Are you an avid traveler in need of a timekeeping tool? Take a look at this list of the best world-time watches.
Picture this, you’re boarding the next flight from Paris to Hong Kong. Before you hop aboard, you need to call your office back in New York.
There’s some vital information you need to get across ahead of your next meeting.
On top of that, you need to call your brother in LA to wish him a happy birthday. When is the best time to call him?
A world-time watch will tell you all this and more. It can simply multitask in ways a human can’t.
The scenario I made up there may not be all that familiar to you. But then again, when did you last need to use your 500-meter water-resistant dive watch? Probably never. But it didn’t stop you from buying it, right?
The thing is, when we see a beautiful watch, we want it. All rationale and reasoning as to whether we actually need it goes out of the window.
We love the watch, we need the watch, we buy the watch. We very rarely need to use all the watch’s functions, but that’s okay. It looks and feels all kinds of beautiful, and that’s what’s important.
If a world time watch is on your radar, it’s your lucky day. I’ve just rounded up 7 of the best on the market right now.
Before we jump in, let’s look at what one is and how it works.
Table of Contents
What Is a World Time Watch?
If you already own a world time watch and don’t know how to use it, don’t feel like a fool. You’re not alone. There are different variations of the world time watch according to your budget.
That’s a good thing since it means they are no longer reserved for those with a $100k budget.
Whereas a GMT watch allows you to track one or two time zones at once, a world-time watch is different. With a world time watch, you can see what time it is in every main city in the world.
World Time watches cost more than a GMT watch because they’re more sophisticated. With a simple push of a button, all the cities and hour markers reconfigure.
Generally speaking, a world-time watch features the cities of the world around the outer dial. They’re also some of the most beautifully designed timepieces you can own.
How Does a World Time Watch Work?
A word time watch is a sophisticated timepiece. It enables you to see the current time in each of the key cities around the world. Here are some pointers to help you use one.
Set the city ring. In most cases, a world time watch features a bi-directional rotating ring. You can set it to your desired time zone. Simply align your desired city to its current time zone, and all other cities will correspond to theirs.
Read the time in your current location. The main hour and minute hands are designed to read local time. This feature refers to the 12-hour track on the dial.
Read the time of any city. The city ring is used in conjunction with the 24-hour ring to show time across various locations.
Best World Timer Watches
So, now we know how to use one, here is a list of some of the best world-time watches to own right now.
Montblanc Star Legacy Orbis Terrarum Watch Reference MB126108
Anywhere, anytime, this Montblanc watch keeps track of multiple time zones easily.
The design offers an intuitive way to stay connected with the world through simple time-tracking. It’s easy to do this, thanks to a single pusher.
It also shows the cities in daytime or nighttime mode.
A three-dimensional Northern Hemisphere map bears a rotating disc surrounded by a ring. This ring features 24 cities and a day/night indication underneath in different colors.
This World Time watch is fitted on a classic blue alligator leather band to pair well with casual attire.
Montblanc watches from the Star Legacy collection pay homage to earlier Minerva watches and are incredibly classic in design. Thus, this world-time watch is a great option if you’re looking for a timeless and elegant design.
IWC Pilot’s Watch Timezoner Chronograph Reference IW395001
This world-time watch accomplishes a classy look. When you move the bezel of the Pilot’s Watch Timezoner Chronograph, the local hour hand jumps.
In addition, the watch features a flyback chronograph function. It means you only need to activate the chronograph with a simple push of a button.
You can use that same pusher to stop and reset the stopwatch timing easily and quickly. This 40mm world timer watch is dressed in black tones and features a steel bodywork fitted in a black leather band.
It’s the perfect all-round classic timepiece for wearing to the office. Likewise, if you’re boarding a flight for business, you can adjust the city ring with little effort.
What’s more, IWC outfits this watch with an in-house movement.
Vacheron Constantin Overseas World Time
In the center of this world time watch from Vacheron Constantin is a map of the northern hemisphere. A lacquered disc marked with the 24 world cities surrounds the map.
Overlaid on the map is a piece of sapphire crystal glass that bears a day/night indicator. With this feature, you can easily see whether a city is sleeping or awake.
For more intuitive timekeeping, the watch features an outer minute track.
No World Time Watch could communicate the spirit of adventure better than this model from the brand’s Overseas collection. Its interchangeable strap system and functional designs represent the very best of the Vacheron Constantin’s manufacture.
Patek Philippe World Time Watch Reference 5231G
This travel watch made by Patek Philippe celebrates the brand’s relationship with Metiers d’arts dials.
The Grand Feu cloisonné enamel dial provides the perfect backdrop for a map depicting Southeast Asia to Oceania.
The 24-hour zone in this timepiece is separated into daytime and nighttime shades. The oceans and land masses, which achieve just the right shade, are created using filled enamel compartments.
The back of this elegant 38.5mm white gold case exposes an in-house movement through a sapphire back.
This world-time watch makes it onto my list since it’s one of the most exquisitely crafted. If you want a premium world time watch and you have the money to invest in one, go for this.
Bremont ALT1-W1
The Bremont ALT1-W1 combines a military aesthetic with the classic pilot’s watch design. All the while, it is geared to the wrists of the avid traveler with its complex dial.
The Williams Racing Team also wears the watch since the brand is its Official Timing Partner.
This Globemaster model boasts an etched globe on the surface of a blue dial. All 24 time zones are featured on an internal rotating bezel.
What’s more, this world-time watch comes fitted on a stylish stainless steel bracelet. It looks sophisticated whether attending work meetings or sightseeing.
You also get a sporty chronograph complication with black-filled sub-counters. These combine nicely with a zesty shot of yellow color afforded to the hands.
The 43mm model is sure to get noticed. Its confident case is crafted from the brand’s patented Trip-Tick technology. It promises a robust and intact bodywork for better protection over the modified BE-54AE movement.
A. Lange & Sohne Lange 1 Timezone Watch Reference 136.029
You can travel in style with the modest Lange 1 Timezone watch from A. Lane & Sohne.
A. Lange & Sohne manufacturer is renowned for crafting highly precise watches that people love for their superior craftsmanship.
With this model, you get an 18k white gold case and black dial with an off-center main timekeeping dial.
Opposite this is a 12-hour sub-dial balancing things out on the other side. There is also a city ring, a power reserve indicator, and an oversized date feature.
When you activate the 8 o’clock pusher, the city ring switches easterly. At the same time, the small sub-dial hour hand advances in one-hour increments. This indicates the zone time of the city alongside the white gold arrow marker.
Best Affordable World Time Watch
If the above options exceed your budget, take a look at this more affordable world-time watch.
Nomos Zurich World Time Watch Reference 805
Keeping on track of a busy schedule with a jet-lagged brain is no fun. The 40mm Nomos Zurich World Time watch is here to make life easier for you whilst on the go.
Despite this kind of complication being expensive to manufacture, Nomos remains an affordable option. The brand even packs the watch with an in-house movement.
In terms of a value-for-money watch, world time watches don’t come better than this. The model tracks the different world city time zones on a galvanized white dial.
The German manufacturer keeps the watch clean and minimalist. At just 8mm in height, it is one of the slimmest options on the market.
Closing Thoughts: Give a World-Time a Try
From affordable to luxury, this list of the best world-time watches gives you some great options. It proves that not all world time watches need to be expensive.
That said, there are some pretty pricey but equally beautiful masterpieces out there. If you’ve only just worked out how to use the complication, you’re not alone.
Many collectors just love the complex look of the world time watch. After all, it looks good whether it is used for tracking time zones or not.
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