“As this list demonstrated, you don’t have to spend $20,000, to take a Rolex GMT Master II with you on your travels. Of course, you will have to make some compromises, but in the end, even for just $1000, you can get your hands on some very serious GMT timepieces.”
Best GMT Watches Under $1,000:
- Lorier Hyperion GMT
- Christopher Ward C60 Trident GMT 600
- Christopher Ward C63 Sealander GMT
- Steinhart Ocean One Vintage
- Bamford GMT
- Squale 30 ATMOS GMT Ceramica
- Baltic Aquascaphe GMT
- Yema Navygraf Marine Nationale GMT
- Alpina Startimer Pilot Heritage GMT
Introduction
In honor of the world slowly opening up again, I decided that it is time to feature some cool watches with a GMT complication, in order for you to have some valuable options when your next trip is coming up.
But before we define what a GMT watch actually is and does, let’s take a closer look at the “GMT” in the name, and what exactly that means. Because honestly, I didn’t know for a long time myself. Therefore, I want to pass on this knowledge to you, with the help of the guys over at Bucherer. Ready?
“GMT” stands for Greenwich Mean Time and is actually an outdated way of defining time, compared to the modern UTC (Coordinated Universal Time). Though the two are often the same. GMT is the “zero hour” of a system, that allows one to know the time anywhere in the world by adding or subtracting time from it. Move east from Great Britain and each new time zone adds + 1 to GMT. Move west and you take away -1 from GMT. The idea of a GMT watch is to offer two things: a hand that is always synched to GMT time, so that the time all over the world can be identified, and normal hands for local time. So, in short, the Greenwich Mean Time, GMT for short, was created to establish uniform time zones worldwide and therefore making it easier to determine the current time anywhere on the surface of this planet.
So, now that you know what GMT stands for, what exactly is a GMT watch then? And who would use a GMT watch? In simple terms, a GMT watch is a timepiece with a 24-hour format hand that indicates a second-time zone, in addition to the other hands. This complication is frequently used by people that use the GMT hands to indicate the time in another time zone, for example, if they travel frequently or have an international business to take care of and want to know in a blink of an eye, what time it is in the country the work with. This is especially important if you plan to make some calls and don’t want to disturb your boss in the middle of the night, just because you forgot that the person is sleeping peacefully in Los Angeles, while you are sipping on your 9 am coffee in London.
So, whether you enjoy wearing a GMT watch for actual work or just want to know what time it is in the Fiji Islands to accompany your daydreaming, I got you. I’ve rounded up ten of my favorite GMT watches on this list, of the best GMT watches that can be bought for $1,000 or less. That being said, there are a few exceptions in this list, due to GMT watches generally being more complicated to make, therefore having a bigger price tag. But I kept the budget pretty tight and only allowed for minor exceedances. And as always, I’m trying to include some not-so-well-known brands as well, so that even the most knowledgeable enthusiast will still get to see something new. But enough with all the talking, let’s get started!
Lorier Hyperion GMT ($799)
First up is the US-based brand Lorier and their Hyperion GMT. I set my eyes on the Hyperion, the minute it was released, but unfortunately couldn’t get my hands on one, due to it being sold out almost immediately. And I think that speaks volumes to the quality and design of a watch.
Anyway, the Lorier Hyperion features a marine-grade stainless steel case, which measures 39mm in diameter, 10.7mm in height, and 47mm from lug to lug. Taking in some of the allures of the glorious jet-setting days and the cool GMT watches that came with it, the Lorier Hyperion utilizes the typical Pepsi colors for the bezel. Overall, with its case shape, the dial with the chapter ring circling the minute track, the gilt and silver print, and the roulette date wheel, the watch feels like it came straight out of a time machine. And I think that the vintage charm and looks are a big part of the overall appeal that this watch undoubtedly has.
The watch is powered by an automatic Soprod C125 movement, which has an independent GMT hand and provides 42 hours of power reserve. Besides that, the Lorier Hyperion also has 100 meters of water resistance, a screw-down crown, and a domed hesalite crystal, which tops the whole package.
Specifications: Price: $799, Case Size: 39mm, Thickness: 10.7mm, Lug-to-Lug: 47mm, Lug Width: 20mm, Water Resistance: 100m, Movement: Automatic Soprod C125 movement, Power Reserve: 42 hours, Crystal: Hesalite
Christopher Ward C60 Trident GMT 600 ($1,000)
Moving on to the Christopher Ward C60 Trident GMT 600. Combining a GMT complication with the durability and depth rating of a heavy-duty diver, the watch is the best of two worlds.
