Makina Aims at the Travelling Community with the Mephisto III GMT

For those who travel the globe on a regular basis, a reliable wrist companion can be vital. Being able to check the time where you are and where you live at a glance makes things very easy when rushing to catch a flight or having to make an urgent phone call. To help in situations like that, a GMT watch can be a proverbial lifesaver. However, as these come in many shapes, sizes and functionalities, what matters most? A solid construction, of course, and an appealing design also helps. But what about practicality? Well, with watches like the Makina Mephisto III GMT, you’re all set, as it is a true GMT watch, built to last and priced very sensibly!

To make one thing clear from the get-go, Makina’s Mephisto III GMT makes travelling easy thanks to its movement. It allows you to set the local hour time in one-hour increments through the crown and is thus labelled as a traveller/true GMT watch, as opposed to the home hour hands of a caller/office GMT. On top of that, a watch that is destined for a life on the road, or in the air for that matter, is best equipped with a robust exterior. And in that area, the Makina Mephisto III GMT doesn’t let you down. The 38mm wide by 11.55mm steel case has an interesting profile with a mix of brushed and polished surfaces. A nice touch is the concave polished edges around the bezel and case flanks. The screw-down crown ensures a 100m water resistance, with sapphire crystals on both ends keeping the dial and movement safe.

The dial of the Mephisto III GMT is quite impressive, showing a lot of depth thanks to the clever use of multiple layers and design elements. The brass base is finished in blue and has a radial pattern of triangular shapes. It reminds me somewhat of a set of turbine blades, to give you an idea. The applied hour indices are quite tall, adding yet more depth to the overall design, and the dial is finished with a notched sloping ring for the minutes. Time is indicated with faceted and polished Alpha-style hands for the hours and minutes, a red-tipped needle-shaped hand for the seconds, and a fully red-lacquered hand for the second time zone.

Makina has wisely opted for the Miyota 9075 automatic GMT movement. This is a rare beast as it’s one of the most accessible traveller’s or true GMT movements out there, which works as a double-edged sword for most brands using it. On one end, you get real-world practicality, and on the other, affordability and reliability. It beats a frequency of 28,800vph and has a power reserve of 42 hours. The movement is decorated with Geneva stripes and wound by a custom gold-coloured rotor with the Makina logo proudly in view.

Makina offers the Mephisto III GMT on an integrated stainless steel bracelet with polished mid-links and brushed outer links. Securing it to the wrist is done with a folding clasp, and the bracelet also comes with integrated quick-release push pins. The price is set at USD 850, which is very fair considering the rather impressive looks, solid specs and the fact that it’s a traveller’s type GMT, as explained. The watch can be purchased directly from Makina.

For more information, please visit MakinaWatches.com.