Why a GMT Time-Zone Complication Is 2018’s Must-Have Watch Feature

Maybe you work in an office that’s bicoastal. Or maybe you’re just off enjoying the world. Either way, a GMT complication that displays a second time zone on a 24-hour scale is a handy addition to any timepiece. No wonder GMTs have become the hot new ticket in 2018, with more brands embracing the category than ever before.

Panerai Luminor Due 3 Days GMT Power Reserve Automatic Acciaio

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For 2018, Panerai moved its entire Due collection over to calibers manufactured in-house. This is the first GMT to arrive in the collection thus far, and much like its siblings, the watch boasts a thinner case profile that makes it ready to slide perfectly under a suit cuff.

$14,100, panerai.com

Tudor Black Bay GMT

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The Black Bay has been a fan fave for years, and the recently introduced Pepsi bezel GMT variant instantly became the new must-have. Powered by the brand’s manufactured in-house MT5652 self-winding caliber and available with your choice of steel bracelet, leather strap, or canvas strap, the new GMT delivers serious bang for the buck.

$4,200, tudorwatch.com

Rolex GMT-Master ii Pepsi

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If this watch looks familiar, it’s because Rolex’s Pepsi bezel GMTs were once iconic. And then the brand stopped making them. This year, it revived the style with this new steel-cased GMT-Master ii Pepsi-bezel on a jubilee bracelet, which instantly sparked waiting lists with authorized Rolex dealers around the globe.

$16,100, rolex.com

Frederique Constant Hybrid Manufacture

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Frederique Constant has invested heavily in incorporating smartwatch functionality into conventional watches, and the Hybrid Manufacture is its latest achievement. Its manufacture caliber pairs a mechanical automatic movement with an electronic module, allowing it to display smartwatch functions (including a GMT display) in its subdial at 12 o’clock.

$4,500, frederiqueconstant.com

TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph GMT

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Channelling its Jack Heuer-era roots, the new Carrera Chronograph GMT combines two of the most practical complications available in a very sleek package. Its skeletonized Heuer Calibre 02 delivers loads of visual flash, while the pairing of a black-and-blue ceramic bezel with a red GMT hand ensures that the complication remains highly legible even in less-than-ideal lighting conditions.

$7,500, tagheuer.com