The Best GMT Watches Under $5,000
A GMT watch is a great watch for travelers and professionals who need to track multiple time zones. We’ve put together the best automatic GMT watches under $5,000, combining style, know-how, and reliability.
When it comes to choosing a watch that blends functionality with flair, the GMT function definitely stands out. Originally made for pilots and frequent travelers, GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) watches allow you to keep track of multiple time zones simultaneously. An extra hour hand on your watch circles the dial every 24 hours, pointing to a second-time scale—handy, right? Whether you’re jet-setting across continents or trying to remember if it’s too early to call your colleague in Tokyo, a GMT watch has got you covered.
Here, we embark on a journey to find the top GMT watches you can snag for under $5,000. These classic or sporty timepieces not only promise precision and reliability but also come in designs that are sure to turn heads. So sit back, relax, and join us as we dive into the world of second time zones, making your next watch purchase a breeze—and maybe even a little fun!
Delma Santiago GMT Meridian Automatic
If you’re in the market for an automatic dive watch with a GMT function and 500-meter water resistance, the Delma Santiago GMT Meridian watch is an excellent option. It features a 43mm wide and 13.3mm thick stainless steel case that is brushed and polished with a unidirectional rotating bezel. The bezel insert comes in two-tone color schemes (black and blue, black and green, or blue and red) with a 24-hour scale. The watch is available in seven different references. The dial options include black, blue, green, or white, all with a carbon weave pattern and large Super-LumiNova indices, numerals at 6, 9, and 12 o’clock, and a date window at 3 o’clock with a cyclops magnifier. The watch hands are luminous, with the central hour and minute hands joined by a red-tipped seconds hand and a red GMT hand with a Super-LumiNova-filled triangular tip. It is powered by the Sellita SW330-2, a Swiss-made automatic movement with an independently set GMT function.
- Price: USD 1,800
Alpina Seastrong Diver Extreme Automatic GMT
Introduced by Alpina in April 2024, The Seastrong Diver Extreme Automatic GMT comes in two color options: a silver dial with a silver outer ring and a black dial with a black outer ring. Both have a black rubber strap with a folding buckle. The hands are polished silver with white lume, featuring a red triangle on the second and GMT hands. The watch includes a date display at 6 o’clock and is powered by the AL-560 automatic movement with a 50-hour power reserve. It features a 39×40.50 mm brushed and polished stainless steel case, anti-reflective sapphire crystal, ceramic black bidirectional GMT bezel, and 30 ATM/300m water resistance. The case back is engraved with the Seastrong pattern, and the screw-down crown ensures durability. This watch is a great choice due to its robust build, excellent legibility, long power reserve, and impressive water resistance, making it suitable for both everyday wear and professional diving.
- Price: USD 2,695
Ball Watch Roadmaster Marine GMT
The Roadmaster Marine GMT by BALL Watch Company is designed for adventurers. It features a quick-set GMT function with push buttons for easy time zone adjustments. The 8 o’clock button moves the GMT hand backward, while the 10 o’clock button moves it forward, allowing tracking of three time zones. For readability in darkness, it uses self-powered H₃ gas tubes and a Super LumiNova coating on the ceramic bezel. The watch has 28 H₃ tubes on the dial and hands, including Arabic numerals at 6, 9, and 12 o’clock.
Powered by the chronometer-certified automatic caliber BALL RR1203-C, the Marine GMT has day-date functions. It is water-resistant to 200m, anti-magnetic to 4,800A/m, and shock-resistant to 5,000G. The 40mm titanium case features a see-through back and comes in various colors with options for a rubber or NATO strap. BALL Watch Company continues to innovate with the Roadmaster Marine GMT, providing a durable and versatile watch for explorers.
- Price: 3,250 USD
Cuervo y Sobrinos Churchill 1895 GMT
The Cuervo y Sobrinos Churchill 1895 GMT, introduced in April 2024, is a new addition to the brand’s Churchill collection, celebrating the life of Sir Winston Churchill, who visited Cuba on more than one occasion and displayed a fondness for the Caribbean island. This model includes familiar features from previous versions, such as a steel and titanium case, guilloché dial, and a hinged lever at 3 o’clock serving as the crown. New additions include a magnified date display and a dual-time function, with a pointer-style hand indicating home time on a 24-hour track. The watch is available in blue or silver dials on either leather straps under budget or stainless steel bracelets, slightly over the 5’000 mark. Limited to 200 pieces each, The Churchill 1895 is designed for both elegance and sportiness, paying homage to Churchill’s adventurous spirit and travels, particularly his visit to Cuba during the 1895 war for independence from Spain.
- Price: USD 4,680 on a leather strap
Perrelet Weekend GMT Ice Blue
The Perrelet WEEKEND collection, known for its traditionally sober and discreet designs, introduced two new bright dial colors in 2023, ice blue and deep green with a sunray finish. With a diameter of 39 mm and a thickness of only 9.56 mm, this watch fits comfortably on smaller wrists. The Weekend GMT model features a 24-hour second-time zone indicated by a red triangular-tipped hand on the dial’s inner ring. It is powered by the Perrelet P-401 manufacture caliber, consisting of 99 parts and 25 rubies, offering a 42-hour power reserve. The screwed case back reveals the finely finished movement, including circular-grained bridges and a rhodium-plated oscillating mass decorated with the Maison’s logo. Both versions are available on a matching alligator strap with a Perrelet-logo buckle or a stainless steel bracelet.
