Airman in 1953. That watch kept time on a 24-hour scale, with a rotating 24-hour bezel for tracking a second timezone. The next year, Rolex introduced the GMT Master. It kept time on a standard 12-hour scale but incorporated a fourth hand that made its way around the dial once every 24 hours. A rotating 24-hour bezel was employed here as well, allowing the wearer to track a second timezone on the fourth hand while still reading their current time on a 12-hour scale. Rolex’s design took off like a rocket, and other manufacturers began producing their own GMT watches based on the Rolex template. The age of the GMT watch had begun.

True GMT: When researching GMT watches, you may have come across the term “True GMT” and wondered what it meant. In 1983, Rolex made GMT history again. The brand introduced the GMT Master II, a new version of their travel watch icon with a handy new feature. The movement in the GMT Master II allows you to independently adjust the hour hand without stopping the seconds hand or disturbing the other hands. That means that, if your GMT hand is set to your home time, all you have to do when traveling is pop your hour hand over to quickly set your new local time. It’s a faster and more convenient way to set your watch for travel, and some watch enthusiasts consider it to be the only “true” GMT there is. That’s, of course, nonsense — there were GMT watches for nearly 30 years before this type of movement existed — but GMTs with this type of movement, also called a “flyer” GMT, are slightly better for travel.

Office GMT: The other type of (more common) GMT is the “office” or “caller” GMT. Instead of having an independently adjustable hour hand, these GMTs have independently adjustable GMT hands. This is far more convenient if you want to track a second timezone while you’re at home — as someone in a west coast office may do if they have East Coast colleagues — but it isn’t the most convenient arrangement when traveling.

Having said that, we’re talking about a minute or less in the difference it takes to set your local time on a “true” vs “office” GMT, so really any GMT watch will work just fine when traveling.

You could easily make a case that enthusiasm for wristwatches has never been higher than it is right now. We’ve seen a definite influx among younger wearers, who are taken by the idea of mechanical masterpieces adorning their wrists, as well as a plethora of new brands cropping up, many of which have something to offer. Not only that, the market now offers us more variety than we’ve ever seen, with wide-ranging prices as well as an increase in specialization. Sure, this means that there are more options out there to delineate, but it also means that the world is proving that digital technology isn’t always what people want.

Nevertheless, selecting the perfect timepiece in any category or price point has become more difficult. To tackle the task of finding the best GMTs out there, we began by selecting the watches we suspected would be the best candidates. Using both the eye test (e.g., design, color, dial configuration) and our expertise in the space to dig through specs (e.g., size, materials, strap, movement), we whittled all the options down to the ones we thought could be worthy of making the cut for this list. We also factored in price, value, and the reputation of the watch’s manufacturer itself, which is an earned quality in this industry.

And then there was the matter of testing the timepieces themselves. Any watch collector can tell you that, regardless of what you read on paper, you truly have to wear a watch on your wrist to get a feel for it and get a sense of the user experience. After acquiring the demo pieces for our initial shortlist, we put the watches on our wrists and put them through a variety of scenarios to see their fit, comfort, and wrist presence firsthand. The overall process took us weeks, but finally we were able to land on the list of the best GMT watches you see before you.

Q Timex GMT 38mm

Best Quartz GMT: We’re so happy that Timex has been embracing retro-style models with its Q lineup. Inspired by the dive style of the original Q from 1979, this 38mm timepiece is still very much a GMT, with its bi-directional “Pepsi” bezel, domed acrylic crystal, hooded lugs, and functional battery hatch on the caseback. It has loads of nostalgia and is a steal at just over $200.

Recently revived in 2019, the Q Timex Reissue features an integrated bracelet with its 38mm barrel-shaped case. It’s incredibly compact, wears small, and feels even smaller than the dimensions suggest, but we love the sharp, angular styling and mix of vertical and horizontal brushing across the top of the main case. If you’re looking to save some shekels with a quality quartz-powered movement and a retro style, this will be your best bet.

