How to Set a Seiko GMT Watch and Read It the Right Way

For busy businessmen or adventurers who love traveling the world, a GMT watch can be a reliable tool to wear regularly. Among many choices in the market, Seiko stands out with its high-quality GMT watches at affordable prices. Seiko GMT watches are different from the classic Seiko because of the added GMT feature. Therefore, setting it requires a different understanding.

For that reason, watch owners must understand how to set a Seiko GMT watch properly. For better know-how about managing a Seiko GMT watch, read the following explanation from start to finish!

How to Set Seiko GMT Watches

Setting up a Seiko GMT watch starts by being aware of its GMT feature. GMT stands for Greenwich Mean Time. It’s a standard reference time for the world. It used to be a basis for determining time in different regions until UTC (Coordinated Universal Time) replaced it. Today, GMT refers to variations of time zones.

Though Seiko GMT watches come in different shapes and styles, the feature essentially works to display more than one time zone. There may be a fourth central hand, which often comes in a large size, is colored, and has an arrow tip. The GMT feature usually can also be seen in a 24-hour bezel or a separate subsidiary dial.

Once you recognize all these features, the setup can proceed. From the date to the GMT hand, dig into how to set the Seiko GMT watch in the following explanation:

How to Set the Date

When it comes to automatic watches, remember not to change the date when the time shows between 9 PM and 3 AM. During this period, the date mechanisms are actively working. Hence, changing the date will potentially damage the mechanism. Here’s how to set the date on the Seiko GMT watch:

• Pull the crown out into its initial position.
• Rotate the crown counterclockwise.
• Set the date one day before the current date. For example, you set the date to June 11th as you’re preparing to pack for the holiday abroad on June 12th.

How to Set the Time

Setting the time on the Seiko GMT watch requires several steps. Take a note and try the following procedure:

• Pull the crown out into the second position.
• Turn the crown clockwise to forward the time.
• After rotating the crown past the 12 AM mark, the date will change from the previous date to the current date.
• Set the time to the current time.
• Double-check the time accuracy by monitoring the minute hand ticking over as the time passes on the phone.
• Press the crown in once the accuracy is ensured.

How to Set the GMT Hand

Before setting the GMT hand, make sure to get the current GMT time right. Afterward, proceed with the following procedure:

• Pull out the crown into the initial position.
• Rotate the crown clockwise to set the GMT hand in one-hour intervals. For example, if the current time is 6 AM, you can set the GMT hand to 6 PM if the GMT hand works on a 24-hour time.
• The GMT hand can be set depending on any time zone you wish to track.

Read also: Understanding A GMT Timepiece And Its Function

How to Set a Third Timezone on Seiko GMT Watches

Seiko GMT watch models often feature a rotating bezel, which allows the wearer to set a third timezone. In the GMT system, each region has a time code ranging from +12 to -12. In this case, we’re going to use New York time. Since New York is GMT-4, setting the GMT hand can be done by rotating the bezel clockwise until the 4 marker on the bezel aligns with the 12 o’clock position on the dial.

Side note: When the time code is positive, rotate the bezel counterclockwise. If the code is negative, rotate it clockwise.

How to Read a GMT Watch

As a popular timekeeping device among travelers, busy businessmen, and pilots, GMT watches are generally considered a reliable assisting tool to keep track of time in different parts of the world. For beginners, reading the GMT watch may require practice. Get to know about how to read a GMT watch by following the procedure below:

1. Locate the GMT Hand

Despite the differences in sizes and models, most GMT watches usually have a colored hand with an arrow tip or a small triangle on the dial. Due to the different color and shape, the GMT hand can be differentiated easily from the minute and hour hands.

2. Set the GMT Hand

Locate the crown of the watch and pull it out to the initial position. Afterward, rotate it clockwise to the GMT point you desire. Remember to only adjust the GMT hand without making any changes to the regular hour hand.

3. Read the Hour and GMT Hand

It’s worth remembering that the regular hour hand on a Seiko GMT watch refers to the local time zone or the time in your current location. The way to read it is to check at the hour hand and note the hour that points on the dial.

On the other hand, the GMT hand informs the second time zone that was previously set. Check where the GMT hand points to see the hour at the moment. Instead of the marker on the dial, the second time zone can be seen on the 24-hour scale. 

5 Recommended Seiko GMT Watches

Knowing how to set a Seiko GMT watch and read it helps inform the time in the different parts of the world by a glance. Wearing the watch rids the necessity to consistently check the phone to track the time separately.

Such an ease and practicality can be experienced by adorning the Seiko GMT watch on the wrist. Below are the recommended Seiko GMT watches to choose from Gnomon Watches’ catalog:

1. Seiko Prospex 200M Automatic Diver Scuba GMT Black

In the Prospex range, the Seiko Prospex 200M Automatic Diver Scuba GMT Black stuns with its reminiscent MM300 design. The solid shoulders and angular shapes make a strong impression, completed with the wide bezel and a mix of polished surfaces, which give the case a beautiful finish.

