Like many of you already aware of Lima and their sold out smash hit Kronosprinter I was hotly anticipating their next watch like a kid at Christmas and they certainly didn’t disappoint. It’s my great pleasure to tell you all about their newest addition to the lineup, their very first in this genre, the Transit GMT, specifically the Ivory version.

I saw the beautiful pictures all over social media and then I saw the price of $310 and I was

sceptical, I thought there must be a catch. An automatic GMT with this much pizzazz, originality and at this price point surely is too good to be true. But I was wrong, this watch does indeed live up to the well deserved hype and let’s discuss why.

The Design—Simple yet Abundant

The are so many extremes and contrasts with the design language of this 37.5mm diameter

watch. The thick brushed bezel, the oversized GMT hand, the chunky yet funky lugs and the large and in charge 12, 3 and 9 in that awesome curvaceous font, yet when juxtaposed with the subtle details of the slight curving of the case, which has a 10mm thickness means it still feels comfortable on the wrist. The choice of celebrating the perfectly dainty round date window, the utilitarian yet dainty 24 hour GMT track (more for form than function) frame the voluptuous and bold numerals and Lima name and charming ‘Otomatis’ (meaning automatic in Indonesian) is such a lovely nod to its proud Indonesian roots. It’s all so well balanced.

The case shape is pretty brutal, harsh with deliberate edges, there’ll be no chamfers today. Thank you. Vertical brushing as far as the eye can see creates drama and showcases the unusual case design. Let’s just say this isn’t a fluffy watch, but the results leave you with an incredibly bold statement on the wrist, packed with attention to detail. The decorated crown and case-back are a lovely touch and sit harmoniously with the purposeful minimalism and integrity of the design.

Flat is definitely not how I would describe the watch, it’s distinctly 3-D in thanks to the double domed hardened mineral glass crystal (which also means it’s a breeze to photograph) and the thick bezel sits unapologetically atop the case, which I find to be a most charming feature.

Let’s Talk About the Dial

You have your pick of Grey, Black and Ivory all of which I find to be elegant tones, but the choice of Ivory over a harsh white appealed to me greatly, giving the overall watch a softness somehow. The hands are deeply considered, brutal skeleton hands, the GMT arrow hand you could see from across the room thanks to its almost neon orange, which is mirrored in the tip of the seconds hand. 

In fact I would be bold enough to say the GMT hand is my favourite design feature on the watch. It’s almost shouting at you to set the time to another time zone. The only thing this watch could do with is some lume, it would be so fun to see that GMT arrow light up like a Christmas tree, but definitely not a deal breaker and at the very reasonable price of $310 maybe too much to ask.

The Movement

We are treated to the reliable Seiko GMT Automatic NH34 movement. I always feel at ease knowing a movement is easy to service and maintain. A workhorse for sure, because this watch is so darn comfy and legible that you will want to wear it. The power reserve on these movements are pretty standard and respectable up to 41 hours and run with an accuracy of -20~+ 40 seconds a day. The GMT function is extremely intuitive and easy to use, you simply pull the crown out and get to work setting the time, date and extra time zone.

My Experience with the Watch

I took this watch hiking, for ice cream and wore it a lot over the past few weeks and absolutely loved how it looked and felt on the wrist, helped by its relatively short lug to lug of 45.6mm, which sat comfortably on my 13.5cm wrist. That being said the 50m water resistance means no swimming for this one.

I enjoyed wearing it on the OEM Italian Alacantra strap with quick release mechanism and a standard 20mm lug width is a big plus, which meant I tried it with a matching orange rubber and that looked awesome too. You also have the option to buy a Bonklip ($50). I’m a huge fan of these, such a great way to add interest to your watch without the weight of a conventional bracelet.

This watch has a fantastic presence on the wrist and I found myself looking down at its vertical brushed case which is so radiant in the summer sun. But this watch is definitely not just for summer, this is an all seasons practical GMT, which I’m pretty sure is different in design to the other watches in your collection (certainly mine).

Styling the Transit GMT

As you can see I had a lot of fun with this one, dressing it up in an elegant matching ivory dress, but this watch comes alive in casual settings. It just works and the ivory dial allows you the creative freedom to wear with any colour and have fun playing with the straps. It fit right in during my urban jaunts and was just the perfect sporty feel for a hike in the mountains. This watch sure is versatile!

Conclusion

Lima delivered another fantastic watch in their lineup. If you're looking for something, which is design led, unique, minimalist, a reliable GMT and brilliantly priced, this may be the perfect choice for you!