I'm a fan of Islander Watch company, and I also like a good GMT. I especially love a Traveler GMT with great lume and a rotating bezel. When I saw that Islander had released exactly that, I asked to borrow one for a review. The owner, Marc, got back to me immediately and sent the blue dial version that you see here.
First Impressions of the Islander Republic GMT
Grand Seiko was the first thing that came to mind when seeing the Republic. Like those models (as well as my old Seiko Prospex LX), its bezel is bi-color and lumed with a sapphire insert. When I looked more closely, however, the watch has more of a functional pilot vibe rather than something trying to double as a dress watch. The orange airplane-shaped GMT hand especially gives it some fun character. The dial is also darker than I expected. It's a deep blue, but it appears black in some light.
Islander Republic GMT Details
Wearing the Islander Republic GMT
At 40mm in diameter and 46.5mm lug-to-lug, the Islander hits the sweet spot in size that many customers are looking for. The watch is large enough to have a noticeable wrist presence and good legibility without being overly large or bulky.
The Republic is just over 13mm thick, which is slim for an automatic GMT, especially one with 200m of water-resistance (Grand Seiko and Tudor, I'm looking at you here). The lugs also curve down the wrist, helping it to sit well.
The coin-edged crown is easy to grip and lacks crown guards. The bezel also features a chunky grip. The 120 clicks make it feel more like a dive bezel than a typical 48-click GMT, but it does rotate in both directions. The bezel is easy to read, and can be used to display a third time zone (with home time always showing up on the bi-color chapter ring, also with a 24-hour scale). This is handy to quickly display another time zone without resetting the watch, or during a layover in an intermediate time zone.
Rather than extending the blue area of the bezel, Islander kept the cutoff exactly at 6 and 18. A thin blue outline then surrounds the hour numerals to keep them from blending in with the lume area —a small detail, but one I found distinctive and enjoyable. It is also carried over to the 24-hour chapter ring.
Large white hands with black centers and distinctive hour markers provide excellent legibility. The GMT hand also easily indicates 24-hour time, but it is easily distinguished because it is a different color.
The bracelet and replacement straps for the Islander Republic GMT
All Republic GMT models feature a 5-link bracelet, reminiscent of the Omega Speedmaster's. It has three brushed links, with polished links splitting them. This gives it an upscale appearance.
It also features screwed-in links rather than pins and collars. Something that Seiko doesn't offer anywhere near this price. Links can be easily removed with a single screwdriver (included with the watch), rather than requiring a bracelet tool. The lug width is 20mm, so lots of straps are available to fit it.
If I owned this watch, I would wear it on a blue Deployant Sailcloth most of the time.
Here is a list of some other straps that will complement this watch well. At the end of the article, you'll also find photos of some of our favorite combinations. You can also view our Guide to Choosing a Watch Strap.
-Hook and Loop Elastic
-Ribbed Rubber Pass-Through
-Ridge Rubber
-Tropical Rubber
-Premium Sailcloth
-Rubber and Sailcloth Hybrid Straps
-Vented Rubber
-Slim Ridge Rubber
-Waffle Rubber
-Epsom Leather
-Elastic
-Seatbelt
Islander Republic GMT Movement
The Republic Traveler GMT utilizes Miyota's 9075 movement, often referred to as a Traveler GMT movement. The stylish 24-hour hand, featuring an airplane at its tip, can indicate a second time zone, while the 12-hour hand can be adjusted independently to display the current local time. This also advances or reverses the date when crossing the International Date Line.
It operates at 28,800 vph (8 beats per second), which is an upgrade from the Seiko movements often used in this price range. It offers up to 42 hours of power reserve when fully wound. The rotor sits behind the traditional Islander lighthouse caseback. It winds in one direction and free spins in the other, while the hour hand jumps are crisp. It's not as sharp as a Seiko 9F GMT, but still quite nice.
Islander Republic GMT Conclusion
Since the release of the Miyota 9075 movement, watch collectors have been spoiled for choice with affordable traveler GMT watches. Some of the options have been better than others, and the Islander Republic is an attractive new option in this category. Islander did a nice job of making the watch distinctive without having too much going on. It functions well as a travel tool watch, while still offering some fun touches that collectors will enjoy. At under $700, it's also a great value, offering all of the specs you'd expect for the price.
Previously, I named the Nodus Contrail GMT as number one of the Top 11 GMT Watches. That watch shares many similarities with the Islander Republic, so stay tuned for a comparison review coming soon.
Islander Republic Traveler GMT ISL-238 Specifications
Name: Republic Traveler GMT
Reference Number: ISL-238
MSRP: $695
Diameter: 40mm
Height: 46.5mm
Thickness: 13.1mm
Weight: 180g
Lug Width: 20mm
Movement: Miyota 9075
Power Reserve: 42 hours
Water Resistance: 200m
Crystal: Sapphire with inner anti-reflective coating
Crown: Screw-down
Bezel: Bi-directional, 120 click
Bracelet: Stainless steel with quick adjust and deployant clasp
Shop replacement straps for the Islander Republic GMT:
Deployant FKM Rubber
Deployant Sailcloth
Hook and Loop Elastic
