I thought my search was over...

[beeco]

Greetings. I'm a long-time watch nerd, but this is my first post on TRF.

So I've got a collection of affordable mechanical watches but have been working my way up to a much nicer watch. After lots of research I convinced myself that the best bet for me would be the Tudor BB GMT.

One of my first watches was a cheap-o Vostok Komandirske GMT, that I enjoyed for a couple of years before it just stopped working. Of course, it wasn't a true GMT; it just had a second crown that rotated an internal 24-hr bezel. Still, it made me want a real GMT.

Then, after lots more research, I figured that Tudor BB GMT would be a risky gamble, with the date wheel issue unresolved.

So I started considering going big, spending $10k (a stretch for me) and getting a pre-owned 116710LN. Or giving up on the GMT complication and maybe keeping to a more budget-friendly purchase with a BB58 or an Explorer 1.

And now I'm just lost in the wilderness. Do I stick with the original plan and get a newer Tudor BB GMT? Do I bail on the Tudor GMT and go big with a GMT Master II? Do I settle somewhere in between and search for a nice watch without a GMT complication, like the BB58 or an Explorer 1? Any purchase I make would almost certainly be grey market, here or on WUS where I've had several nice transactions.

Super subjective, I know, but what do you think?

[JonOnTime]

Originally Posted by beeco

Greetings. I'm a long-time watch nerd, but this is my first post on TRF.

So I've got a collection of affordable mechanical watches but have been working my way up to a much nicer watch. After lots of research I convinced myself that the best bet for me would be the Tudor BB GMT.

One of my first watches was a cheap-o Vostok Komandirske GMT, that I enjoyed for a couple of years before it just stopped working. Of course, it wasn't a true GMT; it just had a second crown that rotated an internal 24-hr bezel. Still, it made me want a real GMT.

Then, after lots more research, I figured that Tudor BB GMT would be a risky gamble, with the date wheel issue unresolved.

So I started considering going big, spending $10k (a stretch for me) and getting a pre-owned 116710LN. Or giving up on the GMT complication and maybe keeping to a more budget-friendly purchase with a BB58 or an Explorer 1.

And now I'm just lost in the wilderness. Do I stick with the original plan and get a newer Tudor BB GMT? Do I bail on the Tudor GMT and go big with a GMT Master II? Do I settle somewhere in between and search for a nice watch without a GMT complication, like the BB58 or an Explorer 1? Any purchase I make would almost certainly be grey market, here or on WUS where I've had several nice transactions.

Super subjective, I know, but what do you think?

hey welcome here! I'm new myself. The gmt master black is sexy. Yes its a stretch, but if you buy ore owned yourr not really going to lose on it. Kind of piece of mind that you could always sell it pretty much for what you got it for.

Now, that outta the way, I say go Rolex over Tudor. Especially if you're considering Rolex. Tudor is real nice but the Rolex is a lifetime piece.

Have you considered ExpII the 40mm? Polar or black. That can be had for much closer to budget perhaps and its a great gmt.

[Dan Pierce]

Bought a BB GMT in late 2018. After many years as a collector, it's the one that brought back my passion for watches. It's run flawlessly and been freakishly accurate since bought new. It's also garnered most of the wrist time and just could not be happier with the watch.
Still own & enjoy my 16710 but the BB GMT is a better size, modern construction, all while still ticking all the vintage boxes for me.
dP

[Oxfordian]

Theres lots of GMT watches out there, most brands have at least one GMT in their range. If you are certain that you want a GMT function then have a good look around there's plenty of choice out there.

[zjd168]

really long thread, but put it simple - don't settle, or it will cost you more

[Dan Pierce]

Originally Posted by zjd168

really long thread, but put it simple - don't settle, or it will cost you more

A quick read would have indicated the OP wasn't settling.
dP

[RJRJRJ]

If there's any chance that you'd buy the Tudor and then still think about the Rolex, go with the Rolex.

