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The 15 Best Affordable GMT Watches Under $1,000

Travel on a budget.

Jack Mason, Timex, Seiko

By Johnny Brayson and Zen Love

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An extra hand indicating another time zone has made the GMT watch useful and popular, but also more complicated than a basic time-telling watch — and for many years, a well-built mechanical one was also a relatively expensive proposition. But the landscape has changed drastically in recent years, with 2022 being a breakthrough year in the affordable GMT market thanks to myriad exciting new options that include several automatics coming in under a grand.

Products in the Guide

The affordable GMT renaissance began that year with Seiko, which unveiled its Seiko 5 Sports GMT and with it, a new affordable automatic GMT movement in the form of the Caliber 4R34. Seiko also made that movement available to other brands as the Caliber NH35, which resulted in an array of new sub-$500 automatic GMT watches.

Not to be outdone, Seiko rival Citizen unveiled its own affordable automatic GMT movement in 2022 with the Miyota 9075 caliber. A more premium alternative to Seiko’s 4R34, the 9075 is a thinner and higher-frequency automatic movement that, most notably, features an independent hour hand. This makes the 9075 a “traveler’s” or “true” GMT movement, and prior to 2022 this type of movement was only seen in watches from luxury brands like Rolex, Omega and Grand Seiko. Like Seiko, Citizen has made the 9075 widely available to independent brands, creating a whole new genre of affordable GMT watches.

In other words, it’s a great time to be shopping for an affordable GMT watch. Below, you’ll find our 15 current favorite GMT watches under $1,000.

To learn more about our testing methodology and how we evaluate products, head here.

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Best Overall GMT Watch Under $1,000: Jack Mason Strat-o-timer GMT

a silver and black watchJack Mason

Best Overall GMT Watch Under $1,000

Jack Mason Strat-o-timer GMT

Packed with just about every spec an enthusiast could want — exhibition caseback, fully-lumed bi-directional sapphire bezel, “true” GMT movement — the Strat-o-timer marks a turning point for Jack Mason, transforming the one-time mall brand to an insider favorite.

Specs

Case Size: 40mm
Movement: Miyota 9075 automatic GMT
Water Resistance: 200m
Read our full review of the Jack Mason Strat-o-timer GMT

The Strat-o-timer was the first watch using Citizen’s Miyota 9075 movement that really caught fire among watch enthusiasts, and it did so with a pretty unbeatable combination of specs, style and price. On the specs side, the watch reads like a wishlist put together on watch forums (probably because that’s basically how it was made). There’s a box-style sapphire crystal, a sapphire caseback showing a decorated movement, fully-lumed bidirectional sapphire bezel, a solid bracelet with an on-the-fly micro-adjust clasp and a toolless quick-release system, 200m of water resistance, a crowd-pleasing 40mm case size and a movement that’s been regulated in-house to +/-5 seconds per day.

For its combination of specs, style and affordability, Jack Mason’s GMT tops our rankings.
Photo by Johnny Brayson

Style-wise, the watch is inarguably good-looking: It obviously takes some influence from the GMT-Master II but is different enough in design that it doesn’t read like an homage, and Jack Mason has shown a willingness to experiment with unique and fun color combinations. Finally, there’s the price. At $999 on the bracelet, this GMT might just be impossible to beat when taking everything else it offers into consideration.

Timex Q Timex GMT

If you don’t find it necessary to get an automatic GMT watch and just want to know what the absolute cheapest GMT we recommend is, it’s this Timex. The Q Timex GMT is one of the brand’s hottest watches, and while it’s powered by a Swiss-made quartz GMT movement (likely from Ronda), that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

timex q gmt watch with red and blue bezel and steel bracelet
For around 200 bucks, you won’t find a better travel watch than the Q Timex GMT.
Zen Love

When you’re traveling, the last thing you want is to somehow screw up your travel plans. With a quartz GMT, you don’t really have to worry about your power reserve running out or your watch’s accuracy veering too far off course: It’s going to be dependable. And this Timex is not only dependable, but it looks beautiful and is extremely comfortable on the wrist.

Seiko Prospex Solar Sumo GMT

Seiko

Seiko Prospex Sumo Solar Gmt

Specs

Case Size: 45mm
Movement: Seiko 5K65 Solar Quartz GMT
Water Resistance: 200m

Not all of Seiko’s recent GMT releases have taken advantage of the 4R34. In early 2023, the brand launched this new take on the Sume diver powered by a brand-new solar GMT movement. The movement is powered by any light, meaning it will be many years before you need to worry about changing a battery, and the GMT operates as a “true” GMT, making it ideal for travel. With its bright colorways and ISO 6425 diver’s watch credentials, throw this one in your bag for your next tropical vacation.

Citizen Eco-Drive Promaster Diver GMT

Citizen Eco-Drive Promaster Diver Quartz Mens Watch, Stainless Steel, Silver-Tone (Model: BJ7128-59E)Amazon

Citizen Eco-Drive Promaster Diver GMT

Specs

Case Size: 44mm
Movement: Citizen B877 Solar Quartz GMT
Water Resistance: 200m

Like the Seiko above, this GMT version of Citizen’s Promaster Diver is powered by light. In this case, one of Citizen’s trademark Eco-Drive movements. It’s an “office” GMT, meaning you operate the GMT hand independently rather than the hour hand, meaning it’s a little less suited for travel. But given its beefy size, ISO certification and true dive watch specs, it otherwise holds up just as well as a do-it-all GMT diver.