- Price: 2,050 USD
Tag Heuer Aquaracer Professional GMT
The TAG Heuer Aquaracer Professional 300 GMT is a robust watch designed for the modern explorer. It features a GMT function, a bidirectional rotating bezel, 300m water resistance, luminescence, and a double safety clasp. Its 12-faceted ceramic bezels and luminescent pointers ensure precision at any depth. Available with a blue dial and blue and black bezel or a green dial with green and black bezel, it has a 24-hour GMT scale and a luminous-tipped GMT hand. It is powered by the COSC-certified TH31 calibre and has a five-year warranty and a case back engraved with a diving helmet. For optimal comfort, it includes an advanced strap adjustment system with a folding clasp and double safety push-buttons, providing a tailored fit whether on land or at sea.
- Price: USD 4,200
Ikepod Seapod Bronze GMT
The Ikepod Seapod Bronze GMT is limited to 50 pieces and has three distinct dial variations: green, blue, and gray. This heritage model draws inspiration from IKEPOD’s first diving watch, launched in 1996, and merges it with the iconic style of the 1997 UFO series. Housed in a 46mm bronze case that wears comfortably at 42mm as there are no lugs, each watch is paired with a matching rubber strap. Over time, the beautiful German Patina on the bronze case will develop a unique finish, reflecting its use and aging gracefully. The dial has white hour hands outlined in bronze and a bronze GMT pointer hand. Luminova accents illuminate the hour and minute hands, indexes, and a dot on the bezel for the 12-hour mark. The watch is powered by a brand-new GMT Miyota 9075 automatic movement exclusive to Ikepod. A very distinctive timepiece that stands out across all time zones.
- Price: USD 2,600
Tudor Black Bay 58 GMT
The Tudor Black Bay 58 GMT is a refined, smaller version of the 41mm Black Bay GMT, featuring reworked proportions and a slimmer case, that was released in Aril this year. It has a 39mm stainless steel case that is 12.8mm thick, with a 47.8mm lug-to-lug height and 200m water resistance. The watch offers a single dial color option at its April 2024 release but comes with a choice of a three-link “rivet-style” bracelet or a black rubber strap, both featuring Tudor’s T-fit clasp for easy adjustment. Vintage elements include a burgundy and black bidirectional bezel with a gilt finish and “snowflake” style hands. The watch is powered by the COSC-certified GMT Manufacture Calibre MT5450-U, with a silicon hairspring and a 65-hour power reserve. The Tudor Black Bay 58 GMT is a “you can’t go wrong” choice, celebrated both for its design and functionality, making it a hit straight out of the box.
- Price: USD 4,500 on a rubber strap
- Price: USD 4,750 on a stainless steel bracelet
Bvlgari Bvlgari Aluminium GMT
The Bvlgari Aluminium GMT watch, first launched in 1998, has been celebrated for redefining luxury sports watches by mixing innovative materials with bold designs. This latest model, introduced in 2024, features a 40mm aluminum case with a black rubber bezel and strap, giving it a distinctive look and lightweight feel. The dial is designed for readability and functionality, featuring a white face with a black and red inner dial with a red-tipped 24-hour hand that allows for the tracking of a second time zone. The caseback is made of titanium with a DLC (Diamond-Like Carbon) coating. The watch is powered by the in-house B192 calibre automatic movement, offering a GMT function, hours, minutes, seconds, and a date display. It has a power reserve of 42 hours and is water resistant up to 100 meters. All in all, it is an attractive option for those looking for a high-end yet unpretentious timepiece.
Longines HydroConquest GMT
The Longines HydroConquest GMT, launched in March 2024, features the same cool design and great functionalities as the original 41 mm versions but in a larger 43 mm case. It comes in three sunray-brushed dial options: green, black, and blue with indexes and hands generously coated with Super-LumiNova for easy reading in all conditions. The date is displayed through a window at 3 o’clock. Inside the watch is the automatic calibre L844.5, exclusive to Longines. This movement is a true GMT, allowing the local hour hand to be individually adjusted through the crown in one-hour increments. Both the blue and black versions are available with either a rubber strap or a stainless steel bracelet, while the green version is only available on the bracelet. Like the smaller watches, the 43mm models have 300 meters of water resistance, a screw-in crown, a screwed case back, and a ceramic bezel insert.
- Price: USD 2,750 on a rubber strap
- Price: USD 2,950 on a stainless steel bracelet
Venezianico Nereide GMT
The Venezianico Nereide GMT is a compelling GMT timepiece with much going for it, and that doesn’t break the bank. The Nereide GMT 39 mm is suitable for a wide range of wrist sizes, ensuring comfort for most wearers. It is available in several color variants, including grey, dark blue, sky blue, and pink, allowing buyers to choose a style that suits them. One of the standout features of the Nereide GMT is its superior construction and finish, which is impressive considering its price point of 625 USD. As a GMT watch, the Nereide GMT includes an additional arrow-shaped hand that rotates once every 24 hours, allowing the wearer to track a second time zone. It is powered by the Seiko NH34 automatic GMT movement and has an impressive 200 meters of water resistance. The Venezianico Nereide GMT stands out in the crowded field of affordable GMT watches, offering a very attractive package for watch lovers seeking a well-made, stylish GMT watch without a hefty price tag.
- Price: USD 625