Since the debut of the Miyota 9075 GMT movement a few months back, the watches utilizing the movement are rolling out in droves. Given that the movement is the most affordable traveler’s GMT movement available today, it’s not hard to see why. The latest watch to debut with the movement is the Gavox Longitude. This is the first Gavox we’ve featured on Watch Clicker, and when they reached out for a review, I was excited to check it out. Gavox has been around for over a decade and has been a watch enthusiast favorite. Without further ado, let’s jump in.
On the Wrist
The Longitude is an interesting watch. It is contemporary in every way possible, from its dimensions to the bracelet fitment. It comes in at 39mm wide, 47mm lug-to-lug (more on this in a minute), and 12.8mm thick (11.5mm wrist-to-crystal). The watch head appears larger than it is because of an optical illusion created by the integrated bracelet.
The lugs exit the case and are about 20mm wide as they leave the case. This is because of the integrated bracelet that doesn’t taper as it goes from the watch to the clasp. The ultra-angular design of the lugs and bracelet creates a futuristic spaceship look. Even with the contemporary styling of the watch and bracelet, it is incredibly comfortable on the wrist. I’ll touch on the bracelet and strap in a later section, but the design of the lugs and how they integrate with the strap options give it all the comfort you could ever want.
If you have yet to stumble across my other Miyota 9075 reviews, you’re in for a treat with the Gavox Longitude. The 9075 is Miyota’s latest GMT movement and is commonly referred to as a “traveler’s GMT.” This allows the wearer to set the GMT hand to their home time, and when they arrive at their destination, they can set the main hour hand to their local time without hacking the watch. It’s a valuable complication for travelers who frequently cross time zones. The only downside is there is no quickset date, so you have to rotate the main hour hand around until you get to the date you want. However, this isn’t a problem if you wear the watch frequently enough that the power reserve doesn’t run out.
Gavox Longitude GMT Specs | |
Case Width 39mm | Lug-to-Lug 47mm |
Case Thickness 12.8mm | Lug Width 20mm |
Wrist-to-Crystal 11.5mm | Weight 175g |
Water Resistance 200m | Strap Bracelet |
Crystal Sapphire | Lume Super-LumiNova BGW9 |
Movement Miyota 9075 | Price $910 |
Dial Details
Although this is the first Gavox I’ve handled, I’ve looked at their catalog, and a common theme I’ve recognized that is carried over to the Longitude is legibility. Even with a textured dial, the watch is easy to read at a glance, primarily thanks to Gavox’s straightforward dial layout. Speaking of that texture, it has a rippled pattern that creates shadows on the dial that remind me of the ocean at night. The black dial is the most subtle of the colors, so if you really want to get that ocean vibe, check out the blue dial.
The markers are slightly tapered, and the 12 o’clock marker is a V shape. This marker complements the stylized V in Gavox perfectly. A 6 o’clock date window balances out the dial and keeps it symmetrical.
While the handset is nothing fancy, it isn’t dull either. They have just enough style to match up well with the hour markers. As with most GMTs, the GMT hand stands out in a contrasting color, in this case, orange. The hands and markers are filled with Super-LumiNova BGW9 and glow brightly.
Gavox opted for a 60-minute track on the chapter ring with the bezel containing the GMT track. This setup is infinitely more helpful than a chapter ring with an additional GMT track. I would have been over the moon if Gavox had reversed them and given us a dive bezel with a GMT track on the chapter ring. The world needs more GMT divers. The bezel has 24 clicks, and each one of them is extremely satisfying. A slight tension between the clicks makes it feel like you are gliding on water.
Case & Straps
The Longitude isn’t overly thick, but it isn’t the thinnest GMT either. At 12.8mm thick, it falls in that sweet spot of just under 13mm, where watches start to feel a little chonky. As I mentioned above, the lugs angle down dramatically, giving the watch a comfortable wrist-to-crystal measurement of 11.5mm.
The finishing across the case is executed well. The brushing on the sides of the case is crisp, and the steel bezel complements the mostly monochromatic look of the watch. The lugs feature multiple facets with alternating brushing and polishing.
The lug design is carried straight onto the no-taper bracelet. When I looked at the bracelet, I thought I was in for a rough ride as it didn’t look like it articulated much. I was wrong. Despite the straight 20mm width the entire way down the bracelet, the links articulate well, and it is comfy on the wrist. Despite not having a taper, the Longitude balances well on the bracelet and doesn’t feel too heavy.
The Longitude has an interesting system to remove the bracelet and attach aftermarket straps. Quick-release spring bars release the bracelet and can be slid out from their connecting piece on the bracelet. The spring bars can be attached to a transition link that has a 20mm lug width. Gavox included an ok NATO for the review, but there is nothing stopping you from attaching any other 20mm strap, as it takes standard spring bars (and has drilled lug holes). This is a unique design I have yet to see executed on many (if any) integrated bracelet watches. Yes, this will add some length to the lug-to-lug (I measured 54mm at the spring bars), but the attachment angles down so aggressively that it didn’t feel like it added anything.
Final Thoughts
We’ve been on a tear with Miyota 9075 movement watches recently, and the Longitude rounds out the initial release of watches containing that movement. I’m curious if we would have seen the watches that use them if they had to use the Seiko NH34 GMT movement, but I’m happy with what we’re getting. The Longitude is a contemporary GMT that entirely breaks away from the Rolex GMT Master-inspired watches that are all too ubiquitous when a brand wants to make a GMT. It has style, lots of angles, and is just downright fun. After all, that’s what we like about watches, right? They’re supposed to be fun. If you’re still on the hunt for a fun watch that will stand out in your watch box for multiple reasons, the Longitude is worth a look.
Check out more GMT reviews at The Watch Clicker here
Check out the Gavox website here