Seiko 5 Sports GMT

seiko 5 sports skx sports style gmtSeiko

Seiko 5 Sports GMT

The watch that rewrote the book on affordable GMTs is a modern classic, thanks to its instantly recognizable styling that recalls the iconic Seiko SKX divers.

Specs

Case Size: 42.5mm
Movement: Seiko Cal. 4R34 Automatic GMT
Water Resistance: 100m

Here it is, the Seiko that changed the game when it comes to affordable automatic GMT watches. But even when not accounting for the revolutionary nature of the “5KX” GMT, it’s still a damn compelling watch. First there’s the looks: Styled after the iconic Seiko SKX007 diver but with the addition of a bicolor GMT bezel, the watch is undeniably a stunner. It’s also got a rock-solid build, a better-than-you’d-think jubilee bracelet and it wears smaller and more comfortably than its 42.5mm case size would suggest.

seiko 5 sports skx sports style gmt
The Seiko 5 Sports GMT was a game changer — and a damn handsome watch, to boot.
Photo by Joe Tornatzky for Gear Patrol

Seiko Presage Style ’60s GMT

Macy’s

Seiko Presage Style ’60s GMT

Specs

Case Size: 40.8mm
Movement: Seiko Caliber 4R34 Automatic GMT
Water Resistance: 100m

In addition to farming out its 4R34 movement to microbrands, Seiko has also been putting it to work itself in watches outside of the original sporty GMT. The best example is this retro dressy number, which takes stylistic inspiration from both a 1960s Seiko model and cars of the era. The retro goodness comes across in touches like the box-style crystal, the perforated leather strap, the dauphine hands and the thin, fixed 24-hour bezel.

Nodus Sector GMT

nodus sector gmtCourtesy

Nodus Sector GMT

Specs

Case Size: 38mm
Movement: Seiko NH34 (4R34) Automatic GMT
Water Resistance: 100m

California microbrand Nodus was one of the first brands to make use of the NH34 movement once Seiko made it available, and incidentally created a watch that many may prefer over the 5KX GMT. This GMT take on Nodus’s versatile Sector platform features a very wearable 38mm case, a solid 100m of water resistance and a beautiful design that doesn’t look like anything else. We especially dig that stubby GMT hand and the way the date window straddles both time scales at six o’clock. It’s good stuff, especially for under $500.

RZE Ascentus GMT

RZE Watches

RZE Ascentus GMT

Specs

Case Size: 40mm
Movement: Seiko NH34 (4R34) Automatic GMT
Water Resistance: 200m

RZE has only been around for a couple of years, but the Singapore- and Malaysia-based brand — which was founded by a commercial airline pilot — has set itself apart by only offering titanium watches. The Ascentus GMT, like all other GMT watches, has both a case and bracelet crafted from the lightweight and strong premium material. Not only that, but RZE goes the extra mile by applying its own proprietary anti-scratch coating dubbed UltraHex, which RZE says makes its titanium eight times more resistant to scratching than stainless steel.

Traska Venturer GMT

Traska Watch

Traska Venturer GMT

Specs

Case Size: 38.5mm
Movement: Miyota 9075 Automatic GMT
Water Resistance: 150m

Florida-based Traska is yet another microbrand that has become an enthusiast favorite in a very short amount of time thanks to its affordability and the impressive robustness of its watches. The Venturer is one of the most affordable 9075-powered options on the market, yet it still packs a punch.

A box-style sapphire crystal sits over a laquered dial, diamond-cut hands and an interior 24-hour bezel that’s controlled via a crown at ten o’clock. And, like all Traska watches, the Venturer features a proprietary anti-scratch coating that takes the 316L stainless steel case and bracelet from 200HV to 1200HV on the Vickers hardness scale.

Lorier Hydra SIII Zulu

Lorier Watches

Lorier Hydra SIII Zulu

Specs

Case Size: 41mm
Movement: Miyota 9075 Automatic GMT
Water Resistance: 200m

Unlike most of its microbrand competitors, Lorier actually offers two GMT models, both of which are powered by the 9075. There’s the Hyperion, a Pepsi-bezeled traditional GMT reminiscent of the very first Rolex GMT-Master created for Pan-Am pilots in the 1950s. It’s excellent, but there are similar watches in this guide already. So for the purposes of diversity, we’ve gone with the brand’s Hydra instead. Specifically, the “Zulu,” a blacked-out, badass version inspired by the watches worn by ’80s action heroes.

The Hydra Zulu mixes an external dive watch bezel with a lumed interior 24-hour scale for the GMT hand, offering up dual functionality to go along with its 200m water resistance and independently adjustable hour hand. Throw in the black DLC stainless steel case and throwback black rubber strap and you’ve got a watch fit for John Matrix.