[Kube]

You want a GMT. Get a GMT. Stick with the original plan and get a newer Tudor BB GMT and you should have no issues; I highly advise this. Or if you go big with a GMT Master II you won't regret it and it will pay off in the long run

[Kube]

Originally Posted by Underhill

What would you be happy wearing everyday for the next 30 years? Definitely don’t settle. If you decide on an explorer/sub should be able to get at retail - will save you money and worth waiting for your grail. Good luck in your search and usually the wanting better than the having - all the best.

And remember, buy what you want to wear every day for the next 30 years but also realize you'll hopefully have many, many watches over the next 30 years

[beeco]

Solid advice from everyone!

I did consider the 16570 polar, but a friend of mine has one. And I bought his sweet road bike. If I got the same watch as him, I'd feel like I was copying him too much. Of course there's imitation, flattery, etc.

Glad to hear someone here has had a great experience with the BB GMT. It's such a sweet looking watch. Maybe there are just far fewer threads about how great it is, versus the threads about the problems some buyers have had?

And yet I'm afraid that it's true that if I got the Tudor, I'd still be thinking about the Rolex... This conversation has been had a billion times on this forum, I'm sure.

Dang it.

I'll make up my mind one of these days and let you know what I bought.

[bmclaurin]

I had a similar progression. Bought the Tudor GMT and loved it (although I couldn't get a perfect fit with the bracelet for whatever reason). But it wasn't long before the pull of the Rolex GMT was too much to resist. I ended up flipping the Tudor and pulling the trigger on a 116710LN (although I would likely have kept both if the Tudor bracelet fit my wrist better). Would've been cheaper for me had I just gone straight for the Rolex. There's no denying, both are fabulous watches, but IMO the Rolex is in another league.

[-dustin]

What kind of bike did you buy from your pal? Details, please.

That’ll determine whether I say you should reconsider an ExpII.

Omega PO GMT is a real looker, in my opinion.

[Wcdhtwn]

I get the concern over the Tudor GMT date issue, but I think Tudor stands behind their products, so if you got unlucky they'd make it right.

I was also thinking there are lots of other brands with GMT's, as mentioned, and are worth looking at. Panerai, IWC, Breitling, Ball, Hamilton, Omega, Oris, Sinn. That doesn't make the decision/research easier, but these are good brands with compelling options.

[beeco]

Originally Posted by -dustin

What kind of bike did you buy from your pal? Details, please.

That’ll determine whether I say you should reconsider an ExpII.

Omega PO GMT is a real looker, in my opinion.

The bike is an orange LeMond Poprad, probably from 2006, with full Ultegra, Thompson bars, seat post and stem, tubeless wheels, Paul cantilever brakes. It's the nicest bike I've ever owned.

And yes, the Omega PO GMT is beautiful, but it feels a bit too large on my skinny wrist.

[Oyster Sauce]

Originally Posted by beeco

Solid advice from everyone!

I did consider the 16570 polar, but a friend of mine has one. And I bought his sweet road bike. If I got the same watch as him, I'd feel like I was copying him too much. Of course there's imitation, flattery, etc.

Glad to hear someone here has had a great experience with the BB GMT. It's such a sweet looking watch. Maybe there are just far fewer threads about how great it is, versus the threads about the problems some buyers have had?

And yet I'm afraid that it's true that if I got the Tudor, I'd still be thinking about the Rolex... This conversation has been had a billion times on this forum, I'm sure.

Dang it.

I'll make up my mind one of these days and let you know what I bought.

Definitely get a GMT of some sort. If the Tudor GMT sings to you (and looks good on your wrist) get it. If not, the 16570, white or black, is still a relatively affordable and cool entry point into the Rolex side of things...don’t know how much longer this will remain the case, with prices creeping up each year. Best wishes!

[Chute]

Would save up a little more and go Rolex

[JonOnTime]

Originally Posted by beeco

The bike is an orange LeMond Poprad, probably from 2006, with full Ultegra, Thompson bars, seat post and stem, tubeless wheels, Paul cantilever brakes. It's the nicest bike I've ever owned.

