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For most of the modern watchmaking era, unless a brand made its own movements, the only way for any brand to build a mechanical GMT watch was to buy a Swiss caliber, and the only options available were “caller” GMTs without independently adjustable hour hands. For smaller brands, this meant charging more than they wanted or cutting into their margins, and, in some cases, delivering a functionality that might not have been what they had envisioned. In 2022, MIYOTA introduced the automatic GMT movement Cal. 9075. The Cal. 9075 and its independently adjustable hour hand ushered in a rapid expansion of affordable automatic GMT watches on the market that still shows no sign of slowing.

The basic specs are well-known by now. The MIYOTA Cal. 9075 is a Japanese automatic GMT movement with a 42-hour power reserve that operates at 28,800 vph. It has 24 jewels, hacking, hand-winding, and it’s rated at -10/+30 seconds per day from the factory. More recently, MIYOTA has offered an upgraded option to equip the movement with heat-blued screws. At this price point, most blued screws are colored by some applied coating. MIYOTA uses the more traditional and permanent heating process to blue its screws and goes even further by using proprietary technology that prevents fading and corrosion.

The standout feature of the Cal. 9075, though, is the independent hour hand that gives the movement status as a “true GMT.” In this type of GMT movement, the hour hand can be corrected independently, instead of the more laborious process involved with other GMTs, sometimes referred to as “caller GMTs.” True GMTs are more complicated and more difficult to produce (which is why they are usually seen on higher-end watches). As part of MIYOTA’s Premium Automatic collection of movements, the Cal. 9075 needed to provide a premium, authentic experience that delivered the value and quality consumers expect of the brand. It didn’t take long to realize that creating a true GMT was the only option.

Offering a caliber with GMT functionality that would require an enormous case is untenable, and MIYOTA knew it was important for its customers that the GMTs not deviate from established design language. With that in mind, the MIYOTA Cal. 9075 measures just 4.92mm thick — just 1mm thicker than the time and date 9000 series calibers. MIYOTA assessed every component of the movement to ensure that each one was as thin as possible. This means brands can introduce an entirely new GMT model that’s faithful to their existing designs, or better yet easily introduce a GMT version of an existing model.

Functionality and mechanics are only part of the equation. MIYOTA prides itself on producing exceptional movements to be used in exceptional watches. The way a movement feels when engaged through the crown when the date is changed, when it winds, and how the hands move all play a pivotal role in a watch owner’s experience. To this end, MIYOTA didn’t just ensure operating the crown communicated the movement’s quality in a tactile way. The manufacturer also adjusted the interplay between components so that the adjustment of the hour hand provides a crisp click whether being moved forward or backward.

Born out of the established and respected 9000 series, the MIYOTA Cal. 9075 opened the door to an expansion of True GMT watches at price points previously only obtained through razor-thin margins or quartz movements. Demonstrably reliable and easily serviceable, the Cal. 9075 has become a go-to for brands seeking to introduce a True GMT into their catalogs. To learn more about MIYOTA and the Cal. 9075, please visit the MIYOTA website. 

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