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GMT Advice? Anyone owned a Zodiac?

guppydriver
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Here's my situation...

Really want a GMT complication....I would actually use it for work. Looking for something "tooly" with a rotating or numbered bezel, so not a dressy GMT.

Dilemma

1.Not a huge PO Oreo fan for a number if reasons (although very much an Omega fanboy).
2.Over a year on the "list" for a BLNR or BLRO...and frankly, probably never going to get called.
3.Still worry about Black Bay date issues and I already have two Tudors and like diversity
4. Still not sure what to think about Spring Drives.
5. Don't wont to spend a lot just in case I happen to get the call for the GMTII

SO.....

Any recommendations on some affordable sleepers out there?

I saw a really cool lime green Zodiac that caught my eye, anyone have an opinion? Also kind of looking at Farer microbrand GMT's, but I don't have a great working knowledge of all the options that are out there. If there is anything else that I should keep an eye out for, let me know.
 
longhornbba
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Probably not much help here because I don't have a GMT, but the Tudor, Grand Seiko and Zodiac would be some of my top choices. Given you have a few Tudors, those seem to be out. The Spring Drive in the GS is one of the most interesting movements to me and I think a GS GMT is in my future... The Zodiac is fun and "cheap" and would be a nice watch to have.

What about the Planet Ocean GMT?
 
ConElPueblo
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If I had the wrists for it, I would buy - no, I would already have bought - a Certina DS GMT or a Mido Multifort GMT.


Certina-DS-Action-GMT-Powermatic-80-portada-Horas-y-Minutos.jpg


Mido-Multifort-GMT-Review-gear-patrol-slide-1.jpg

For a GMT I would insist on a "true" GMT complication for the illusion of a life of glamour and world travel to work, so pretty much none of the cheaper GMT watches will do.

The Powermatic 80 GMT in these are true GMT like the Black Bay and the Omegas, have a huge power reserve and look great. They are all at least two milimetres to large for me, sadly. The Mido comes in more dressy versions and there is a very dressy Tissot as well.

And they are very cheap for what they offer.
 
guppydriver
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longhornbba longhornbba
Probably not much help here because I don't have a GMT, but the Tudor, Grand Seiko and Zodiac would be some of my top choices. Given you have a few Tudors, those seem to be out. The Spring Drive in the GS is one of the most interesting movements to me and I think a GS GMT is in my future... The Zodiac is fun and "cheap" and would be a nice watch to have.

What about the Planet Ocean GMT?

I think the PO line in general is a little too thick for me. Anytime I get above 3k on a watch, I have to love it, and the current PO GMT's just don't do it for me.
 
guppydriver
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ConElPueblo ConElPueblo
If I had the wrists for it, I would buy - no, I would already have bought - a Certina DS GMT or a Mido Multifort GMT.


Certina-DS-Action-GMT-Powermatic-80-portada-Horas-y-Minutos.jpg


Mido-Multifort-GMT-Review-gear-patrol-slide-1.jpg

For a GMT I would insist on a "true" GMT complication for the illusion of a life of glamour and world travel to work, so pretty much none of the cheaper GMT watches will do.

The Powermatic 80 GMT in these are true GMT like the Black Bay and the Omegas, have a huge power reserve and look great. They are all at least two milimetres to large for me, sadly. The Mido comes in more dressy versions and there is a very dressy Tissot as well.

And they are very cheap for what they offer.

Can't wait to check them out when I get home tonight. Thanks for the insight!
 
abrod520
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Personally I'd lean more towards a Mido Ocean Star GMT. Timing bezel gives it some daily usability in addition to the GMT function, and it costs about the same as the less-capable Zodiac.
 
