Seiko 5 GMT Series Review: Which Type Should You Have?

When discussing affordability and quality, Seiko often comes to watch enthusiasts' collective minds. The giant Japanese timepiece craftsman has released several stunning collections that plant their worth in the long line of modern wristwatches. One of the significant Seiko collections to inspect and appreciate today is Seiko 5 GMT.

Contrasting the classic allure of the Grand Seiko collection, the Seiko 5 GMT offers active and youthful dynamics to the design. With that in mind, let’s explore every layer of the timepieces in the Seiko 5 GMT collection through the comprehensive explanation below!

A Brief Introduction to the Seiko 5 GMT

Firstly released to the world in 1968, the Seiko 5 Sports collection boasted the most fundamental elements of wristwatches: durability and reliability. As time passed, the collection adjusted to cater to the modern watch wearers.

Seiko finally relaunched the Seiko 5 GMT in 2019, introducing the Caliber 4R proven and trusted to accommodate the timekeeping necessity in the 21st century. In addition to the caliber, the sports watch line offered three designs. They come with a new case that is 0.1 mm thicker than the previous iterations.

What makes the GMT feature in this Seiko sports watch series stand out is the color of the hand that contrasts the dials. The 2019 releases came in three dial colors: black, blue, and orange. The black and blue dials were equipped with a bright red GMT hand. On the other hand, the orange dial version had the black GMT hand.

Wearers can also benefit from the GMT hands layered by the Lumibrite, which ensures readability in low-light conditions. Moving on from the GMT feature, the Seiko 5 GMT watches also have rotating bezels. The bezels were painted in two colors to help separate the day and night hours. Additionally, the bezel’s ring indicator is made of Seiko’s Hardlex glass, offering excellent durability to the GMT watch.

Seiko 5 GMT Review

GMT stands for Greenwich Mean Time. It essentially means the baseline for the time zone is calculated in fractions. In the watchmaking world, the GMT feature is closely associated with travel. With a GMT watch, wearers can track two or more time zones simultaneously without having to perform a hasty calculation.

A Seiko 5 GMT watch can be helpful for travelers or busy businessmen who travel constantly. The GMT feature can keep the wearers on track with the current time zone while monitoring the other in one go. However, the GMT feature is not all the Seiko 5 Sports collection offers. From the materials to the movement, here are the detailed inspections of every feature of the Seiko 5 GMT:

Materials

Every watch in the Seiko 5 GMT collection comes with stainless steel cases. The stainless steel provides durability, but also appears stunning with the brushes on top and polishes on the sides of the case.

Case Sizes

The Seiko 5 GMT watches have two sizes available: 39.4 mm and 42.5 mm. These sizes suit most wrist sizes. Even on the smaller size, the 46 mm lug-to-lug doesn’t make the case bigger than it looks.

Though the case is 13.6 mm thick, the flat crystal allows the overall design to appear slimmer. With a weight of 148 g, the watch has a solid feel when worn. However, it doesn’t look bulky and fits nicely around a slim wrist.

Bezels

Typical of GMT bezels, the 24-hour marker of the Seiko 5 GMT collection has an inverted triangle. The even numbers are indicated with numerals while the round indices use odd numbers. The two-colored bezel symbolizes day and night. They’re also color-coordinated to match the dial.

For easy travel purposes, the Seiko 5 GMT collection features unidirectional bezels. When moved, the wearer can see the difference from the typical bezel. In contrast to the 48-point click of a dive watch bezel, the Seiko 5 GMT bezel uses a friction feel which is adjustable to the half-hour increments. To give off a luxurious feel, the inserts of the bezels are covered with a Hardlex layer. At a significant distance, they may look like ceramic bezels. 

It’s worth noting that the crown of the Seiko 5 GMT is not screw-down. Hence, even with the 100 m water resistance, the watch isn’t recommended for deep diving activities. For a diving activity, Seiko Prospex watches will be a better companion.

Read also: Seiko 5 Sports Military Watches: Timepieces for Adventurers 

Dials

Available in striking colors, the Seiko 5 GMT’s dials solidify the identity of the collection effortlessly. The layout includes the Seiko name and logo at 12 o’clock and the “automatic” along with “GMT” at 6 o’clock in a contrasting color to the dial.

