Summary Waqt Picks 5 of the Best Second-Time Zone Watches for 2024

For anyone who loves to travel, a watch with a second time zone is more than just a timepiece, it’s a trusted companion. It keeps you connected to home while helping you stay in sync with your destination. You might wonder why we didn’t specify whether the complication is GMT or dual time in the title. Well, we all know the difference, and we can agree that both serve the purpose of tracking a second time zone. This clever complication has been a favorite since the 1950s, often referred to as the golden age of aviation. During that era, pilots relied on these watches to track multiple time zones during long-haul flights, making them essential tools in the cockpit.

Fast forward to today, the second-time zone feature remains a staple of great watchmaking. It seamlessly blends practicality with style, making it perfect for modern explorers. With that in mind, Waqt has selected five of the best dual-time zone watches of 2024, timepieces that could be the next addition to your collection.

Breitling Chronomat Automatic GMT 40 Middle East

This year, Breitling introduced the Chronomat Automatic GMT 40 as an exclusive Middle East edition, crafted and sold specifically for the region to commemorate the brand’s 140th anniversary. We are aware that this is not necessarily a new model, but this special release pays homage to Middle Eastern heritage with thoughtful details. 

The watch features a 40mm stainless steel case with a thickness of 11.7mm, and a stainless steel unidirectional bezel. Its striking black dial is adorned with red gold-plated Eastern Arabic numerals, a nod to our region’s rich cultural legacy. The dial also includes a 24-hour scale for tracking a second time zone and a red GMT hand with a Super-LumiNova-coated arrow tip for enhanced visibility. 

Powering the timepiece is Breitling’s Caliber 32, an automatic movement based on the ETA 2893-2, offering a 42-hour power reserve. The watch is limited to just 200 pieces, and is available exclusively upon request.

Patek Philippe Aquanaut Travel Time

The Aquanaut Travel Time is undoubtedly one of Patek Philippe's most iconic models. Initially launched in steel and later offered in rose gold, this year the collection welcomed a luxurious white gold version featuring a stunning blue opaline dial. The case measures 40.8mm in diameter and 10.2mm in thickness, with a beautifully rounded octagonal bezel that enhances its visual appeal. Practicality meets elegance with time adjustment pushers positioned on the left side of the case and a date corrector on the right. 

The dial showcases white gold hands and indices, complemented by a minute track encircling the edge. At 6 o’clock, a date indicator is displayed, while day/night apertures provide home and local time indications. Powering the watch is the in-house Caliber 26-330 S C FUS, an automatic movement with a 45-hour power reserve. The Aquanaut Travel Time is priced approximately at AED 250,000.

Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris Geographic

Jaeger-LeCoultre has enriched the Polaris collection this year with the introduction of the Polaris Geographic, featuring the brand's renowned Geographic travel time complication. The watch is housed in a 42mm stainless steel case with a thickness of 11.54mm and showcases an ocean-gray lacquer dial. 

Unlike standard dual-time watches, the Geographic complication offers enhanced functionality, including a 24-hour display with a day/night indicator and a city display at the bottom of the dial, highlighting all 24 major time zones with daylight savings time clearly marked. This innovative feature allows travelers to effortlessly set the second time zone by rotating the crown at 10 o'clock. Powered by Jaeger-LeCoultre's in-house Caliber 939, an automatic movement with a 70-hour power reserve, the Polaris Geographic is priced around AED 60,000.

Tudor Black Bay 58 GMT

This year, Tudor unveiled a stunning new version of the Black Bay 58 GMT, featuring the brand’s innovative GMT Manufacture Caliber. The stainless steel watch showcases a striking combination of burgundy, black, and gilt tones. Its 39mm case, with a thickness of 12.8mm, is paired with an anodized aluminum bezel adorned with a gilt 24-hour scale. The matte black dial looks pretty good, featuring a gilded minute track, logo, and text, along with a gilt-framed snowflake-style GMT hand that enhances its sophisticated aesthetic. 

At the heart of the watch is the Caliber MT5450-U, an automatic movement crafted by Kenissi, offering an impressive 65-hour power reserve. Available with either a stainless steel bracelet or a black rubber strap, we opted for the rubber strap, which lends the Black Bay 58 GMT a sportier and more contemporary look. Priced at approximately AED 16,500.

Nodus Contrail GMT

The American brand Nodus may not be as prominent as some of the other names in this article, but its third-generation Contrail GMT stands out for its durability, elegance, and affordability, qualities that make it accessible to a wide range of collectors. The watch features a 316L stainless steel case measuring 40.5mm in diameter and 11.8mm in thickness, protected by a box sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating. Surrounding the dial is a bidirectional bezel with a luminous sapphire insert displaying a 24-hour scale, allowing the wearer to track three time zones simultaneously. 

Offered in four distinct dial designs, however we picked the Terra (black) dial variant as it is a fan favorite, and versatile enough to complement any outfit. The dial features a newly designed GMT hand with an oversized tip incorporating half of the Nodus chevron logo, while a medium-gray sub-chapter ring holds the minute track. A black chapter ring completes the design with a fixed 24-hour time scale for quick reference. Powered by the in-house-regulated Miyota 9075 automatic movement, the Contrail GMT delivers a 42-hour power reserve. Priced at AED 3,200 (including VAT). 

Now that 2024 is counting its last days, we look forward with hope and excitement to the coming year and the new secrets it will unveil. We selected these watches based on personal preference, without ranking them by what is better, all are great choices. Of course, there are other brands that deserve to be on the list. However, time will tell what treasures the world of horology has in store, but for now, we wait.