Disclaimer: This watch was sent to me to review, and I do not need to return it after my review is complete. This watch was given to me without restriction and is not contingent upon a particular outcome for my review. All opinions here are my own, and Revelot had no influence over the opinions stated here.
Revelot Admiral GMT: https://www.revelot.com/collections/r10-admiral
Video
Review
Revelot, a microbrand based in Malaysia, has been in operation since 2017, and they appear to have released a wide variety of watch styles, spanning more mass market and fashion watch styles of their ladies collection as well as more microbrand enthusiast designs like the Admiral GMT. My first encounter with their designs was when I came across the Hexmariner, an interesting take on the traditional Rolex Submariner design. By incorporating angular, hexagonal features, Revelot managed to create a watch that stands apart in a market filled with homages to the Submariner, attempting to pay homage (true to the actual definition) to the classic design with a willingness to explore a more original design style. And with a name like Hexmariner, I can’t help but respect the tongue-in-cheek nod to the Submariner.
The review today centers on the R10 Admiral GMT, a budget-friendly GMT watch featuring the Seiko NH34 movement within a durable case and sporting a modern, well-crafted dial. The Admiral GMT, which was first introduced a year ago, has returned for pre-order with new color variants, including this ‘Glacier DLC’ model.
The initial price range for the early bird phase is listed from $269 to $370, expected to increase to between $336 and $425, depending on the specific case, dial, and strap choice. I will be reviewing the Glacier DLC version on a silicone strap, which is set to launch at an early bird price of $315. This pricing, along with its design and build qualities, makes the Admiral GMT a compelling option within its price bracket, for those in the market for an automatic GMT watch, provided the modern design aesthetic is to your liking.
Case
The case, measuring 41.5mm across from 3 o’clock to 9 o’clock, 49mm from lug to lug, and a thickness of 13.5mm including the case back and crystal, has a commanding presence on wrist. Made from DLC-coated steel (with an increased hardness of 500Hv), both the case and its matching bezel exude a robust tool watch aesthetic with an angular design style that is becoming increasingly common and quite popular (think Formex, BOLDR, RZE). They use sapphire crystal with ample anti-reflective coating. There is a laser-engraved screwed in caseback, and the signed screw-down crown provides excellent grip with a 6mm diameter. This case has water resistance rating of 200m, further adding to the very tool-y and robust design aesthetic that they were going for.
The watch features a notably tall, coin-edge style bezel, distinguished by its well-defined knurling that offers not only an appealing aesthetic but also functional grip. The bezel’s 120-click action is very precise, exhibiting little to no backplay. Complementing this, the ceramic bezel insert is finished with a well executed brushed texture and the bezel insert is generously applied with lume, ensuring excellent legibility in low light conditions.
The watch’s case design is strikingly angular, extending into a pair of short, similarly styled lugs. This particular design choice lends the watch a more compact feel than what one might anticipate from its 42mm size. When it comes to the finishing of the case, it exceeds expectations for a watch at the $300 price point. While the angular surfaces and edges contribute to its styling, some of these details tend to blend into the background, courtesy of the uniform black and stealthy appearance inherent to the DLC (Diamond-Like Carbon) coating.
Dial
The dial of the watch offers notable legibility, complemented by its high contrast color scheme and a clean, modern design that subtly recalls the futuristic aspects seen in MING dials, albeit with a more pronounced execution that moves away from minimalism. The dial features a base with a gentle swirl texture, and is also lumed to deliver quite a show in a low-light settings. The branding, situated below the 12 o’clock mark, along with additional text above the 6 o’clock date window, is printed with crisp boundaries and excellent detailing.
A lume filled geometric hour marker ring on the outer segment of the dial ensures easy legibility, supported by high-quality printing on the black borders. The design of the hour and minute hands is inspired by the shape of a littoral combat ship (LCS), adding a distinctive design inspiration, while the seconds hand (when in motion) is designed to evoke the aesthetic of a radar display, complete with luminescence for visibility in low-light conditions. The GMT hand, painted in a dial matched baby blue color, aligns well with the overall dial design, with a consistent quality of finish and attention to detail.
