9 Best World Time Watches

In this article, we will explore some of the best world-time watches available on the market today.

Whether you are someone who needs to keep track of time zones or someone who just wants to own a cool timepiece, a world time watch is the perfect choice for you.

Here are some of the best world-time watches to consider.

What are the best world-time watches?

The watches on this list are arranged from the lowest to the highest price, so you can find the best world time watch for your budget.

1. Mido Ocean Star Decompression Worldtimer

Overview

The Mido Ocean Star Decompression Worldtimer watch is inspired by vintage dive timepieces from the 1960s. It is a new release from Mido for the summer of 2023.

Mido Ocean Star Decompression Worldtimer is a GMT watch with added world time functionality that allows you to track time across multiple time zones. It features an aluminum insert bezel with 24 cities around the world. The bezel can be adjusted bidirectionally and allows you to easily set your current time zone. Additionally, the bezel has a 60-minute timing scale for diving, but it should be noted that it is less safe for diving purposes.

The dial features a GMT function with a 24-hour scale and a red GMT hour hand, a colorful decompression scale, a date window at 3 o’clock, and luminous hour markers; although it is quite busy due to these functions, it is enjoyable to look at because of the vibrant colors used. The dial is protected by a vintage-inspired, boxed-shaped sapphire crystal.

The timepiece has an ETA-based movement with an antimagnetic Nivachron balance spring and a power reserve of up to eighty hours.

Additionally, it comes with both a Milanese mesh stainless steel bracelet and a rubber strap, each of which has quick-release pins for easy changing.

Features

• Movement: Automatic Mido Caliber 80 (base ETA C07.661).
• 80 hours power reserve.
• Water resistance: 200 m.
• Case: 40.5 mm, Thickness: 13.4 mm, Lugs width: 21 mm, Lug to lug: 47 mm.
• Material: Stainless steel case.
• Date window.
• Solid case back.
• Weight: 220 g.
• Reference: M026.829.17.051.00 (black dial).
• Reference: M026.829.17.041.00 (blue dial).

Price

$1,310.

Summary

The Mido Ocean Star Decompression Worldtimer is a fun, retro-style watch that won’t break the bank. It’s one of the most affordable Swiss-made world timers available on the market.

2. Junghans Meister Worldtimer

Overview

Junghans Meister Worldimer is a slim and dressy world timer.

This watch has a clean design with a minimalistic dial that includes a world-time function. The dial has 24 cities printed in grey and white colors, and a rotating time-zone disc is placed below it. By pulling out the crown to the first position, you can adjust the 24-hour disc. Both the sapphire crystal and the dial are domed, giving this watch an interesting globe aesthetic.

The timepiece has a modified Sellita SW330 movement with a world-timer complication and an open-case back design. The rotor and bridges of the movement are beautifully decorated with Geneva stripes and perlage.

It is a relatively slim and compact world timer, measuring only 10.5 mm in thickness, 40 mm in diameter, and 45 mm from lug to lug. However, since it has almost no bezel, it will look quite large on the wrist.

Features

• Movement: J820.5 (base Sellita SW330).
• 42 hours power reserve.
• Water resistance: 50 m.
• Case: 40.4 mm, Thickness: 10.5 mm, Lugs width: 20 mm, Lug to lug: 45 mm.
• Material: Stainless steel case.
• Exhibition case back.
• Reference: 027/3010.02 (blue dial).
• Reference: 027/3011.46 (blue dial).

Price

$2,130-$2,230.

Summary

The Junghans Meister Worldtimer is the perfect watch if you want a sleek and elegant timepiece; it features a low profile, a beautiful domed dial, and a domed sapphire crystal.

3. Rado Captain Cook Over-Pole Limited Edition

Overview

The Rado Captain Cook Over-Pole is a watch that pays homage to 1960s timepieces and is limited to 1962 units.

The watch’s movement does not include a world-time feature. However, it has a bidirectional bezel that can be adjusted to your local time zone, allowing you to see all other world time zones.

It features a sunray finish dial with dauphine-style hands, applied hour numerals, and a rotating anchor at 12 o’clock. It also has a date window with red text at 3 o’clock and a secondary 24-hour scale. The ceramic bezel insert has major cities laser engraved on it for world time tracking.

This watch is manually wound therefore, it has a slim profile of 10.3 mm in height while still being capable of withstanding water up to 100 meters. The case is quite small measuring 37 mm in diameter and 43 mm lug to lug, making it best suited for individuals with smaller wrist sizes or for those who prefer smaller watches.