Longbow
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Plenty of GMT choice from Chris Ward
3A82F79F-B725-4313-BDD0-8F06EAC38BE6.jpeg 4F2EC70D-4835-4C81-BBE1-AD5C5E3E2D08.jpeg 877899B4-9627-4EA0-B8AC-81530D52B2E9.jpeg 53565070-2C0C-4130-ABE4-368426E58228.jpeg 4B0EDD2C-D69D-44F7-90F4-7B7A445497EF.jpeg 97B99E48-04C9-4221-A054-D5D1D7E174E9.jpeg 7BF81175-821A-4AAB-A8BC-1D4F64EF996F.jpeg 7DB03ED2-29D3-415D-A035-04AB5789F58B.jpeg

these two are mine
BFFBFDCF-22B6-4822-84F9-A2E7313300B8.jpeg 5D8A9A32-7BC4-4824-B47B-438A71C22917.jpeg


or maybe you just need a real sleeper
3A7DA296-E16C-4EDD-B0D4-09738A3953B5.jpeg
Edited:
 
ConElPueblo
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abrod520 abrod520
Personally I'd lean more towards a Mido Ocean Star GMT. Timing bezel gives it some daily usability in addition to the GMT function, and it costs about the same as the less-capable Zodiac.


Mido-Ocean-Star-GMT-black-orange-02.jpg


44mm? WHY OH WHY?!? 🫨
 
S.H.
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Not really affordable, but grand seiko makes great auto high beat gmt, dressy or sporty. A bit big for everyday wear, but if I were rich...

Seiko just released some interesting true gmt in the sharp edge line. Quite nice in the flesh.

downloadfile.jpg
Edited:
 
size11s
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I have heard some good things about the Dreadnought Voyager GMT if you want a very 'tooly' type watch and they can be found extremely reasonably priced used.
 
abrod520
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ConElPueblo ConElPueblo
44mm? WHY OH WHY?!?

I've got one of the 42.5mm regular Ocean Stars (the titanium one, it's excellent) and it isn't tooooo bad. The bezel is wide enough that it's well-proportioned, and the watch is nice and slim so it feels more like a professional tool rather than like a chunky dinner plate. I've never tried on the 44mm GMT (hard to find in the US unfortunately) but I think it prob wouldn't be that bad.
 
Waltesefalcon
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Does it have to be new or are you open to a vintage option? If you are I'd recommend looking into the old Accutron Astronaut, they have an interesting history, they look great, and they keep amazing time if properly serviced.
 
20210622_143953.jpg
Twocats
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I bought the piece of junk below. A buddy and I backed a Kickstarter campaign and paid for a pair of black dial, jubilee bracelet and an ETA movement, we got none of it. We chased them for months and all they did was dive on the ground and roll around faking injury. Never ever again an MV product.

9C24680B-1CF6-40B6-85E0-224D537D3FD9.jpeg CC8BA2AD-7031-49D3-AA52-789A83C9EF91.jpeg


look at the Baltic GMT, a show stopper in my opinion, especially with the grey and blue bezel.
 
Spinakerr
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I do think some of the new Zodiac GMTs are very good for the money, and they've produced some great colourways in limited editions.

I snagged one of the Hodinkee blue/green ones for some uncharacteristically bright colours for me, but the lume, movement and finish are very good for the price.

 
ghce
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ConElPueblo ConElPueblo
Mido-Ocean-Star-GMT-black-orange-02.jpg


44mm? WHY OH WHY?!? 🫨

Got to agree, why make 44 when you could do 48mm.
That Mido is a show stopped for sure.
 
ghce
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DoctorEvil DoctorEvil
Find myself very tempted by this watch. The Ball Watch Co Roadmaster Pilot GMT.
GMT2 looks and functionality but at a fraction of the cost, with three times the water resistance.
https://shop.ballwatch.ch/en/pilotgmt-02
BALL_Pilot_GMT_DESKTOP_01-1920x905.jpg


ew er now that is pretty esp at night when you need the real glow that Ball seem to specialize in.
 
DoctorEvil
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ghce ghce
ew er now that is pretty esp at night when you need the real glow that Ball seem to specialize in.
Yes, it does look good at night. My only concern is what happens in 20 years time when the tritium tubes no longer glow brightly. Will new tubes or dials be available? If it was super luminova, this watch would be a no brainer for me.
 
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