It should be noted that using the term ‘True’ to describe this new watch is a choice that not all will agree with. Caller or ‘office’ GMTs with an independent 24-hour hand that can be manipulated to mark and track a second time zone are ‘real’ GMTs as well. It just depends on what you want to use the function for.
There is no doubt that a flyer movement with a local jumping hour hand that can be used to change time zones and the date without stopping or disrupting the minutes, seconds, and GMT hands can be the best option for travelers shifting time zones by air. But a caller-style GMT is sometimes the best option for someone who is simply looking to track another time zone and be mindful of what time it is where far-off family, friends, or colleagues are based.
While a flyer movement is best known for its use in the Rolex GMT Master II and Explorer II, it’s also available on some Swatch Group watches, including Longines and Mido. Tudor’s Kenissi movement manufacturer also produces a flyer GMT movement that’s used in Tudor and some other marques, such as Norqain. So while it’s becoming more common and accessible, there are still far more watches with caller GMT movements than with local-jumping-hour-hand flyer GMTs, due in part to the flyer GMT movement’s more challenging design and construction.
Andy Hoffman
2026-03-19 15:00:00