RGMT Marksman GMT Automatic Owner Review : Adventurous, conceptual and authentic

The Marksman GMT Automatic is a watch that clearly aims at people who enjoy larger, more present watches but still want something wearable and well thought out. It combines a bold case size with some interesting functional design choices that you do not see very often in this segment. The version reviewed here is the blue dial variant. Specifications Model Marksman GMT Automatic Case diameter 44 millimeters Lug to lug distance 52 millimeters Case material stainless steel Crystal sapphire crystal front and back Water resistance 200 meters Movement automatic GMT movement by Seiko Functions time date GMT second time zone inner minute scale Crowns two crowns one for time and GMT one for inner hour scale Bezel unidirectional rotating minute bezel Bracelet integrated stainless steel bracelet Clasp butterfly clasp Caseback exhibition caseback At first glance the Marksman GMT is a large watch. Forty four millimeters is not small by any standard, but the lug to lug length of fifty two millimeters keeps the watch within reasonable limits. Anything above that would make it difficult to wear for many people. With these proportions the watch remains wearable even on wrists around seventeen centimeters in circumference. It is clearly present on the wrist, but it does not feel out of control. One of the most interesting design choices is the use of two crowns. One crown is used to set the time date and GMT function and this crown is screw down, giving the watch proper everyday robustness. The second crown is used to operate the inner Hour scale. This inner scale rotates very smoothly and is easy to adjust. It is a simple solution that works well in practice and adds a layer of interaction that many people will enjoy. Because this is a GMT watch, the upper crown allows for setting a second time zone, which is nicely integrated. The outer bezel itself rotates in only one direction and features minute markings. From a pure GMT perspective one could argue that a bidirectional bezel would make more sense. However this limitation is largely offset by the second crown and the inner scale. As a result the watch combines a minute timing function with GMT functionality in one package. This is not something you see very often and while opinions may differ on whether this is ideal, it is definitely interesting and refreshingly different. Design wise there are several small details that add personality. Between the two crowns there is a crown guard element that is color matched to the dial. On the blue version this adds a nice visual accent and makes the watch feel more intentional rather than generic. The same applies to the other color variants and it is a detail that works surprisingly well. The integrated bracelet fits the case design very nicely. It has a clean finish and a taper that feels balanced rather than aggressive. The bracelet is also relatively thick which suits the overall mass and presence of the watch. This gives the Marksman a solid and high quality feel on the wrist. The butterfly clasp is a welcome choice here and works well with the integrated bracelet design. It keeps the look clean and symmetrical and functions reliably. On the back the exhibition caseback reveals the automatic GMT movement which is expected to be a Seiko based caliber. It is not meant to be decorative but it is reliable and appropriate for a watch in this category. Sapphire crystal is used on both the front and the back and combined with two hundred meters of water resistance the watch feels well equipped for everyday wear. In terms of build quality the Marksman GMT is fully in line with what one would expect at this price level. The case finishing is solid, the bracelet feels sturdy and the overall construction inspires confidence. There are no real quality related complaints here. If there is one real limitation it is the size. In a forty millimeter version this watch would likely appeal to a much broader audience and would probably be a standout piece for many wrists. At forty four millimeters it is clearly aimed at people who actively want a large watch. That does not make it bad, just more specific in its target group. Apart from that there is little to criticize. One can debate the usefulness of a unidirectional bezel on a GMT watch, but given the field watch inspired concept and the additional crown controlled inner scale, the choice makes sense within the design language. It may not be traditional GMT logic, but it works here. In summary the Marksman GMT Automatic is a bold, well built watch with an interesting approach to combining timing and GMT functions. It is not a watch for everyone, mainly because of its size, but for those who like larger watches and appreciate slightly unconventional solutions, it offers good quality, solid specifications and a distinctive character at a fair price.