It comes packaged with a beads-of-rice bracelet, a leather strap, and a travel case. You can easily switch between the bracelet and strap thanks to the quick-release system.

Features

• Movement: Manually winding Rado caliber R862 (base ETA 2804).
• 80 hours power reserve.
• Water resistance: 100 m.
• Case: 37 mm, Thickness: 10.3 mm, Lugs width: 19 mm, Lug to lug: 43.1 mm.
• Material: Stainless steel case.
• Date window.
• Exhibition case back.
• Reference: R32116158.

Price

$2,450.

Summary

Rado Captain Cook Over-Pole is a perfect world timer for people with smaller wrists.

4. Raymond Weil Freelancer GMT Worldtimer

Overview

The case of the Raymond Weil Freelancer GMT Worldtimer is a combination of stainless steel and bronze. The bezel and crowns are made of bronze, which will change in appearance as it develops a patina over time, resulting in a unique and distinct appearance.

To operate the inner world time ring, use the crown at 4 o’clock. To operate the movement, use the crown at 2 o’clock. Both crowns are screwed down to enhance water resistance.

The dial features various shades of green and is quite busy. It includes an outer city ring, a 24-hour scale, hour indices, a date with a black disc at 6 o’clock, and an additional GMT complication hour hand.

The automatic movement of the watch is based on Sellita SW330 and can be seen through the transparent case back.

The watch is paired with a green calf leather strap, that matches the color of the dial and goes well with the bronze accents.

Features

• Movement: RW3230 (base Sellita SW330-2).
• 50 hours power reserve.
• Water resistance: 100 m.
• Case: 40.5 mm, Thickness: 9.7 mm, Lugs width: 21 mm, Lug to lug: 48.5 mm.
• Material: Stainless steel case with bronze.
• Date window.
• Exhibition case back.
• Reference: 2765-SBC-52001 (green dial).
• Reference: 2765-BKC-20001 (black dial).

Price

$2,875.

Summary

The Raymond Weil Freelancer GMT Worldtimer timepiece has a charming bronze bezel and bronze crowns. If you want a GMT watch with a world time function it is a great choice.

5. Ball Engineering Master II Diver Worldtime

Overview

The Ball Engineering Master II Diver Worldtime serves as a reliable companion for travelers as well as a durable tool for divers.

This watch is suitable for diving due to its 300 meters of water resistance and unidirectional bezel. Instead of using SuperLuminova, it utilizes tritium gas tubes that do not require external charging and emit a stronger light.

The bezel operates both the 60-minute diving scale and the city ring. The 24-hour scale is operated via the crown.

Most of the dive watches have the closed case back, but on this one, you can enjoy mechanical movement through the transparent case back.

Unlike most dive watches that come with a closed case back, this watch has a transparent case back that allows you to view the mechanical movement.

Additionally, this watch features a day-date complication and has COSC chronometer certification.

Features

• Movement: BALL RR1501-C (base ETA 2836-2).
• 38 hours power reserve.
• Water resistance: 300 m.
• Case: 42 mm, Thickness: 14.4 mm, Lugs width: 20 mm, Lug to lug: 48 mm.
• Material: Stainless steel case.
• Date window.
• Exhibition case back.
• Weight: 160 g.
• Reference: DG2232A-SC-BE.

Price

$3,399.

Summary

The Ball Engineering Master II Diver Worldtime can be used as a dive watch and also as a perfect travel companion. It also features tritium gas tubes for excellent night visibility, COSC chronometer certification, and an exhibition case back.

6. Frederique Constant Manufacture Classic Worldtimer

Overview

Frederique Constant Manufacture Classic Worldtimer features an in-house mechanical movement with a world-time complication. This watch has a single onion-shaped crown that controls all of its functions, unlike other watches that may have additional crowns or rotating bezels.

The watch’s dial features a rotating disc with cities, a rotating 24-hour disc, a subdial displaying the date, applied hour markers, and a world map in the center.

The in-house movement is beautifully adorned with a brushed gold rotor, Côtes de Genève, and perlage decorations.

The watch only comes with a leather strap option, but you can choose from various options for the watch, including a gold-plated case and different dial colors.

