One of the most significant recent achievements in the watch industry regarding affordable timepieces is the Miyota 9075 movement, which has significantly democratized the functionality of mechanical GMT watches in the flyer style.
Since the introduction of this caliber, we have seen a wide range of different GMT watches at increasingly competitive prices, and now it is possible to get your hands on a very attractive offer for well under a thousand dollars. By 2024, Zelos has created new versions of the beloved Mako divers with a GMT function, utilizing the Miyota 9075 caliber. The Zelos Mako 300m GMT model immediately ranks as one of the most affordable ways to acquire a mechanical watch with this practical travel-oriented feature.
The case of the Zelos Mako 300m GMT is made of 316L stainless steel and features a matte finish with polished bevels. Its diameter is 40 mm with a thickness of 12 mm, and the compact lugs are placed 20 mm apart, forming an overall lug-to-lug profile of 46 mm. Due to the bezel's slight protrusion beyond the edges of the case, the actual case area is closer to 40.5 mm, though its rather short lugs create a very comfortable wrist position, and the watch weighs about 85 grams (without the bracelet).
Considering the heavily domed sapphire crystal protruding above the bezel (with anti-reflective treatment on the inner surface), the overall height of the watch is 14.7 mm. Around the glass is a bidirectional bezel with 48 clicks, equipped with a polished ceramic insert featuring a luminescent 24-hour scale.
I often advocate for GMT bezel movement as they ideally should operate in both directions, and if they have a ratchet mechanism, the number of clicks should correspond to the 24-hour scale on their inserts. A unidirectional 24-hour bezel is objectively less practical than a bidirectional one (at least when it comes to indicating additional time zones), and whenever I see a unidirectional 24-hour bezel, I always feel that the brand simply wanted to use existing components that were initially made for diver's watches. Beyond offering bidirectional movement with 48 clicks to match time zones with half-hour offsets, the Zelos Mako 300m GMT bezel provides sharp and well-defined tactile feedback, and the wide serration along the outer rim offers sufficient grip.
Although the Zelos Mako 300m GMT does not have the same hardened coating as some of the brand's more expensive models, the watch itself feels very robust, and I believe most people will be more than satisfied with the level of finish in this price category. As the name implies, the water resistance of the Zelos Mako 300m GMT is 300 meters, and to support a sufficiently high diving depth, the back of the watch has a massive screw-down case back, and a signed screw-down crown partially recessed into the side of the case at the 4 o'clock position. The case back of the Mako 300m GMT is adorned with a stylized engraving of a shark (presumably a mako shark), and the tip of the knurled crown is decorated with the brand's logo "Z", filled with Super-LumiNova luminescent compound.
At the time of writing, Zelos has released several different versions of the Mako 300m GMT, including some premium variants with stone or meteorite dials. However, the version presented here is the "Cracked Ice" model, which features a black ceramic bezel, bright orange accents, and a fully luminescent white dial. In tune with the glowing blue numbers on the bezel, the white dial surface is entirely coated with BGW9 Super-LumiNova luminescent compound, then covered with glossy enamel, and the entire surface glows blue, creating the signature "Cracked Ice" motif. The black hands and hour markers also glow but emit a very faint green glow that provides excellent contrast on the dial surface, whether viewed in daylight or darkness.
While Miyota and Seiko both produce affordable and accessible GMT movements, only the model from Miyota offers flyer-style functionality with an independently adjustable local hour hand that can move forward or backward in one-hour increments. Until recently, such complications were only found in watches costing at least a few thousand dollars, and to offer this popular function, the Zelos Mako 300m GMT operates on the automatic Miyota Cal. 9075 movement, which runs at a frequency of 28,800 vph (4 Hz) with a power reserve of about 42 hours. Despite the fact that the Miyota 9075 has become somewhat well-known, it still remains one of the most premium movements in the Japanese manufacturer's catalog, making it even more impressive that Zelos managed to include this caliber in one of their most affordable collections.
The lugs of the Zelos Mako 300m GMT are equipped with a stainless steel bracelet with three links that have a matte finish and polished bevels running along the sides, complementing the case finish. Overall, Zelos bracelets are quite good, and despite being fitted to one of the brand's most affordable models, this bracelet is no exception. With fully solid components, single-sided screws for removable links, and integrated quick-release spring bars on the lugs, the bracelet that comes with the Mako 300m GMT meets all the basic requirements set by most enthusiasts and fastens on the underside of the wrist with a milled push-button folding clasp with an integrated extension system offering five positions of incremental adjustment.
Overall, the Zelos Mako 300m GMT is an incredibly attractive model, and while striving for a budget price always involves some compromises, the tangible drawbacks of these watches are minimal. On the wrist, the Mako 300m GMT looks noticeably smaller and thinner than one might assume based on its paper dimensions, and details like the bezel action and hand proportions leave nothing to be desired. Realistically, the most obvious drawback is related to the fit of the end links: despite being entirely solid with very little play between the lugs, the shape of the links does not perfectly match the upper profile of the case. Overall, the Mako 300m GMT is a very well-executed watch, and while Zelos certainly offers higher-end options within their various premium collections, what you ultimately sacrifice is relatively minimal considering everything else these watches offer for their price.
I am firmly convinced that travel watches shouldn't be the most expensive in your collection, as the goal of travel is to live in the moment and enjoy the experience of being in a new place without worrying about the items you brought with you. The Zelos Mako 300m GMT, with an official retail price of $629 USD, is on the affordable side of the watch spectrum, and it is one of the most inexpensive ways to get your hands on a watch with this travel-oriented GMT movement. Moreover, while the Mako 300m GMT watches still feature high quality and offer plenty of enjoyment in owning them, there is nothing so expensive or valuable that an unfortunate scratch on the case during a vacation could in any way spoil the trip.
For more information on the Zelos Mako 300m GMT, visit the brand's website.