Review – The Best GMT Watches and World Time Watches of 2025

For globetrotters who jump across time zones, a GMT watch or a more sophisticated world time watch is the most useful travel companion. Although cynics will counter this argument with a cell phone or smartwatch, there is nothing as reassuring and personal as your own travel watch. Thanks to Louis Cottier's ingenious solution in the 1930s of displaying local time with the central hands and world time on a rotating 24-hour ring, the time could be checked simultaneously around the globe. GMT watches are simpler but show local and home time at a glance, and both options typically have a day/night display to avoid waking up your loved ones in the middle of the night. So without further ado, let's take a look at our five best GMT and world time watches of 2025, an eclectic selection presented in alphabetical order.

Bovet recital 30

Arguably their most advanced travel companion, Bovet's Récital 30 world timer is a scaled-down version of the incredibly smart Récital 28, capable of synchronizing the whims of daylight saving time, with a perpetual calendar and tourbillon thrown in for good measure. Intended as a smaller, “everyday” version of its more complex sibling, the Récital 30 features the ingenious pulley system that can be adjusted to reflect the four different summer time periods of 70 countries. As with most world time watches, the central hand is linked to the local time, while the inner 24-hour ring corresponds to the 24 city reels. The watch is a breeze to use and its relatively compact 42mm case sits comfortably on the wrist. Powered by a 373-component movement with a 62-hour power reserve, the caliber is hidden by the solid rotor. The impressive Récital 30 is available in titanium 68,000 francs and red gold for CHF 96,800with a limited annual production of 30 watches.

For more information on the Bovet Récital 30 Worldtimer, see our handy article here.

Doxa SUB 250T GMT

With a dramatic change of style, our next candidate comes from underwater watch specialist Doxa. Combining unbeatable robustness and functionality in one fell swoop, the SUB 250T GMT inherits the powerful personality of its iconic 1966 predecessor, the SUB 300. However, the 40mm steel case is much more compact, has a slim 10.8mm height and features the signature No Deco bezel timings and a 60-minute scale. As a faithful underwater companion, the Doxa can explore depths of up to 250 meters and is equipped with a screw-down crown and a solid case back. Based on a skeletonized GMT hand pointing to a two-tone scale in black and orange, this Doxa is an “office” GMT with an independently adjustable 24-hour hand. Below deck is the élaboré automatic Sellita SW330-2 movement (an alternative to the ETA 2893, based on the 2892 architecture), which offers a 56-hour power reserve. Available in nine dial colors (orange is the classic), rice bead strap models are available in retail stores 2,590 euroswhile those with an FKM rubber strap are available at retail 2,550 euros.

For more information, read Derek Haager's first-hand underwater account.

Louis Vuitton Tambour Taiko Spin Time Antipode

For the Maison, whose meteoric rise was based on luggage and suitcases, it makes sense that the art of travel is a thematic thread throughout its product lines. Louis Vuitton's wonderfully kinetic Spin Time family was recently revamped as the Tambour Taiko Spin Time collection. The Spin Time Antipode world clock uses 12 rotating cubes, each with two city names exactly 12 time zones apart and two colors to indicate day and night. The central area of the dial is decorated with a world map and has jumping hours indicated by a yellow hand and a 360° hand to indicate the minutes. The animated display is housed in a 42.5mm white gold case and is powered by the new in-house automatic base movement developed by La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton. Playful yet technical, this 50-piece edition is available in retail stores 110,000 euros.

For an overview of the new Tambour Taiko Spin Time collection click here.

Nomos Club Sport Neomatik world time watch

It's safe to say that the stylish, practical and fun Nomos Worldtimer has taken the world by storm. Featuring a sturdy case, slim profile, fun dial colors, ease of use, and an in-house movement, as well as an economy class price, this premium world timer has been unanimously praised. Presented in compact 40mm cases with a wonderfully slim 9.9mm profile, the watch is still resistant to depths of 100 meters and features colorful dials and user-friendly features such as the pusher at 2 o'clock to advance the peripheral ring with 24 city airport codes and the local hour hand in one-hour increments. Home time is displayed on a subdial at 3 o'clock with a 24-hour scale and a two-tone day/night ring. The flat, compact Neomatik caliber DUW 3202 is manufactured by Nomos in its Glashütte factory and features the brand's swing system and a tight power reserve of 42 hours.

Find out more about the Nomos Club Sport Neomatik Worldtimer here.

Tudor Black Bay Pro Opaline

Voted the best tool watch of the year by MONOCHROME in 2022, the Black Bay Pro GMT from Tudor impressed us with its cool retro design, ultra-robust construction, pragmatic GMT complication and fair price. The introduction of the opal white dial (Polar) this year, an all-round adventure watch that can be taken anywhere, sparked positive comparisons with the Rolex Explorer II. The 39mm steel case with a depth rating of 200 meters features a fixed 24-hour GMT bezel indicated by the central yellow hand. As “Travel GMT,” the local time hand jumps forward or back in one-hour increments, coupled with the date display at 3 o’clock. Hallmark Tudor features such as the white Super-LumiNova treated Snowflake handset reflect the calming white dial. Powered by the Kenissi caliber MT5652, a COSC-certified automatic movement with a silicon hairspring, the power reserve is a robust 70 hours. This resilient, versatile white beauty can be yours 4,140 euros on a strap and 4,080 euros on a steel bracelet.