A GMT is a GMT… period!
If you’ve seen my post a couple of weeks ago, you know that my favorite watch complication is the GMT. Whether I’m traveling or not, I track another time zone that’s relevant to me.
There are two types of GMT movements: the “True” GMT and the “Office” GMT. Some do prefer one over the other. To prevent this post from getting too verbose, I will refrain from explaining the differences between the two. (For those who want further information, you can easily google the topic.)
As a big GMT fan, it doesn’t really matter to me. In fact, I welcome the diversity since it gives me an opportunity to interact with my watches differently.
What about you?
19 comments
Sort by
George G
Lifelong WIS enjoying this crazy hobby we’re all passionate about.
Orange County, California
Member since
Last active: 6 days ago
I've yet to experience a traveler GMT or even attempt to use my caller GMT in such a manner.
As such, I think I honestly have to answer "No preference".
I totally agree with you. Given few of us would actually have need to use a "caller" or "true" GMT function, the "office" movement is more than sufficient.
The "office" GMT movement is really the "true" or "original" form of GMT movement. Glycine is the company that offered the first GMT for sale with its Airman in 1953. This was an "office" movement while the "caller" movement was first sold a year or two later by Rolex.
Uh... the "true" GMT thing. I think "traveller" GMT is a better way to describe them and comes across as less condescending.
The whole "true" thing is/was just a way for luxury watch owners to make themselves "more than" other GMT owners.
Edit: I'm not calling the OP elitist, or condescending, just the origin of the name "true GMT".
I like an office GMT at home and a true GMT on the road.
Hell ya I love GMT's
Hell ya I love GMT's
Same Here!
If you're going to use your quartz Casio WT you might as well just shout "Hey Siri what is the current time in Hong Kong?" On the subject of mechanical GMTs, I like true GMTs with +_ pushers so you can simply advance or fall back an hour with each click. Office GMTs and true GMTs without pushers are substandard.
I have a Seiko 5 GMT and recently used the GMT function while traveling. I would prefer the True GMT, but honestly it doesn't matter. With the True GMT you can adjust your current time zone in 5 seconds and with the Caller GMT about 10-15 seconds since you have to set your time, then the GMT hand.
I don't have a preference for the type mechanical GMT complication. The way my rotation work I have to set the time anyway and previous experience taught me that none of them can match the functionality of a digital watch if I have to travel across time zones or coordinate meetings between parties in different countries.
Office GMT type are more common and usually cheaper than traveler's GMT and might therefore be more available in a style that appeal to more collectors but that's about it.
I have a Seiko 5 GMT and recently used the GMT function while traveling. I would prefer the True GMT, but honestly it doesn't matter. With the True GMT you can adjust your current time zone in 5 seconds and with the Caller GMT about 10-15 seconds since you have to set your time, then the GMT hand.
My sentiments exactly!
Whichever way they chop it I'll always struggle to remember how to work the GMT hand, so yeah, no preferance for me.
Not sure what is the ask but I have 2: one with fixed bezel and other with rotating and I use both of them for day night indicator. So no preference I guess
The world has changed. While a few years ago I would travel a lot, and I mean, a lot, a travel GMT would have been quite useful. Now I only travel a little bit and mostly locally while I have to hold a lot of calls with people in different time zones, thus an office GMT is way more useful. I'd like to have both types because I like variety and currently own two Office GMT (CW Trident 38mm in red and a Glycine Base 22 42mm), but considering the fact that I'm not likely to travel much in the future, office GMT is the smart option.
Not mechanical, not true/traveller gmt but a mecaquartz from the 90’s with the ability to use the alarm sub-dial as a 2nd time.
to answer the poll, i’d take true gmt with moving bezel. Had an 16570 and SBGN003 and i just could not vibe with the bezel that tries to be both sporty and elegant….
True/traveler GMTs are just to cool. My preference for a GMT movement. BTW, both types are in my collection but these days it is “true” GMT exclusively.
Not sure what is the ask but I have 2: one with fixed bezel and other with rotating and I use both of them for day night indicator. So no preference I guess
I believe both of these are true GMTs. If the main hour hand, not the GMT hand, moves at crown position one, it is a true GMT.
PS: I am surprised (and dissapointed) that your salesperson didn’t explain the differences in GMT movements, especially as both of these are expensive pieces. One would hope those doing the sale have some basic knowledgeable about the expensive product they are selling. But I run into this lack of knowledge constantly. Heck, most are lucky to know the difference between a quartz and automatic movement. Almost all of them don’t recognize the difference between an automatic and manual wind. Oh well.
I like and eat burgers but prefer steak.