The C60 Trident GMT features a polished and brushed stainless case, which measures 42mm in diameter, 13.8mm in thickness, and 49.3mm from lug to lug. Initially designed for pilots to keep track of time back home, the 24-hour GMT bezel is one of the key features of the C60 Trident GMT 600. The eye-catching bezel is made of polished zirconia ceramic, which, with its shiny looks, immediately gives the watch a high-quality look and feel.
Complementing the black bezel with its white numerals is the matte black dial which features arrow-styled hour and minutes hands, a vivid orange independent 24-hour GMT hand, the unusually placed branding at 9 o’clock, and a date window, which is placed at the 3 o’clock position.
But having a great design isn’t the only thing that the C60 Trident has to offer. Powered by the tried and tested, automatic Sellita SW330 movement, the watch provides around 42 hours of power reserve. But it doesn’t end there. Remember when I told you in the beginning, that the watch also shares some DNA with heavy-duty divers? Well, the 600 (!) meter of water resistance, that this watch boasts, is the proof of that.
Doesn’t matter what you are doing, be it sitting in an airplane 10,000 meters above ground, or exploring the vast and exciting underwater world, the Christopher Ward C60 Trident GMT 600 will have you covered. And for a price of $1,000, it won’t cost you an arm and a leg.
Specifications: Price: $1,000, Case Size: 42mm, Thickness: 13.8mm, Lug-to-Lug: 49.3mm, Lug Width: 22mm, Water Resistance: 600m, Movement: Automatic Sellita SW330 GMT movement, Power Reserve: 42 hours, Crystal: Sapphire
Christopher Ward C63 Sealander GMT ($1,050)
Continuing with another watch from Christopher Ward. This time it’s the C63 Sealander GMT, which compared to the last Christopher Ward, isn’t as suitable for underwater exploring.
Designed for being used in a wide range of activities like travel, exploration, and adventure, the C63 Sealander GMT is beloved by a wide array of people, ranging from rock climbers to channel swimmers, to business travelers. Made from marine-grade 316L stainless steel, the 39mm case makes wearing the watch a real pleasure with almost every wrist size. As mentioned in previous articles, I personally find that 39mm is the perfect case size for every sports-oriented watch. But that’s just my opinion. The brushed and polished surfaces of the watch are complemented by the 24-hour outer bezel, which is made entirely from stainless steel and blends in quite perfectly with the overall aesthetics of the watch.
The watch is powered by the automatic Sellita SW300-2 GMT movement, which allows you to set the 24-hour GMT hand independently from the other hands, making it a true GMT watch. The 50-hour power reserve will suffice if you decide to leave your watch at home over the weekend and want it to continue sweeping as smoothly as the moment you left it.
Considering the $1,050 price tag, the watch has a lot to offer and a great value proposition, making it ideal for you to pick up before your next trip.
Specifications: Price: $1,050, Case Size: 39mm, Thickness: 11.85mm, Lug-to-Lug: 45.8mm, Lug Width: 20mm, Water Resistance: 150m, Movement: Automatic Sellita SW300-2 GMT movement, Power Reserve: 56 hours, Crystal: Sapphire
Steinhart Ocean One Vintage ($550)
The next watch on this list, the Steinhart Ocean One Vintage, will look familiar to some of you out there. And the reason being, that with this watch, Steinhart pays tribute and homage to one very special Rolex Explorer II. To be precise, the Explorer II with the reference 1655, also known as the “Steve McQueen”.
The Steinhart Ocean Vintage GMT is the perfect homage to the distinctive sports watch design of the 1970s and therefore also to the Rolex Explorer II Ref. 1655. With a price tag of just $550, the Steinhart Ocean One Vintage costs only a fraction of the current price of a Rolex Ref. 1655 yet offers surprisingly good build quality and a proven movement. Speaking of which, powering the watch, is the automatic Swiss-made ETA 2893-2/SW330 movement, which provides around 38 hours of power reserve.
The tried and tested movement is placed in a stainless-steel case, which measures 42mm in diameter, 14mm in thickness, and 49mm from lug to lug. In my opinion, the size of the watch really scratches the limit of what I would be comfortable wearing on my wrist. But in the end, this is completely up to you and depends heavily on what sizes of watch you usually wear.