Gavox Longitude

Gavox

Gavox Longitude

Specs

Case Size: 39mm
Movement: Miyota 9075 Automatic GMT
Water Resistance: 200m

For the Longitude, it’s almost as if Belgian brand Gavox took the bezel and GMT hand from the Rolex Explorer II and then decided to go in a completely separate direction on every other aspect of the watch. The full package is angular and aggressive, with a sharp-edged integrated bracelet and a textured dial inspired by ocean waves. It’s a unique stunner that’s also a verifiable tool, with a Miyota 9075 inside, a bi-directional bezel, 200m of water resistance and a Kolsterized case and bracelet clocking in at 1,300 on the Vickers scale.

Bulova Oceanographer GMT

Technically, this watch is priced above $1,000. There are three versions: A rose gold-tone one priced at $1,395, a Pepsi-bezeled version on a steel bracelet for $1,350, and the dive watch variant seen here, which retails for $1,295 but can frequently be found on sale for below $1,000, so we’re including it here. Bulova is owned by Citizen, which makes this watch a natural candidate for the Miyota 9075. But that’s far from the only thing going for this watch.

The model is a reinterpretation of Bulova’s iconic mid-century “Devil Diver,” so named for the ominous “666” ft of water resistance displayed on the dial. The new version has plenty of retro cues, like those jewel-like indices, but it also brings in plenty of modernity in the form of a full-lume dial, a stitched rubber strap and, of course, the “true” GMT functionality.

Maen Hudson 38 GMT

Maen is a Dutch microbrand that’s often caught our attention for its combination of all the right specs and traits we like to see in watches (including often smaller sizes) and extremely affordable prices. The Hudson 38 GMT is another example. For a Swiss automatic GMT movement, you’re not going to find many alternatives in this price range. Plus, if you’re okay with an homage watch, it offers a familiar Rolex-adjacent look or an alternative to something like the Tudor Black Bay Pro with its stainless steel 24-hour bezel.

Baltic Aquascaphe GMT

A GMT-equipped variation of Baltic’s flagship retro dive watch, the Aquascaphe, this 39mm charmer features a lot of the traditional GMT cues — such as the bi-color bezel and arrow-tipped GMT hand — but somehow has its own look. With a Swiss automatic movement from Soprod beating away inside, microbrands such as Baltic show that not only Seiko and Citizen can compete in the under-$1,000. It’s a hell of a value and perhaps even versatile enough to be the one watch you own. Just note that, since Baltic watches are priced in euros, the price you pay may end up being slightly over a grand, depending on the exchange rate at the time.

Certina DS Action GMT

Hodinkee

Certina DS Action GMT

Specs

Case Size: 43.1mm
Movement: ETA Powermatic 80.661 Automatic GMT
Water Resistance: 200m

A few years ago, this watch would be unthinkable, as it’s a Swiss-made, automatic, “true” GMT from a Swiss heritage brand. But we’re living in the Golden Age of affordable GMT watches, which means this Certina is a reality. Certina is a part of the Swatch Group, a massive conglomerate that also includes brands like Omega, Longines, Hamilton, Tissot and Blancpain.

Being a part of Swatch Group comes with perks, like having exclusive access to ETA movements. The Powermatic 80 powering this Certina is one of those movements. It has an independently operable hour hand and an 80-hour power reserve, and while versions of it show up across Swatch Group’s portfolio, this is the most affordable watch using it. It also boasts classic sports watch styling, a sapphire crystal and a dive watch-ready 200m of water resistance. The only thing keeping it out of our top spot, really, is its sizing. At 43.1mm, it’s simply going to be too large for many people.

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What Is a GMT Watch?

GMT stands for Greenwich Mean Time, time zone zero against which all other time zones are numbered, also known as UTC (Coordinated Universal Time). A GMT watch displays the time like a normal analog watch, but it adds an additional 24-hour hand that tracks the hour from a second time zone. Many (not all) GMT watches also feature a rotating bezel with 24-hour markings, allowing you to track yet another time zone if you so choose.

An example: My watch now indicates 10:10 am where I am on the US East Coast. I’ve got colleagues in California, so I set the GMT hand accordingly and it indicates just past 7 on the dial’s 24-hour scale. I’ve also got colleagues in Geneva, though, so the bezel is rotated such that the GMT hand indicates 16:10 (4:10 pm). Pretty simple.

What to Look for in an Affordable GMT Watch

If you want a GMT watch for its functionality, you might need to look closely when shopping in the affordable range. Some watches might look like GMTs, for example, due to a bi-colored bezel, without actually offering the actual complication. While you can nominally track another time zone simply with a rotating 12-hour bezel and normal time telling, this isn’t a GMT (and it might leave you confused about whether the hour it displays is am or pm) — though it might be a more affordable alternative, especially if you just want the look.

Another type of watch to look out for is those that include a 24-hour hand which is tied to the main timekeeping and can’t be separated from it. These are watches that simultaneously indicate your current time in traditional format as well as on a 24-hour scale — basically acting as an am or pm indicator, which can also be handy but is quite different from a GMT.

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