For optimal readability in every situation, the Seiko 5 GMT watch features a cyclops lens in a Hardlex crystal. The cyclops lens helps magnify the date, allowing frequent travelers to take an easy look at multiple time zones at a glance.

Straps

Comfort must be a priority for someone who wears a wristwatch regularly, especially in active sports. Just like the case material, the Seiko 5 GMT’s straps are stainless steel. The right term for it will be a stainless steel five-link jubilee bracelet. Compared to the early jubilees, the recent material has a more solid feel. It fits nicely around the wrist and is safely secured by the solid end links.

Movement

The 4R34 movement powers up the relaunched version of the Seiko 5 watch collection. The automatic movement with manual winding function does a fine job, which allows the wearer to track multiple time zones. In one case, the Seiko 5 GMT watch can keep tabs on three time zones. Not to worry because the watch also features a decent power reserve of 41 hours.

As a caller GMT watch, the wearer cannot set the hour hand of the Seiko 5 GMT watch independently. However, pulling the crown out until it reaches the first position and turning it counterclockwise helps set the date. Pulling it to the second position allows the wearer to change the time.

Recommended Seiko 5 GMT Watches to Add to Your Collection

Since 1968, the Seiko 5 Sports has boasted its accuracy and durability. With its new release in 2022, the Seiko 5 Sports was upgraded into a collection of GMT watches. The relaunched version boasts stunning stainless steel materials and a trusted caliber.

Among the collection, there are several Seiko 5 GMT watches for watch collectors and busy travelers alike to choose from. Gnomon Watches offers some of the finest Seiko 5 GMT timepieces to covet. Here are the choices to consider:

1. Seiko 5 Sports GMT Series

The Seiko 5 Sports GMT Series is available in three dial colors: white, black, and blue. Every watch in this series has a rotating 24-hour bezel and a 24-hour indicator in the inverted chapter-ring. This way, the dial and the GMT feature are easily readable.

Combined with the stainless steel material, the 42.5 mm diameter and 13.6 mm thickness offers a solid look. Functionality wise, the bezel is painted in two distinct colors. It helps the wearer distinguish the day and night hours.

Price: $470.00 USD

2. Seiko 5 Sports “Field Sports Style” GMT

A youthful and vibrant timepiece for the modern day traveler, the Seiko 5 Sports “Field Sports Style” GMT blends compact specifications at an affordable price. Gnomon Watches offers two choices of this collection, namely in white and black dials. Each dial pairs with the contrasting GMT hand, orange for the white dial and bright red for the black dial. 

What makes this different from the Seiko 5 Sports GMT Series at a glance is the case and bezel design. The case stands at 39.4 mm diameter and 13.6 mm thickness, a slightly different dimension from the 42.5 mm diameter and 13.4 mm thick Seiko 5 Sports GMT Series. Surrounding it is the fixed bezel insert with 24-hour markings. 

Price: $450.00 USD

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

For all-black timepiece enthusiasts, the Seiko 5 Sports “Field Street Style” GMT Blackout can be the perfect addition to the watch collection. The full PVD black steel case, dial, and bezel stand out in their true dark tone. The design contrasts the brightly colored hands and hour markers, allowing optimal readability in every situation.

Similarly to the Seiko 5 Sports “Field Street Style” GMT, the blackout version is also 39.4 mm wide and 13.6 mm thick. To add comfort, this GMT timepiece features a rugged calfskin military nylon strap, which comes with a black buckle and keepers.

Price: $388 USD

Final Thoughts

Those who are in search of an automatic GMT watch can consider the Seiko 5 GMT. The excellent craftsmanship of the Japanese watchmaker guarantees its durability and functionality. Ultimately, constant travelers who fly across oceans can benefit from the GMT feature that accurately tracks multiple time zones simultaneously.

Any watch collector can dissect every aspect of the Seiko 5 GMT, including but not limited to the star–the GMT feature. The updated timepiece collection doesn’t only boast the GMT technology, but also the polished design that solidifies the collection’s place in the constantly evolving watchmaking industry. Once again, Seiko’s in-house creation proves the versatility of Japanese watch craftsmanship in today’s watchmaking landscape.

Read also: Vintage Seiko Watch: The Glorious Past with a Modern Interpretation