As a dive watch, the 42 mm diameter and shorter lugs ensure an ergonomically comfortable design to wear around the wrist for physically demanding activities. Though featuring the GMT, the 12.9 mm thickness allows the watch to look relatively modest. The size gives the watch an elegant outlook, which makes it suitable for dressy events as well.

The Prospex watch can be a reliable companion for underwater activity enthusiasts. Thanks to the screw-down crown at the 4 o’clock, the watch has a certified 200 m water resistance. The 24-hour scale is added to the inner flange. Together, it works with the central 24-hour hand to retain the 60-minute dive bezel.

Price: $1,297.00 USD

2. Seiko 5 Sports GMT Series Black

With the 42.5 mm stainless steel case, the Seiko 5 Sports GMT Series Black offers a sleek look. Its GMT hand is highlighted with the red color to ensure high contrast against the black dial and seamless reading in every light condition. As for the minute and hour hands, the layer of Lumibrite is applied for optimized legibility.

When it comes to the design, this black GMT watch prioritizes a clean impression by featuring a rotating 24-hour bezel and a 24-hour indicator in the inverted chapter ring. That way, the dial remains legible without any GMT text that may clash with the script on the dial.

Each watch in this series has a magnified date window at the 3 o’clock position. To ensure comfort on the wrist, the stainless steel dial is paired with the Jubilee-esque bracelet and three-fold clasp. Through the caseback, the wearer can see the delicate mechanism of the 4R34 movement.

Price: $470.00 USD

Read also: How to Set a Watch in 4 Simple Steps and the Don'ts 

3. Seiko 5 Sports “Field Sports Style” GMT Black

The integration of GMT movement doesn’t stop at the Prospex collection; the Seiko 5 Sports “Field Sports Style” GMT Black proudly showcases the feature with its sleek design. The combination of a black dial, a steel case, and a bezel allows the 39.4 mm watch to give an effortlessly elegant impression without sacrificing the watch’s functionality.

As a GMT watch, the field black dial GMT watch is equipped with a fixed bezel insert with 24-hour markings. The 100 m water resistance is ensured, thanks to the push-up pull crown. From the back of the screw-down case, the wearer can see the intricate mechanical components through the glass display. 

For legibility, the bright orange GMT hand contrasts the black dial hand and the regular hands. The military design influence gives the watch a 24-hour inner marking, date display at 3 o’clock, bold Arabic hour markers, and a solid metal frame. At the heart of the watch is the 4R34 movement, which allows hacking and manual winding as well as date and independently adjustable 24-hour hand features.

Price: $450.00 USD

4. Seiko 5 Sports GMT Series Blue

Much like the Seiko 5 Sports GMT Series Black, the blue dial version offers a high contrast and seamless reading. The bright red GMT hand, 24-hour hand on the dial, and stop-seconds hand function encompass the GMT functionality.

What makes the Seiko 5 Sports GMT Series Blue different from the black version is the two distinct colors of its bezel. The distinction allows the wearer to tell the night and day hours easily. At the 3 o’clock position, the wearer can locate the date window, which makes it easier to check the current date without having to fish for the phone from a bag or a pocket when travelling.

Price: $470.00 USD

5. Seiko 5 Sports “Field Street Style” GMT Blackout

Another Seiko field watch that features a GMT function is the Seiko 5 Sports “Field Street Style” GMT Blackout. Its full black steel case, dial, and bezel offer a different look from the previous models on the list. The 39.4 mm diameter and 13.6 mm thickness make the watch leaner in comparison to the other models in the collection.

The rugged aesthetic of the case, lugs, and fixed bezel is complemented by the fixed black bezel insert with 24-hour markings. Thanks to the push-pull crown, the watch ensures a 100 m water resistance. For enhanced readability, the black dial is covered with a domed Hardlex crystal, allowing seamless time reading in every light condition.

Price: $388.00 USD

Conclusion

When it comes to learning how to set Seiko GMT watches, understanding the components can help ease the process. Once you master the fundamental knowledge, the procedural steps to set the GMT hand can be followed through with a breeze. Reading the GMT hand won’t be an issue either because of the specific color that’s designed to give a high contrast.

All in all, owning a Seiko GMT watch may help your constant traveling needs. Whether for avid adventurers who continuously seek thrills from different parts of the world or businessmen who have to cross the ocean to close important deals, a Seiko GMT watch can be a dependable device to tell time in other parts of the world at a glance.

Read also: How to Set a Time on a Watch: Tips for Mechanical Timepiece