Time Travel
The Oceanguard GMT from Imperial Watch Co. is the follow up release to their popular Royalguard 200 dive watch from 2023. Sharing many of the same tropes and design elements, the Oceanguard does not stray too far from the roost. However, it does gain four new attractive colourways and the added functionality of a GMT hand.
The model featured here might be the most traditional of the bunch, with its Pepsi-styled bezel; however, other iterations include Fuschia & Cyan, Coral & Turquoise, and a Jet Wash (or white-dialed Pepsi).
Key Features of the Oceanguard GMT
The Oceanguard is a wrist-friendly 38mm in diameter and 47mm lug to lug. It is also 14mm thick with a 20mm lug width, making it a near identical replica of the Royalguard by way of dimensions. Even the aluminum bezel insert–albeit dual-toned here–is reminiscent of the brand’s first offering. It is fashioned from 316L stainless steel and predominantly brushed with polished chamfers along the top of the mid-case and over the drilled lugs.
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The dial–influenced largely by the Eberhard Scafograf–is also familiar here, though it does gain the red, arrow-tipped GMT hand. There are also two other notable changes. The first is the unique “half-moon” marker at twelve. The second is the roulette date wheel at six. The hand-drawn, serif font chosen for the date is particularly sharp and certainly adds to the retro-inspired design.
The hands and markers have been treated with BGW9 Super-LumiNova and glow pale blue in the dark when fully charged.
This time around, the bezel is friction-fit and bi-directional with a 24-hour scale. In conjunction with the GMT hand, you could use it to track a third time zone, if necessary. It has a nice, smooth action and the satin finish on the insert is perfect. The two colours, of course, divide the day from the night.
The crown is a stolid 7.5mm and easy to manipulate. It has been signed in the brand logo. Both it, and the caseback, are screw down and help provide the watch with 200m of water resistance.
Over the dial, we find a beautiful piece of domed sapphire. The box-style crystal offers up lovely distortions from angles but does not hinder legibility.
Under the hood is the Seiko NH34–a caller GMT movement that beats at 3Hz and provides a 41-hour power reserve.
New to the collection is the five-link, jubilee-style, bracelet. It features excellent tolerances at the lugs and tapers from 20mm to 16mm at the clasp. A particularly nice addition is the toolless micro-adjust–which is not often found in timepieces at this price point.
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SPECS
| Case | 316L Stainless Steel 38mm Diameter 47mm Lug to Lug 14mm Thick 20mm Lug Width Bidirectional 24-Hour Bezel Screw Down Crown & Case Back 200m Water Resistance |
| Dial & Crystal | Sapphire Dome Crystal Jet Black Dial Applied Markers Sword & Arrow Handset BGW9 Super-LumiNova |
| Movement | Seiko NH34 GMT Function 24 Jewels 21 600bph 41-Hour Power Reserve |
| Strap | Stainless Steel Five-Link Bracelet /w On-the-Fly Micro-adjusting Clasp |
Imperial Watch Co. Oceanguard GMT
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Final Thoughts
Seiko’s NH34 opened the door to affordable GMTs in 2022. The Oceanguard from Imperial Watch Co. is the perfect example of what is now possible–a sub $500 vintage-styled GMT with genuine dive capabilities. The charismatic colourways–ranging from traditional (featured here) to contemporary–offer up a little something for everyone, as well. But when it comes to fit and finish, the Oceanguard punches well above its weight class. It is a thoughtful design, equipped with drilled lugs, appreciable tolerances, and toolless micro-adjust. The lume is strong and the crystal is first class.
Pricing & Availability
The Imperial Watch Co. Oceanguard GMT retails for $499 USD. Each colourway is limited to 25 pieces only. Pre-ordering opens on April 9th. For more information, please visit the brand website.
About the author
Brent Robillard is a writer, educator, craftsman, and watch enthusiast. He is the author of four novels. You can follow him on Instagram.
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Ben has designed great watches since its inception 🙌🏽 as you described this design is thoughtful and always punch above their weight class in price. The fact that the pieces are limited to 25 keeps the market desirable and posts limited 👍🏽. Lastly is the ability to repair or work on the watch becomes easy and affordable god forbid something unexpected happens.
Cheers, Todd. Thanks for the feedback!