Seiko 5 Sports SKX Sports Style GMT

Best Budget Automatic GMT: After Seiko discontinued its beloved SKX dive watch, it revamped its entry-level Seiko 5 Sports range, albeit with loose relation to the outgoing models. However, with the debut of the first-ever GMT in the 5 Sports lineup, it finally gave the SKX the homage it deserved. Harkening back to its progenitor with similar color schemes and design ethos, the new 42.5mm GMT features an independently adjustable fourth hand and a rotating 24-hour bezel.

The larger case helps with visibility, as do the Lumibrite-coated hands and indices and the date window magnifier. It also ditches the 5 Sports’ Oyster-style bracelets and opts for a five-link Jubilee-style stainless steel option instead. We love the exhibition caseback to display the 4R34 movement, and the divisive five-row jubilee bracelet adds some charm and comfort that some third-party options forego. Despite the 100m of water resistance, this one certainly has that vintage Seiko diver character. However, the off-centered push-pull crown at 4 o’clock might make you cautious of taking this timepiece on your most aqueous adventures.

Lorier Hyperion Series II

Best Microbrand GMT: The very first Rolex GMT Master in the 1950s was the ref. 6542. It originally came with a lumed red and blue “Pepsi” bezel made of a plastic predecessor called Bakelite. However, concerns over the brittle bakelite cracking and exposing the radioactive tritium lume below caused Rolex to switch to aluminum bezel inserts after just a few years. These days, original bakelite bezel 6542s regularly sell for six figures, but you can get the same vintage feel for far less with this stunning microbrand GMT.

Series II of Lorier’s Hyperion uses Hesalite for its lumed Pepsi bezel insert and domed crystal, offering serious retro vibes to go with its traffic-stopping looks. For just $100 more than the Seiko GMT above, you can get a true GMT with an independent hour hand at an accessible price point. We love everything about this timepiece, including the price, the mid-century-inspired aesthetic that evokes the heyday of aviation, the robust construction featuring a marine-grade steel case and the aforementioned impact-resistant crystal, and, of course, the classy Pepsi bezel.

Mido Ocean Star GMT

Best GMT Diver: Dive watch GMTs are becoming more and more popular, as you can see from this guide alone, and while there are several notable examples, our favorite has to be this Pepsi-bezeled Ocean Star from Mido. Whether you’re jet-setting or simply heading out on the trail –– or both –– this 44mm timepiece will do the trick. Boasting 200m of water resistance, the true GMT could have easily copied the styling of the iconic Rolex, but instead, Mido does its own thing with a fixed internal 24-hour bezel on top of the traditional rotating one on the outside.

Mido is a member of the Swatch Group. That means the brands have access to some of the same movements, such as the ETA Powermatic 80 GMT caliber that’s found here, with 80 hours of power reserve. Sure, the 44m steel case feels heftier on the wrist, but that translates to a superb wrist presence for those who want a bit more attention on their timepiece. Fortunately, the flat sapphire crystal helps with the thickness, erring more towards a modern styling in that regard. In terms of the bracelet, we also loved how you could adjust it quickly thanks to the double push button system within the clasp.

Monta Skyquest

Best Office GMT: American-owned and Swiss-made, Monta is one of the most highly-regarded microbrands in the business, and the Skyquest is arguably their best watch. The finishing is comparable to watches that cost twice as much, the fully-articulating bracelet features a quick-adjust clasp, the bezel is made of scratch-resistant ceramic, the water resistance is an impressive 300m, the hands are diamond-cut and rhodium-plated, and the GMT hand sports a quirky and ingenious bend that allows it to clear the applied indices while reaching to the outer edges of the dial.

Opposed to some other office GMT models, the Skyquest may be a little pricier, but with that price, you get a lot more than you’ve bargained for. This includes the in-house M-23 automatic movement, the overall build quality and finishing, and the Coke bezel, which nods to Rolex’s Pan Am collab in the ’80s. At 40.7mm across, the timepiece wears slightly smaller than you’d expect thanks to the lugs, which curve slightly towards the wrist. Operating with its own unique design language, the Skyquest is truly a sight to behold in person, with its features popping off the wrist and its contrast lending to nice visibility. We also love the bracelet, which features fully articulating links and supreme comfort.