Overall, this watch offers an iconic design and a solid movement, which at a price point of just $550, is a great value proposition. Well done by Steinhart!
Specifications: Price: $550, Case Size: 42mm, Thickness: 14mm, Lug-to-Lug: 49mm, Lug Width: 22mm, Water Resistance: 300m, Movement: Automatic Swiss-made ETA 2893-2/SW330 movement, Power Reserve: 38 hours, Crystal: Sapphire
Bamford GMT ($1,000)
Founded back in 2016 by a guy named George Bamford, the Bamford watch company is renowned not only for making watches of its own but also for its expertise in watch customization. Besides customizing watches of the likes of Bulgari, Zenith, and Tag Heuer, Bamford has also developed 2 of its own watches that cater to those in need of an affordable yet functional wristwatch. And one of them is the Bamford GMT, which is the watch that made it onto this list.
The Bamford GMT features a black, 316L stainless steel case, which measures 40mm in diameter and 11.7mm in thickness. The cushion-shaped case with its small lugs flows perfectly into the all-black stainless-steel bracelet. Adding to the all-black look is the black dial, which features a rotating, two-tone GMT bezel, which also has a rather dark look to it, rounding the whole aesthetic of the piece. And I think it’s fair to say, that this watch is the most badass looking timepiece on the whole list.
Equipped with the automatic Sellita SW300-1, the Bamford GMT provides 40 hours of power reserve and a frequency of 28,800 bph.
This watch is described by Bamford as: “The next phase for the company.”, which goes to show the kind of care and thought that went into creating this watch.
Specifications: Price: $1,000, Case Size: 40mm, Thickness: 11.7mm, Lug-to-Lug: n/a, Lug Width: 20mm, Water Resistance: 100m, Movement: Automatic Sellita SW300-1 movement, Power Reserve: 42 hours, Crystal: Sapphire
Squale 30 ATMOS GMT Ceramica ($799)
From producing watches and watch cases for many Swiss brands in the past to crafting their own range of professional dive watches in the 50s, Squale is known internationally for its reliable divers. The Swiss watchmaker supplies their watches to various brands and even armed forces, like the Folgore Brigade which consists of battalions of paratroopers that are part of the Aeronautica Militare Italiana (Italian Air Forces) and the Italian Navy’s Diving Corps, also known as the Marina Militare Italiana. And after more than 60 years of watchmaking, Squale released one of their newest additions to their 30 Atmos line, the Squale 30 Atmos GMT, which features a two-tone grey/blue ceramic bezel, which by the way, looks fantastic.
Powered by an automatic Swiss Made ETA 2893-2 movement with quickset GMT and date function, the watch provides around 50 hours of power reserve. The Swiss movement is housed in a stainless-steel case that measures 42mm in diameter, 13mm in thickness, and 49mm from lug to lug. Speaking of which, the case and the whole aesthetic of the watch is based on a vintage diver model, produced by Squale in the 1960s with the added feature of a GMT function. Tastefully done for that distinctive nostalgia feeling. The watch, which is an interesting combination of a dive- and GMT watch, features 300 meters of water resistance, a screw-down crown, sapphire crystal, and a stainless-steel bracelet.
Combine the heritage and quality that Squale brings to the game, the beautiful ceramic bezel, and the price tag of just $799, and you got yourself a very sweet deal.
Specifications: Price: $799, Case Size: 42mm, Thickness: 13mm, Lug-to-Lug: 49mm, Lug Width: 21mm, Water Resistance: 300m, Movement: Automatic Swiss Made ETA 2893-2 movement, Power Reserve: 50 hours, Crystal: Sapphire
Baltic Aquascaphe GMT (Around $1,000)
Continuing with the Baltic Aquascaphe GMT. Featured by many watch blogs, magazines, and YouTubers, this watch definitely deserves its spot on this list. Inspired by the GMT watches that were used in the ’60s and ’70s by airline pilots, the Aquscaphe GMT is designed to equip modern jet setters around the world. With its sapphire bezel insert and clean dial, the watch features a unique combination of vintage and contemporary aesthetics.
