Worldtimers, the watches targeted at intercontinental travelers which have the ability to display time simultaneously in more than one city, are getting more sophisticated by the year, both in terms of the aesthetics and functions. Here are some of the best.
Jaeger-LeCoultre Geophysic Tourbillon Universal Time
This new version of the Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Geophysic watch from 1958 for the first time combines a flying tourbillion. It displays time 24 cities around globally simultaneously. The blue and white dial features a world map and an outer ring with markings of 24 cities. A secondary ring displays the 24-hour indication. Time in individual city is read by aligning the city with the hour on the outside ring. Comes in a 43.5 mm platinum case. The limited edition watch (100 pieces) is powered by a self-winding movement with a power reserve of 48 hours.
Cartier Tortue Multiple Time Zone
This multiple time-zone watch features a tiny window on the side that displays the cities for selection to view the time, which is adjusted via the pusher at 2 o’clock. The engraved multi-layered dial features a finely cut-out, blue lacquered centrepiece representing a part of the world. Home time is displayed on the lower subdia. A night hand with a moon on it and a day hand with a sun helps distinguish nigh from day, instead of the usual 24-hour dial. The XXL version of the watch comes in a 51X45.6 white or pink gold tortoise-shaped case. A third version is set with diamonds. The self-winding movement has a power reserve of 48 hours.
Lange 1 Time Zone
The clearly organised dial delivers a single-glance reading of home time and the time in a second time zone. The time zone is set with a lateral pusher. It advances the rotating city ring with the 24 place names from west to east. Additionally, the hour hand on the small subsidiary dial moves forward by one step with each press of the pusher. An ingenious synchronisation mechanism also makes it possible to transfer the zone time on the subsidiary dial to the main dial. The 41.9 mm case is in 18K honey gold, a material that is harder than other gold alloys. The hand-finished manufacture calibre L031.1 is assembled twice and has a power reserve of three days. Limited to 100 watches.
Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra Worldtimer (Hands-On)
The first worldtimer from Omega comes with a sapphire crystal inner dial that features an enameled world map surrounded by a 24-hour indication with colour coded night and day demarcations. An outer periphery ring has the city names displayed on it, with GMT marked in red, cities that add one hour in summer in black, and those who do not observer daylight savings in blue. A 24-hour rotating disc helps indicate time in individual cities. The crown is used to control all display changes. Comes in a 43 mm platinum case. Calibre 8939 automatic movement has a power reserve of 60 hours.
Ulysse Nardin Executive Moonstruck Worldtimer
This worldtimer recreates the moon’s orbit and the apparent movement of the sun around the globe. In the center of the dial, the Northern Hemisphere is depicted as seen from above the North Pole. Around it are three concentric discs. The outermost circle features a symbol representing the sun. This solar disc, which completes one revolution in 24 hours, also sweeps over a display of 24 time zones and is equipped with a day/night indicator. These markings control the worldtimer function, allowing the wearer to simultaneously display the time in the 24 cities inscribed on the internal flange. Other indications include the changing phases of the moon, an easy-to-read map of the tides. The 46 mm case is in platinum or rose gold. Driven by a self-winding movement with a power reserve of 50 hours. Limited edition of 100 pieces.
Vacheron Constantin Traditionnelle world time
This very limited edition watch (just 10 pieces) simultaneously displays time in 37 of the world’s time zones including those offset by a half‐hour or quarter‐hour compared with regular time zones – along with a day/night indication. The three‐part dial features a gold disc with hand-enameled world map featuring names of world cities; a 24‐hour disc with day/night indication (18:30 to 6:30 indications highlighted with a dark blue background); and an external ring with painted minute‐track. Comes in a 42.5 mm platinum case. The mechanical self-winding movement has a power reserve of 40 hours.
Montblanc Heritage Spirit Orbis Terrarum UNICEF
Name after the Latin Orbis Terrarum, which translates as earth, this watch tells time in the 24 conventional time zones. The multi-layer dial features one disc that displays the continents as viewed from the North Pole, and the names of the 24 cities representing the different time zones. A second disc indicates the passing of day and night with a dark blue for the night and a gradient of yellow and green for the day. This disc also includes the 24-hour ring that indicates the different times in the 24 cities. The central hour and minute hands indicate the local time of the city set in front of the red triangle at 6 o’clock, while the current time across the world’s remaining time zones is indicated on the 24-hour ring that runs around the outside of the dial. Comes in a 41 mm stainless steel case, and is powered by an automatic winding movement with a power reserve of 42 hours. Part of the Montblanc for UNICEF collection, a portion of the money from the sale of this watch is donated towards providing primary education to over five million kids around the world. Two limited editions of 500 pieces each, meant for Asia and Latin America.
Oris Big Crown ProPilot Worldtimer
An update on the Oris Worldtimer launched in 1997 and now marking its 20th anniversary, the local time in this automatic watch is adjusted by rotating the bezel. Rotating the bezel clockwise moves the central hour hand forwards in one-hour jumps; anti-clockwise back in one-hour jumps. Comes in a 44.7 mm stainless steel case with the option of two dials — one in anthracite and other in black.
Frederique Constant Classic Worldtimer Manufacture
This worldtimer feature a dark brown design of the world map finely etched on the dial with twenty-four cities on its outer rim. Two discs display 24h day-night indication and a second one listing the twenty-four cities respectively . The time zone function is controlled by the crown. The 42 mm case is in rose gold-plated stainless steel. Driven by an automatic movement with a power reserve of 42 hours.
Casio Edifice ERA-600 SG
This multi-functional chronograph can display time in 48 cities around the world. Comes in a 53×47.1×13.2mm stainless steel case. Other functions include a thermometer, super illuminator, 1/100-second stopwatch, countdown timer and 5 alarms.