Features

• Movement: FC-718.
• 42 hours of power reserve.
• Water resistance: 50 m.
• Case: 42 mm, Thickness: 12.1 mm, Lugs width: 22 mm, Lug to lug: 49 mm.
• Material: Stainless steel case.
• Date sub-dial.
• Exhibition case back.
• Reference: FC-718WM4H6.

Price

$4,395.

Summary

If you are looking for a watch with an automatic movement that has a genuine world-time complication and an in-house movement, then the Frederique Constant Manufacture Classic Worldtimer is worth considering.

7. Nomos Zurich World Time

Overview

The Nomos Zurich World Time watch is manufactured in Germany, however, it is named after the city of Zurich in Switzerland.

The watch has an automatic in-house movement with a GMT complication adapted for world time functionality; therefore unlike most world timers, the watch does not indicate the correct time in all 24 cities at once. To set the watch, you must first set your home time using the crown, then press the button at 2 o’clock to move the city ring and set the reference time zone.

The dial features blue-printed hour markers, a city disc, a 24-hour disc for home time, a running seconds subdial, and rhodium-plated hands. The rotating discs are put on different levels, which creates a greater depth for the dial.

The automatic movement can be observed through the sapphire case back and is beautifully decorated, setting it apart from its competitors.

Features

• Movement: DUW 5201.
• 38 hours power reserve.
• Water resistance: 30 m.
• Case: 39.9 mm, Thickness: 10.9 mm, Lugs width: 20 mm, Lug to lug: 49.4 mm.
• Material: Stainless steel case.
• Exhibition case back.
• Reference: 805 (white dial).
• Reference: 807 (blue dial).

Price

$6,100.

Summary

With the Nomos Zurich World Time, you get a classic design, a beautifully decorated in-house movement, and a convenient world time function for travelers.

8. Bvlgari Octo Roma Worldtimer

Overview

Bvlgari is famous for its ultrathin watches in the Octo Finissimo line. But if having the thinnest watch is not your concern, consider the Bvlgari Octo Roma Worldtimer as an option.

The blue sunray dial features applied hour markers at the center, along with a 24-hour disc and a 24 cities disc, allowing you to easily view the correct time across all cities with just a glance.

The BLV257 movement is designed and manufactured by Bvlgari in Switzerland. It is placed in an octagonal satin-polished steel case that has a screw-down crown and water-resistant capability of up to 100m.

Features

• Movement: BVL 257.
• 42 hours of power reserve.
• Water resistance: 100 m.
• Case: 41 mm, Thickness: 11.35 mm, Lug to lug: 45 mm.
• Material: Stainless steel case.
• Exhibition case back.
• Reference: 103481.

Price

$9,050.

Summary

Bvlgari Octo Roma Worldtimer is certainly a great-looking watch with a world-time complication and an in-house movement.

9. Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra 150 m Co-axial Master Chonometer GMT Worldtimer

Overview

The Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra Worldtimer is a distinctive timepiece that can be found in Omega’s watch collection.

It is one the most beautiful world timer watches under $10,000, main thanks to the beautiful dial design featuring a realistic globe that was laser ablated on the titanium plate. Going outwards there is a 24-hour glass ring, vertical stripes, applied hour markers, and 24 main world cities.

The automatic movement features a Co-Axial escapement, is resistant to magnetic fields, has a free-sprung balance, a two-barrel system, and is a certified Master Chronometer. It is beautifully decorated and can be seen through the sapphire case back.

Features

• Movement: Omega 8938.
• 60 hours power reserve.
• Water resistance: 150 m.
• Case: 43 mm, Thickness: 14.1 mm, Lugs width: 21 mm, Lug to lug: 50.3 mm.
• Material: Stainless steel case.
• Date window.
• Exhibition case back.
• Weight: 163 g.
• Reference: 220.10.43.22.03.001.

Price

$9,400.

Summary

The Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra Worldtimer is a hidden gem in Omega’s repertoire and is one of our most favorite world-time watches; if you want something unique and interesting, it is definitely worth considering.

Conclusion

In this article, we have discussed nine of the best world-time watches in the $1,000 to $10,000 price range.

Whether it’s for travel or just a hobby, these world-timer watches will ensure that you always know the time in any part of the world.

Each piece offers a unique combination of features, with some offering complex complications and others being more simple and affordable.

Ultimately, the perfect watch for you will depend on your style preference, budget, and what you’re looking to use it for. Regardless of which one you choose, these world-timers are sure to impress with their exquisite designs.

Happy watch shopping!

Featured image by bt3gl.