You know, I’ve always been fascinated by watches, especially those with a bit of history and some cool complications. So, a while back, I started looking into GMT watches. I needed something that could keep track of two time zones easily because, well, I travel a bit, and I like keeping tabs on what time it is back home. That’s when I stumbled upon the Oceanographer GMT. I did some serious digging into this watch before I got it.
Saving up for this watch was a whole adventure in itself. It wasn’t exactly cheap, but it wasn’t crazy expensive either. It felt like a good value for what it offered. I mean, it’s a real GMT watch, not one of those “caller GMTs” that are a pain to use when you’re actually crossing time zones. The Oceanographer GMT lets you jump the hour hand independently, which is exactly what I needed.
So, I started doing my research, reading every review I could find, and watching tons of videos. It was interesting to learn about the history of the Oceanographer line. Apparently, Bulova used a Miyota 9075 movement in it, which some people said it’s pretty reliable. And the Citizen? They used their own in-house movement, I guess. The Miyota movement has a 42-hour power reserve, so that was something I needed to keep in mind. Anyway, the whole watch just looked great in pictures – that vintage vibe with modern features was right up my alley.
I pulled the trigger and got the watch, this is where the fun really began. First off, setting it up was a breeze. I set the main hands to my current time, and the GMT hand to my home time. And man, traveling with this thing has been so smooth. The 24-hour scale on the dial is super clear, so there’s no messing up AM and PM when you’re jet-lagged. You know some pilots use GMT watches because they fly through so many time zones, it helps them keep their reference time straight. I get it now!
Here’s a little list of things I noticed while playing around with it:
- Wearing it: The three-link bracelet is pretty comfortable, and it has a foldover clasp that feels secure. I did not worry about it falling off at all.
- Checking the movement: It’s a self-winding movement, so I just gave it a few shakes, and it started ticking. The 24-jewel thing made it seem fancy. I looked through the caseback, and it was neat to see the movement working, although I have to admit, it’s not the prettiest movement I’ve ever seen.
- Using the GMT hand: This is where the watch really shines. When I “traveled,” I just popped the crown and jumped the hour hand to the new time zone. The GMT hand stayed put, showing my home time. So easy!
Some other thoughts
The market is full of affordable GMT watches. But I think I made a good choice. This watch does what I need it to do, and it looks good doing it. I also appreciate that it’s got a bit of history behind it. It is really a practical watch, and I’m happy I got it. I’ve been wearing it almost every day since I got it, and it’s been a great companion. If you travel a lot or if you just want a cool, vintage-inspired watch with a useful complication, I’d say give the Oceanographer GMT a look. It might just be what you’re looking for.