And yes, the Omega PO GMT is beautiful, but it feels a bit too large on my skinny wrist.

If you have a skinny wrist i really think 40 mil Rolex steel sports is the way to go. Have you considered the previous gen GMT Master the 16710 I think? Coke bezel and black bezel can be had PO for 9

[beeco]

Originally Posted by JonOnTime

If you have a skinny wrist i really think 40 mil Rolex steel sports is the way to go. Have you considered the previous gen GMT Master the 16710 I think? Coke bezel and black bezel can be had PO for 9

I hear this. But the prices I've seen on pre-owned GMT Master 16710 seem to be the same as, or more than, a mid-teens 116710LN. But I love that vintage Coke GMT!

I have a 42mm Seiko skx007 that looks good on my wrist, so a little larger than 40mm is OK. I've got a 44mm Hamilton Khaki that I really love, but it seems so huge these days. Funny, because when I bought it it seemed small compared to lots of other watches. I recently got a 40mm Seiko mod/project watch that fits really well, and along with many people, I think I'm trending back towards the 39-41mm range. Hence the fact that I'm leaning towards a BB GMT or the GMT Master II (still need to stuff the piggy bank a bit more first, though).

[beeco]

Originally Posted by Chute

Would save up a little more and go Rolex

My other problem: if I save up and get the Rolex, there'll still be another Rolex I want. This probably sounds familiar to this audience...

[beeco]

Originally Posted by JonOnTime

If you have a skinny wrist i really think 40 mil Rolex steel sports is the way to go. Have you considered the previous gen GMT Master the 16710 I think? Coke bezel and black bezel can be had PO for 9

Word. I love that 16710 coke. But it seems they're the same price, or more than, the newer GMT Mast II's that I've seen.

[Napoleon]

Originally Posted by zjd168

really long thread, but put it simple - don't settle, or it will cost you more

This is the best advice.

I had a similar decision a month ago. Have always wanted a BLNR but prices kept going up. Was thinking of settling for another brand’s GMT, but in the end I realized if I didn’t just bite the bullet and get what I really wanted I’d always feel like what is on my wrist was “less than.”

Found a way to make some extra cash and sell off a few things I could live without and got my grail. That’s a feeling that is tough to beat.

If the Tudor is your dream watch keep that one. Don’t worry about the date field issue. If it’s an LN, And that’s truly your dream watch, do that. But don’t get the ln if it’s just because it’s the next nicest to what you really want.

[JParm]

If I was looking for my first "nice" watch and had the means to do it, I would get the Rolex.

I love Tudor (own 2), but I just love the Rolexes more.

[-dustin]

Originally Posted by beeco

The bike is an orange LeMond Poprad, probably from 2006, with full Ultegra, Thompson bars, seat post and stem, tubeless wheels, Paul cantilever brakes. It's the nicest bike I've ever owned.

And yes, the Omega PO GMT is beautiful, but it feels a bit too large on my skinny wrist.

A Poprad deserves a 5-digit Rolex. An orange Poprad would fit nicely with a black 16570. In my humble opinion.

[beeco]

Originally Posted by Napoleon

If the Tudor is your dream watch keep that one. Don’t worry about the date field issue. If it’s an LN, And that’s truly your dream watch, do that. But don’t get the ln if it’s just because it’s the next nicest to what you really want.

The Tudor was my dream watch when that was the most watch that I could afford. But there's no Tudor AD anywhere near me, and I think I could live with the risk of the date issue if I'd purchased the watch new from an AD, and not pre-owned. It just seems riskier to buy the BB GMT pre-owned when my name isn't on the warranty card.

But the longer I wait, the more I think I can justify the stretch to the LN. Maybe I'll start selling stuff so I can get there quicker, as someone above suggested.

[beeco]

Originally Posted by -dustin

A Poprad deserves a 5-digit Rolex. An orange Poprad would fit nicely with a black 16570. In my humble opinion.

