Buying Guide – 6 Dual-Time Watches Launched in 2017 for Modern Travellers

The vast majority of people are comfortable with watches which simply display hours and minutes, but for globetrotters, frequent travellers and those doing business around the world, a dual-time (or so-called GMT in certain cases) watch is highly practical and purposeful for their daily travelling needs. We have picked 6 GMT watches of 2017, with choices to suit every pocket and taste.

Frederique Constant – Classics Automatic GMT

Frederique Constant has updated one of its most classic models. Designed with the classic gentleman in mind, the Classics Automatic GMT is an elegant, understated dual time watch presented in a 42 mm steel case. The silver dial features printed Roman numerals and guilloche decoration in its centre, and it’s set off with Breguet-style hands. All functions can be adjusted through the crown and the automatic movement can be seen through the exhibition case back. As always with Frederique Constant, the price of this handsome timepiece is very reasonable, at CHF 1,395.

Quick facts: 42 mm steel case – 50m water resistance – automatic movement (Sellita base) with hours, minutes, seconds, GMT indication and date. Leather strap with pin buckle – CHF 1,395 – More information: www.frederiqueconstant.com

Oris Big Crown Propilot Worldtimer

Oris is known for its practical, innovative watches with a utilitarian design, offered at a competitive price. Their take on the travel watch is no exception. The Big Crown Propilot Worldtimer features dual time indication with a day-night display for the second time zone. The 2017 edition comes with a cool functional update, whereby the hour hand can be adjusted independently forwards/backwards by one-hour increments turning the knurled bezel (instead of having two pushers). That makes it a perfect watch for globe-adventurers.

Quick facts: 44.7 mm steel case – 100m water resistance – automatic Oris movement (base ETA 2836-2) with hours, minutes, seconds, dual time and date. Steel bracelet or leather strap – CHF 3,600 on steel bracelet or crocodile leather strap – CHF 3,400 on calfskin or textile leather strap – More information: www.oris.ch

Graham Chronofighter Vintage GMT

The Chronofighter Vintage is a scaled-down, toned-down version of the bold, unconventional Graham chronograph. With a 44mm diameter and its redesigned start-stop trigger, it is a bit more restrained and wearable than its predecessors (relatively speaking, of course). The GMT model features a unidirectional rotating GMT ceramic bezel and features 24 positions. Nice colour options are available, all with gradient dials and original, slightly vintage-inspired design… And the chronograph movement, based on a Valjoux, is a no-brainer.

Quick facts: 44 mm steel case – 100m water resistance – automatic movement (base ETA7750) with hours, minutes, seconds, GMT and date. Calf leather strap with pin buckle – CHF 6,950. More information: www.graham1695.com 

Ulysse Nardin Classic Dual Time Boutique Edition enamel dial

If the Ulysse Nardin Classic Dual time model is not new, the boutique edition comes with a superb enamel dial with black Roman numerals (manufactured with Donzé-Cadran). The local time is displayed by the centre hands and the home time is shown in a window at 9 o’clock. The watch is super easy to set, as the two pushers on the left-hand side of the case allow for quick setting of the local time (forward/backward adjustment). The crown position indicator (wind/date/time) makes things even simpler. And the overall take on the look, with great quality and perfectly dosed vintage elements, makes it quite a handsome watch, to say the least.

Quick facts: 42 mm steel case – 30m water resistance – automatic in-house movement with hours, minutes, seconds, dual time and big date. Aged leather strap with folding buckle – limited edition of 99 pieces (boutique exclusive) – CHF 12,900. More information: www.ulysse-nardin.com

Rolex Sky-Dweller in Steel

This was one of the good surprises of Baselworld 2017, the Rolex watch with one of the most complex movements ever produced by the brand is now available in steel. The Sky-Dweller combines the local time-zone display with the conventional hands, the home-time indication on a 24h rotating disc by a red pointer, and an annual calendar (the months are indicated thanks to twelve small windows next to the hour markers – August is shown in the picture below at 8 o’clock). To set the watch, you use both the bezel and the crown. The bezel allows you to select which of the three functions you want to set. Then everything is adjusted using the winding crown. Simple, user-friendly and reliable – not that you would expect anything else from Rolex. And now, with the steel case and bracelet, this exclusive watch becomes almost affordable… almost!

Quick facts: 42 mm steel case with white gold bezel – 100m water resistance – automatic in-house movement with hours, minutes, seconds, dual time and annual calendar. Steel bracelet with Oysterclasp – EUR 13,150. More information: www.rolex.com

Jaquet Droz Grande Seconde Dual Time

The artful simplicity of the Jaquet–Droz Grande Seconde is now endowed with a new indication for travellers. The “dual time” has inherited the collection’s clean lines, minimalist design and superbly crafted movements. Two off-centered dials slightly overlap to delineate a figure eight. The upper dial shows the local time while the lower dial indicates concentrically the seconds, the date (hand with a red tip) and a second time-zone on 24 hours. A perfect integration of complications into an iconic design. Elegant, original, refined…

Quick facts: 43 mm steel case – 30m water resistance – automatic in-house movement with off-centered hours and minutes, Off-centered large seconds, dual time and date at 6 o’clock. Alligator leather strap with folding buckle – CHF 16,450. More information: www.jaquet-droz.com