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GMT Advice? Anyone owned a Zodiac?

ghce
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That hits right at the crux of the problem for me too, I love the look of the Tritium but the durability of it not so much but for most people 10 years with a watch is a life time but when I look at my collection most of them are 40 years plus and I wear them all the time.
When it comes to super luminova there seems to be huge variability in the execution of it in terms of how long the glow lasts at night.
If I knew that I could get Tritium replacement in 15 to 20 years that would be a no brainer for me and Ball does seem to use those glass tube modules a lot in some of their watches.
 
guppydriver
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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


Really like the Ball with a white dial. Seems to have zero compromises. I love the hours on the rehaut along with the rotating 24 hour bezel. Makes it a tri-time watch. Problem is ....at 3K, seems to be knocking on some more prestigious brands door.

I like the Baltic a lot, but 39 seems a little too small for a GMT (that I will use all the time).

I may give the Zodiac a try. I loved the neon green, but I may be a little too chicken to go that bold. I wear dark blue slacks/ tie and a white shirt to work and worry that the green would clash a little too much. I do find the more I collect, the greater the risk I'm willing to take with regard to bold colors. Case in point, a few years ago, I wouldn't have had the courage to buy orange, but now the orange and white PO is at the top of my list (after a GMT).

So I'll probably just decide between a Zodiac or Farer in the next few days and pull the trigger.
 
DoctorEvil
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guppydriver guppydriver
Really like the Ball with a white dial. Seems to have zero compromises. I love the hours on the rehaut along with the rotating 24 hour bezel. Makes it a tri-time watch. Problem is ....at 3K, seems to be knocking on some more prestigious brands door.

I like the Baltic a lot, but 39 seems a little too small for a GMT (that I will use all the time)

I may give the Zodiac a try. I loved the neon green, but I may be a little too chicken to go that bold. I wear dark blue slacks/ tie and a white shirt to work and worry that the green would clash a little too much. I do find the more I collect, the greater the risk I'm willing to take with regard to bold colors. Case in point, a few years ago, I wouldn't have had the courage to buy orange, but now the orange and white PO is at the top of my list (after a GMT).

So I'll probably just decide between a Zodiac or Farer in the next few days and pull the trigger.

Agree that $3k is at a significantly higher price point compared to the Zodiac or Farer. However, you get what you pay for and that's a watch with "true" GMT functionality (i.e. a GMT watch where the small hour hand can be skipped forwards or backwards in one hour increments without stopping the seconds hand). These watches do tend too be more expensive. I know the Farer definitely does not have that so when you land in another time zone, you not only have to change the small hour hand to the local time, the GMT hand will need to be skipped forwards as well by the required amount in order to continue displaying GMT correctly. Or, you can adjust the bezel accordingly. It's a bit more cumbersome if you're a frequent traveller and landing in a different time zone every few days. However, if you're still cool with the Zodiac or Farer's functionality then go for it and let us know what you think of it. All the best with your search 😀
Edited:
 
guppydriver
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Last question then I will shut up and spend…

Monta SkyQuest?

Seems to make zero compromises ….

Good size
24 hour Bezel
24 clock on the rehaut
Priced much lower than conventional brands at around 2K

Any advice on this piece, not at all familiar with the brand? Does it have a jumping hour hand?

I’ll post what I pick up, this thread had helped me heaps.
 
vintage hab
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I had been looking for a relatively inexpensive diver GMT (or a swimming watch) for travel, as I'm wary of losing some of my expensive watches. There's another good thread on the topic here:
https://omegaforums.net/threads/show-us-your-gmt’s-under-2500-usd.106152/page-6#post-1685486

I went around in circles, and finally narrowed on the Christopher Ward Trident GMT or the Lorier Hyperion, but couldn't really decide. Then one morning, I received an email that the CW C60 Trident GMT 600 was being offered at 50% off. It seems they've discontinued the 40mm size, which is my prefered size. I jumped on it! I just received it yesterday and love it, although it is chunky.

CW Trident GMT - 13July2021.jpg
 
ghce
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Here is my inexpensive GMT1, its not a GMT2 but at this price who cares.

WP_20210603_21_29_46_Rich.jpg
 
ckhaing
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ghce ghce
Here is my inexpensive GMT1, its not a GMT2 but at this price who cares.