The dial is already quite deep, and is further enhanced by a sloping chapter ring designated for the 24-hour GMT hand, with well sized printed numerals to aid in legibility. While the design of the dial might elicit varied reactions, as is often the case with modern/contemporary watch designs, the quality and precision evident in the dial’s execution are commendable. The standard of quality control present in this watch’s dial is notably higher than what is typically found in Seiko watches priced under $1000. And before the Seiko mob are upset by this statement, I urge you to watch the video above and follow that by watching all the videos of Seiko watches I have on my channel.
If you told me it was possible to make a baby blue (a.k.a tiffany blue, a.k.a pastel blue) dial watch that was inspired by a naval combat ship, and had a rugged & stealthy blacked out aesthetic, I would probably tell you that isn’t going to end well. But somehow those elements come together quite nicely here, and the high contrast between the DLC black case, bezel and crown, and the blue, white and black dial seems to just work. If you’ve been following my reviews for a while, you’ll know I love all things blue and I very much enjoy DLC watches, which is why seeing this watch on Instagram prompted me to reach out to Revelot for a review sample. And I’m not disappointed.
Lume
With the numerous lumed elements featured on this watch, it’s no surprise that its performance in low light or no light conditions is nothing short of impressive. The modern dial design lends itself very well to lume, and the lumed dial base layer tends to take that aesthetic up a notch. All these components emit a striking blue glow, and it contrasts very well with the stealthy black aesthetic.
In terms of luminescence, I put this watch up against two of the most impressively lumed pieces in my collection: the Zelos Eagle 2 Ti and the MING 18.01 H41. Remarkably, it stands its ground very well when compared to these lume monsters. Notably, while both the dial and bezel elements maintain their luminosity impressively throughout the night, the hands exhibit an even greater potency, remaining bright well into the night.
Movement
This watch is powered by the Seiko NH34 caller/office GMT movement, a choice that significantly contributes to the feasibility of offering automatic GMT watches at a sub-$500 price point. The availability of affordable movements like the NH34 is something I fully embrace, despite it not being a “travelers GMT” movement. With a power reserve of approximately 40 hours, the NH34 is a reasonable option for stress free daily wear. However, I do hold onto the wish that Seiko would increase the beat rate of the NH3X family and tighten its accuracy tolerances for these movements… and all of their other movements. But I don’t think that day is coming soon. Despite this, the watch performed well, maintaining good time with single-digit daily deviations.
On The Wrist
The dimensions of this watch, sitting just under 42mm in diameter with a 49mm lug-to-lug measurement, might initially come across as slightly large for some preferences. However, it’s worth noting that this watch, particularly in its DLC case variants, feel smaller than one might expect. The height is the only dimension that stands out a little, yet it remains well-proportioned, resulting in a balanced profile on the wrist. The overall feel is robust, providing a strong wrist presence that is both comfortable and appealing. And it looks even cooler when it’s lit up.
My only actual critique is of the included silicone strap. While the watch itself is quite exemplary in its value for money, the strap tends to attract dust and feels somewhat lacking in comparison, detracting slightly from the overall experience. However, given the watch’s price point, this is a minor grievance that I find easy to overlook. Instead I recommend an easy upgrade, swapping the silicone for an FKM rubber strap, and maybe in baby blue if you’re feeling adventurous.
Wrapping Up
To wrap this up, the watch is quite impressive with its overall build quality, appealing color combination, case design and dial quality control. The proportions strike a good balance, feeling robust and conveying a rugged appearance that should appeal to those who appreciate a watch that looks durable. The movement, especially considering the watch’s price point, performs well, and the lume is exceptional. The only aspect that might draw criticism is the included strap, which is a minor concern that’s easily rectified. For those drawn to the somewhat polarizing modern aesthetic, this timepiece stands out as potentially one of the best affordable automatic GMT options currently available in the market. If Revelot can keep up these more creative designs and very affordable prices, while also delivering good long term customer service, I think they’ll quickly become a microbrand enthusiast favorite.
