I must admit the idea of creating a guide to the best worldtimer watches of the past 12 months was initially floated with the sickly sweet concept of “these are the watches Father Christmas needs to help him on his way”. But putting that idea to one side (far, far, far to the side), worldtimer watches do deserve a closer look. They’re a really practical complication that allows you to read the time anywhere on the planet with a single glance while also providing plenty of opportunity for unique design and creative innovation. With that said, here are 10 of the best worldtimers from 2024 for every budget.
Avi-8 Flyboy Wingman Worldtimer GMT, £352
Proving that worldtimers don’t need to cost the world, the Avi-8 Flyboy Wingman Worldtimer GMT is just £352. It features a peripheral ring of cities displaying the world’s 24 time zones as well as a centre 24-hour scale that corresponds to a GMT hand. It’s also one of the best looking Avi-8 watches around with a clean Flieger design accented by the vibrant colours of the 24-hour day/night ring. It’s equipped with a Seiko NH34 automatic GMT movement.
Available at Avi-8.
Monro Adventure, £399
Technically the Monro Adventure first pinged on our radar back in 2023 when it began a successful kickstarter campaign. However, it officially became available at the start of 2024 so its inclusion here is justified. Each of the colours it’s produced in, including this striking orange edition, is limited to 500 pieces. It has the classic worldtimer 24 time zone scale on its internal rotating bezel and then there’s also a 24-hour scale on its bezel. Just like the Avi-8 above its powered by the Seiko NH34.
Available at Monro.
Farer World Timer Roche II, £1,495
Farer’s World Timer Roche II is the first watch in this article to feature a design element that’s common to see on worldtimers, an atlas style illustration of the world. Here it’s quite a subtle rendition in a limited palette of black and dark blue. It forms the central disk of the dial surrounded by a 24-hour scale, 12-hour scale and finally the 24 cities marking the world’s time zones. Due to Farer’s British roots, London gets a shout out by being highlighted red.
Available at Farer.
Ebel 1911 Worldtimer, £2,295
Ebel’s rendition of the Earth takes up a larger portion of the dial compared to the Farer above. It’s also more striking in a high contrast finish with the oceans dark black and the landmasses silver. The same high contrast ethos is seen in the day/night 24-hour scale that’s nestled around the edge of the dial. Here the cities 24 time zone scale is relegated to the rotating bezel, which does make it easier to adjust on the fly. Get it, on the fly, like when you’re traveling in a plane.
Available at Ebel.
Alterum Worldtimer, $3,315 (approx. £2,610)
Offering an intriguing and modern interpretation of the worldtimer complication is Alterum’s debut timepiece, the fittingly named Worldtimer. Its dial is comprised of four concentric circles with the central disk marking minutes, then hours, then a 24-hour scale and finally the classic worldtimer cities scale. It’s fun mix of industrial and minimalist design that offers a nice reprieve from the abundance of pilot’s watch style designs. It’s powered by the Sellita SW330-2 with 56-hour power reserve.
Available at Alterum.
Frederique Constant Classic Worldtimer, £3,995
If you want an archetypal worldtimer, look no further than the Frederique Constant Classic Worldtimer. Between the atlas decoration in its centre, day/night 24-hour scale and clean cities scale, it’s classic by name and classic by nature. I know not everyone (including our Editor) likes atlas dials but here it’s kind of cool presented in inverted colours with the ocean being green instead of the land. Inside is the FC-718 movement.
Available at Frederique Constant.
Carl F. Bucherer Heritage Worldtimer, £7,200
The Carl F. Bucherer Heritage Worldtimer offers one of the most sublimely minimalist interpretations of a worldtimer complication this year. It has an incredibly classy monochrome silver appearance with a central hour and minute display and peripheral worldtimer display. It features a double ring of cities in large lettering for good readability, the position of the cities in relation to the 24-hour scale can be adjusted with the second crown at 9 o’clock.
Available at Carl F. Bucherer.
Montblanc Geosphere Carbo2 0 Oxygen, £7,900
Moving from a classic worldtime display to one of the most avant garde we have the Montblanc Geosphere. There’s no cities scale in sight as instead it features two rotating disks that show the Earth’s hemispheres in correlation to two 24-hour scales. You’d better be well versed in your geography to make the most of it! This particular edition of the Geosphere is a 0 Oxygen model, meaning the case is constructed in a manner that excludes all oxygen from inside its case, which helps preserve the longevity of the piece.
Available at Montblanc.
Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris Geographic Worldtimer, £14,800
Another unconventional take on the worldtimer formula is the JLC Polaris Geographic Worldtimer. It does have the 24 time zone cities scale, but it’s hidden beneath the peripheral minute track, only visible through a wide aperture that runs from 4:30 – 7:30. There’s also a second time zone subdial, meaning you can keep track of three time zones simultaneously with a single glance. It has a cool gradient grey dial in concentric circles and is powered by the Calibre 939 with 70-hour power reserve.
Available at Jaeger-LeCoultre.
Patek Philippe World Time ref. 5330G-001, £65,600
Getting into the heights of prestige, we have the Patek Philippe World Time ref. 5330G-001. It features patented technology such as the synchronised date display that adjusts itself automatically to local time if you cross the international date line. Aesthetically it’s a stunner as well with a 40mm white gold case and a blue-grey dial featuring a distinctive carbon pattern inspired by carbon fibre. Inside is the automatic calibre 240 HU C with 48-hour power reserve.
Available at Patek Philippe.
Will buy none as none have any Indian city on dial..😏
Frederique Constant is the only normal watch here. Because it do not have fckng “moscow”
Missed out Haim – Viajero World Timer in your list. It’s below $800 and a great watch. I have one and had used it multiple times on my travels. Very reliable and 38mm case size is a gem
Another fine review, but forget Santa needing technology of any sort (he is Santa after all and should know his way around international time zones and borders by now!).
To paraphrase, Puppies are not just for Christmas, neither are watches.
Great review of World-timers covering all budgets from the affordable to the sublime.
As we all know, World-timers date back to the golden age of travel to the 1930’s, where travel (either by air, or sea), was elegant and stylish, and somewhat more limited to the wealthy, rather than today, where plane hopping is more everyday, every person. Having said this, the choice of watches listed, covers all budgets so is not elitist, as travel may once have been. Having said all of that, style and elegance is key, as is ease of readability whilst on the move. I am in agreement with Michael, atlas layout dials are limiting in this key area, as are overly complicated formats like skeleton movements, this only makes reading of the time more difficult.
I like balance, and a World-timer needs to be rugged but not a field watch, leather or fabric straps are (for me), too impractical. World-timers need to be worn with chinos or suits so need that balance that I referred to. For me, all of the above points to the Carl F Bucherer with the metal strap. Just my personal viewpoint. It also has that important feature (for me at least), of a degree of exclusivity being a lesser known brand as opposed to some other names, but also more affordable. No other choice in my opinion.