Baltic as a brand was founded back in 2017 and therefore is relatively new in the industry. But the story behind their watches is unique and touching, so I don’t want to withhold the story from you. Let’s roll the tape: Inspired by the watch collection of his past father, the founder of Baltic, Etienne Malec, decided to create his own watch brand in order to honor his dad. The name Baltic was chosen as a tribute to the birthplace of his father, which was in north Poland, on the shores of the Baltic Sea. Great story, isn’t it?
But let’s take a closer look at the specs, shall we? The Baltic Aquascaphe GMT features a 316L stainless steel case that measures 39mm in diameter. The simplistic case is complemented by a highly legible black dial with a glossy finish and a 24 click bi-directional rotating bezel, which is made from sapphire glass. For its movement, Baltic has chosen the automatic Swiss-made Soprod C125 caliber. This self-winding movement has a power reserve of 42 hours, a date- and a GMT functionality.
As you can see, for a price of $1,105, you will get a lot of bang for your buck.
Specifications: Price: $1,105, Case Size: 39mm, Thickness: 12mm, Lug-to-Lug: 47mm, Lug Width: 20mm, Water Resistance: 100m, Movement: Automatic Swiss made Soprod C125 movement, Power Reserve: 42 hours, Crystal: Sapphire
Yema Navygraf Marine Nationale GMT ($1,049)
Starting off this list is the newly released Navygraf Marine Nationale GMT from the French manufacturer Yema.
Being the first GMT watch in the history of the French navy, the Yema Navygraf Marine Nationale was actually designed by French Navy personnel themselves so that it would be suitable for active deployment. Designed to be used on a day-to-day basis, it’s no wonder that the Navygraf Marine Nationale GMT turned out to be a military-grade, rugged and overall badass watch, able to withstand the harshest conditions on the most unforgiving seas. And to prove that, the Navygraf GMT has a water resistance certificate of 300 meters, or 990 feet, for my American readers.
The Navygraf GMT features the automatic in-house YEMA3000 GMT movement, which has a power reserve of around 42 hours and is housed in a modest-sized 39mm stainless steel case. Being a GMT watch, the Navygraf offers a GMT complication and an independent GMT hand, which, with its vibrant red color, immediately catches your eye. The matt blue dial, the exclamation mark-shaped, hour markers, and the golden Navygraf inscribing underline the heritage of the watch. The dial is complemented by a sapphire-glass bezel, that matches the color of the dial perfectly.
Overall, for a price of just $1,049 you get a very nice looking, nicely executed sports watch, that brings a lot of history with it.
Specifications: Price: $1,049, Case Size: 39mm, Thickness: 12.85mm, Lug-to-Lug: 47mm, Lug Width: 19mm, Water Resistance: 300m, Movement: Automatic in-house YEMA3000 GMT movement, Power Reserve: 45 Hours, Crystal: Sapphire
Alpina Startimer Pilot Heritage GMT ($990)
Rounding off this list of the best GMT watches under $1000, is the Alpina Startimer Pilot Heritage GMT. Founded by Gottlieb Hauser in 1883, Alpina specialized in making rugged tool watches, which even managed to be used by various military units in the past. Nowadays, the Swiss brand focuses more on making durable sports watches that cater to a broad spectrum of watch enthusiasts and adventurers alike.
Reminding of a 1970s Omega Seamaster, the Alpina Startimer Pilot Heritage GMT features a 42mm stainless steel case, which houses the automatic, in-house Alpina caliber AL-555. The dial of the watch is without any doubt the main attraction of this piece. Instead of a classic GMT hand, the dial features an inner disc with an arrow, which tells you the time on the outer 24-hour ring. This is phenomenal.
The normal version of this watch will usually cost you around $1400, but the guys over at Gnomon watches have a special offer, in which you will get the watch for just $990.
Specifications: Price: $990, Case Size: 42mm, Thickness: 12mm, Lug-to-Lug: 45mm, Lug Width: 23mm, Water Resistance: 100m, Movement: Automatic in-house Alpina caliber AL-555 movement, Power Reserve: 38 Hours, Crystal: Sapphire
Conclusion
As this list demonstrated, you don’t have to spend $20,000, to take a Rolex GMT Master II with you on your travels. Of course, you will have to make some compromises, but in the end, even for just $1000, you can get your hands on some very serious GMT timepieces.
And if you made it this far, thank you for taking the time and reading the article. If you have any feedback, please write a comment below and I will answer you asap.
