The rest of the dial is unchanged. It’s matte black with white solid lume blocks marking the hours with a mix of dots and dashes and a triangle at 12:00. There’s a date window at 3:00 that’s color-matched to the dial, and the luminous handset is the same as before, including the yellow GMT hand. The angular, sandblasted, 41mm titanium case hasn’t changed either.
“Timex.”
– Casino Royale in an alternate universe.
The other big change, and the one that nudges the watch even further into Rolex homage territory, is the addition of a bracelet. The original Expedition GMT was only available on a black silicone strap. Now, the watch gets a proper H-link bracelet in full sandblasted titanium to match the case, a pretty impressive feat for Timex. The bracelet is secured with a signed butterfly clasp.
The movement powering the GMT remains Seiko’s dependable Caliber NH34 automatic. It’s visible through a display window on the screwdown caseback, which features Rolex-ish fluting around its edge. The top crystal of the watch is AR-coated sapphire, the 24-hour titanium bezel rotates in both directions, the crown screws down and the watch is water-resistant to 200m, which is double the rating of an Explorer II.
Overall, this is a really impressive offering from Timex. But wait, there’s more! In addition to this bracelet version, Timex has debuted a second version of the Expedition Pioneer GMT with a green dial, green-filled 24-hour markings on the bezel, a white date disc and a green fabric strap with leather lining and quick-release spring bars. It dials down the Rolex vibes yet looks very sharp, in my opinion.
