5 best new timepieces with time zone options for luxury travellers: Watches and Wonders 2022 showcased models by Hermès, Tudor, Patek Philippe, Jaeger-LeCoultre and A. Lange & Söhne

Apr 28 , 2022

Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Master Grande Tradition Calibre 948 combines a world-time complication with a flying tourbillon in a breathtakingly beautiful watch. Photo: Jaeger-LeCoultre

Covid-19 may still be ongoing, but as restrictions ease and business travel and tourism resumes, a dual-time or GMT watch is a boon

Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Master Grande Tradition Calibre 948 features a world-time complication while Patek Philippe’s Annual Calendar Travel Time has day, date, month, moon phase and GMT displays

Covid-19 may be with us for the foreseeable future, but that has not stopped travellers retaking to the skies. Whether your globetrotting is inspired by work or play, a dual-time or GMT watch is a boon.

As the travel sector opens up again, we pick five top pieces from Watches and Wonders that offer time-zone options for the globe-trotter.

1. Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Master Grande Tradition Calibre 948

This watch combines a world-time complication with a flying tourbillon in a breathtakingly beautiful watch. Against a sea of translucent blue lacquer, guilloched to suggest waves, is set a world map in the form of an enamelled dome. The floating tourbillon can be seen through a circular aperture and the sapphire caseback is micro-blasted, polished and satin-brushed.

2. A. Lange & Söhne’s Lange 1 Time Zone

The Lange 1 Time Zone from A. Lange & Söhne. Photo: A. Lange & Söhne

The Lange 1 Time Zone from A. Lange & Söhne immediately catches the eye – though the off-centre dial layout and oversized date are just the most obvious attractions of this timepiece, which shows home time and the time in a second zone at a single glance. Each of the 24 time zones is represented by a name on the city ring, and the city ring and the zone time can be advanced in increments, corresponding to an eastbound trip around the world.

3. Tudor’s Black Bay GMT S&G

The Tudor Black Bay GMT S&G can keep track of three time zones. Photo: Tudor

Tudor has unveiled a new Black Bay GMT S&G. As the name suggests, a 41mm stainless steel case is contrasted with a yellow gold crown. The wearer can keep track of three time zones: local time via an angular “snowflake” hand, which completes a lap of the dial every 24 hours; local time shown by another snowflake hand, set by a jumping hour; and a third time tracked by using the 24-hour hand against the 24-hour graduated bidirectional rotating bezel. Its stablemate Tudor Black Bay Pro has a smaller 39mm case, but it is a true GMT as well as being a handsome piece in satin-finished steel with a domed matt black dial – all at an achievable price point.

4. Hermès’ Arceau Le Temps Voyageur

The Hermès Arceau Le Temps Voyageur. Photo: Hermès

Hermès showed off the Arceau Le Temps Voyageur in platinum and titanium or in steel. Home time is shown in a window at 12 o’clock while a sub-dial can be moved to any one of the 24 time zone city names by a pusher on the case band. Sharp eyes will notice that Paris is replaced by Hermès and that the continent names have been changed to equestrian references.