WP_20210603_21_29_46_Rich.jpg
where can i find it? thanks
 
ghce
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ckhaing ckhaing
where can i find it? thanks

Here are 3 online sellers in Russia whom I have used to buy in the past, this particular example came from Soviet Market ( last link) but all three seem to be reliable sellers.

http://chistopolcity.com/960/739-russian-military-vostok-komandirskie-tank-watch-211306.html
https://meranom.com/en/amphibian-classic/960/vostok-watch-amphibian-classic-960762.html
https://soviet.market/catalog/vosto...ne_amphibian_automatic_mens_watch_960762.html

Another option is the 960 SE series https://meranom.com/en/amphibian-se/960se/
The SE range have solid link bracelets and slightly different layout options which account for the slightly higher price.

or this one which I hadnt noticed before at an even cheaper price https://soviet.market/catalog/170_case_new/vostok_amphibian_170862.html though I prefer to stick to the all Stainless Neptune format with its quirky end links.
Edited:
 
guppydriver
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Well….update….thanks for the help.

Mission somewhat accomplished at less than a grand. I found a like new Oris small seconds big pilot on Chrono. I know it’s not a travelers GMT, but at 49, my eyes are starting to go a little and I love the readability of it. It’s nothing fancy , but I love that I can beat it up a bit and not have to worry.

I’m not totally done though. Whilst researching, I actually tried on the Black Bay GMT, and absolutely loved it. Way more than I thought! I think it will be my next purchase and hopefully scratch the itch the BRBO or BLNR has been causing me for quite some time.
6CF1D0B3-48D6-4254-83CC-4D336D203460.jpeg 661A3945-8A9D-4652-B1DA-014C8AE7B873.jpeg
 
abrod520
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guppydriver guppydriver
Whilst researching, I actually tried on the Black Bay GMT, and absolutely loved it. Way more than I thought!

That's how it got me 🤦

Word to anyone reading: Don't ever try on a Black Bay model unless you're ready to spend money 😵‍💫

(P.S. my BB GMT is now one of my absolute favorite watches)
 
Larry S
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See my Baltic post.
 
Spinakerr
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guppydriver guppydriver
I know it’s not a travelers GMT, but at 49, my eyes are starting to go a little and I love the readability of it.

Is that 49 year old eyes or 49mm watch?😀

Looks good, great choice.
 
guppydriver
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UPDATE.

I’m back to square one. The Oris had some movement issues and I am returning it for a refund…..

I think I may just give up on the budget travelers GMT and go with a Tudor, GS quartz, or PO. I REALLY like the jumping hour and the price of entry seems to be high.

Thought I’d just pick up a Tudor, but reading the forum, it appears the date wheel issue might not be solved after all. I may go find a Oreo PO to try on again, maybe my tastes have changed a bit since I first saw it person.

I wish a solid micro brand would put a jumping hour GMT in their pieces for under 2K. It would be a winner. I’m actually surprised Longines doesn’t incorporate that modified powermatic 80 ETA to put out a sweet GMT at that price point.
 
abrod520
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guppydriver guppydriver
Thought I’d just pick up a Tudor, but reading the forum, it appears the date wheel issue might not be solved after all.

I've got the Tudor, and it has the date wheel problem. But the watch is so great I kinda don't really care that much... the only reason I haven't sent it in for warranty service is that I think I'd miss it too much!
 
vbrad26
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Yeah I don;t think it is enough to stop me from getting the BB GMT. I'm sure it will eventually be resolved one way or the other....right?
lol.
 
size11s
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No connection to Eddie at Timefactors but I have 3 of his diver watches and think the quality to price ratio is astonishing. I don't have a Dreadnought Voyager but it has a 21 jewel ETA 2893-2 elabore in it, the same as the Black Bay GMT at £875. Whats not to like, although it is very much a weighty tool watch.
 
guppydriver
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Ended up with this today now that the Oris has been sent back. Limited edition white dial. True GMT for under $1400. Couldn’t be happier ….time to start saving for a high end GMT now that I have this one for work.
8D2CBAD0-839F-4271-8736-350CEC8C1FB7.jpeg
 
DoctorEvil
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guppydriver guppydriver
Ended up with this today now that the Oris has been sent back. Limited edition white dial. True GMT for under $1400. Couldn’t be happier ….time to start saving for a high end GMT now that I have this one for work.
8D2CBAD0-839F-4271-8736-350CEC8C1FB7.jpeg
Nice find. Congrats and glad to see your research paid off.
 
Spaceman172
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61E88374-A14A-49B7-BC04-483EE4292552.jpeg

Surprised nobody has mentioned the Bell & Ross GMT. Had this for a couple of years and can highly recommend it for under the radar value for money and build quality against other brands in the same price range.
 
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