Very sound advice, and it sounds like you know your road bikes. Vintage bike, vintage watch.

I could also put the watch on an orange RubberB, or an orange NATO...

[vesnyder]

Welcome to the forum. Enjoy the journey as much as the destination. I love the Tudor, but it is not a Rolex.

[Phooi]

Originally Posted by beeco

Greetings. I'm a long-time watch nerd, but this is my first post on TRF.

So I've got a collection of affordable mechanical watches but have been working my way up to a much nicer watch. After lots of research I convinced myself that the best bet for me would be the Tudor BB GMT.

One of my first watches was a cheap-o Vostok Komandirske GMT, that I enjoyed for a couple of years before it just stopped working. Of course, it wasn't a true GMT; it just had a second crown that rotated an internal 24-hr bezel. Still, it made me want a real GMT.

Then, after lots more research, I figured that Tudor BB GMT would be a risky gamble, with the date wheel issue unresolved.

So I started considering going big, spending $10k (a stretch for me) and getting a pre-owned 116710LN. Or giving up on the GMT complication and maybe keeping to a more budget-friendly purchase with a BB58 or an Explorer 1.

And now I'm just lost in the wilderness. Do I stick with the original plan and get a newer Tudor BB GMT? Do I bail on the Tudor GMT and go big with a GMT Master II? Do I settle somewhere in between and search for a nice watch without a GMT complication, like the BB58 or an Explorer 1? Any purchase I make would almost certainly be grey market, here or on WUS where I've had several nice transactions.

Super subjective, I know, but what do you think?

Have you tried any of those watches? Do that first. I make it a rule never to buy before I try.

As for my opinion, I have the BB GMT and love that watch. No reason to consider those others, mainly because of the heart break of trying to get one at retail. There is really no other watch at that price point with those features and that modern vintage vibe. And the Pepsi color is just perfect IMO.

Good luck!

[Rado63]

Since your cell phone probably has a world clock on it getting a GMT or two time zone watch becomes a matter of personal fashion choice. Just about every maker of mechanical watches has a two time zone watch to choose from. It sounds to me that you are already aware of this but what you really want isn't just a GMT watch, you want a Rolex. Go through vintage sellers and look for five digit GMT or Explorers, Plenty of six digit GMTs and explorers to choose from, and of course secondary dealers have unworn current GMT's BLRO, BLNR for you. Good luck with the search for the right watch for you.

[beeco]

Originally Posted by Phooi

Have you tried any of those watches? Do that first. I make it a rule never to buy before I try.

As for my opinion, I have the BB GMT and love that watch. No reason to consider those others, mainly because of the heart break of trying to get one at retail. There is really no other watch at that price point with those features and that modern vintage vibe. And the Pepsi color is just perfect IMO.

Good luck!

Thanks Phooi.

I've tried on a BB58, several non-GMT BBs and an 116710LN. I haven't tried on a Explorer 1.

I'm convinced I could wear the BB GMT comfortably. I just wish I had a local Tudor AD so I could buy it new, even if there's a wait, or a bit of a game to play, so that I could have my name on the warranty card. Or should I not worry about a pre-owned BB GMT that's still got lots of warranty time left?

[JChips]

Originally Posted by Rado63

Since your cell phone probably has a world clock on it getting a GMT or two time zone watch becomes a matter of personal fashion choice. Just about every maker of mechanical watches has a two time zone watch to choose from. It sounds to me that you are already aware of this but what you really want isn't just a GMT watch, you want a Rolex. Go through vintage sellers and look for five digit GMT or Explorers, Plenty of six digit GMTs and explorers to choose from, and of course secondary dealers have unworn current GMT's BLRO, BLNR for you. Good luck with the search for the right watch for you.

This is true. But I still find myself using the GMT function all the time, when I’m away from home base. Not the time on my electronic devices, the time on my wrist.

So for some of us, I guess it’s not all about fashion yet....


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