Longines Spirit Zulu Time

Best Vintage-Inspired GMT: Longines may be one of the oldest Swiss watch manufacturers in existence — the brand was founded in 1832 — but they remain on the cutting edge of the industry, even credited with having the first watch with more than one time zone. Last year, it added a true GMT to its Spirit line. Named after a watch from about 100 years ago (which took its name from the military term for “GMT”), the Zulu Time is a watch made for true globetrotters, with 72 hours of power reserve and an independently set hour hand.

As classy as ever, the Spirit Zulu Time is a pilot’s watch through and through, with inspired colorways, a 72-hour power reserve, superb dial visibility, and easy adjustment. At a wearable 39mm, the stainless steel timepiece was dropped down a few sizes from its 42mm predecessor and the difference in comfort is noticeable on-wrist. Aesthetically, the 18K yellow gold accents truly pop and bring a great deal of wrist presence to the timepiece. Not to mention, Longines has several other variants if this handsome anthracite version isn’t for you.

For a deeper dive, read our Longines Spirit Zulu Time watch review.

Grand Seiko SBGN027

Best Quartz True GMT: The first watch to feature a GMT version of Grand Seiko’s lauded 9F High-Accuracy Quartz movement — arguably the best quartz movement in the world — this may be the ultimate “grab and go” travel watch. Accuracy is conservatively rated to within 10 seconds per year (1 second per year anecdotes are not unheard of), the finishing is easily the best you can get for the price thanks to Grand Seiko’s famed distortion-free Zaratsu polishing, and the handmade, fully-decorated, thermocompensated movement is a “true” GMT. Plus, it’s got looks for days.

Decidedly sportier than Grand Seiko’s typical options, this SBGN027 is certainly more expensive than your average quartz piece, but here it serves to preserve the timekeeping of the watch itself. Even when the offset crown is pulled out, the quartz GMT continues to keep the time. In-person, the 39mm diameter and 45.9mm lug size are about as perfect of proportions as you can get for everyday watch wearing. We’re also fans of the fixed 24-hour bezel with its black embossing and radial-brushed steel. The three-link steel bracelet looks beautiful, matching the case finish, and is easy to adjust with the screw posts and push-button clasp.

Tudor Black Bay GMT

Best Overall GMT: As the more affordable sister brand to Rolex, Tudor has long had the reputation of offering Rolex quality and style for less eye-watering prices. And that’s never been more true than with this modern classic. Based on the brand’s popular vintage-inspired Black Bay diver, this GMT boasts a bi-directional bezel with a beautiful aluminum Pepsi insert, a subtly textured dial, and an in-house automatic movement with a “true” GMT function. It’s the closest one can get to a Rolex GMT — vintage or modern — without coming close to approaching the five-figure mark.

First debuting in 2018, the Black Bay GMT is still a favorite today. Boasting 200m of water resistance, this piece may have some definite diver properties, but we love it as a travel watch the most. Inside the 24-hour Pepsi bezel is a pearl-like opaline white dial, which is a nice change of pace from the typical dark GMT dials. Despite the modern touches, this automatic true GMT has some vintage design cues, including the aforementioned bezel with its coin edge and the domed sapphire crystal. Hopefully, Tudor will soon include its T-Fit adjustment system on the newer Black Bay GMTs, even if the bracelet is still really comfortable.

For a deeper dive, read our Tudor Black Bay GMT watch review.

Rolex GMT Master II

Honorable Mention: You knew this was coming. The descendent of the original GMT watch, the GMT Master II remains the most lusted-after GMT in the world. The waitlist to purchase a new stainless steel Pepsi bezel variant is years long, and they routinely sell for more than double the retail price on the secondhand market. But the watch commands such demand for a reason. It’s unspeakably gorgeous, with an iconic design that few watches in the world can match. It’s also robust, dependable, and luxurious, and there’s not a person alive who wouldn’t want one of these on their wrist while traveling the globe.

As legendary as the Rolex GMT is, we couldn’t acquire the watch in time to perform in-studio testing. However, of all the pieces here, the reputation of the GMT Master II should be able to precede it.

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