GMT watches usually come in two flavors: oversized and overcomplicated. The Hudson 38 GMT breaks that trend. At 38mm, it’s small enough to disappear under a cuff, but still gives you that extra hand sweeping around the dial to track a second time zone. That’s rare—most GMTs lean toward the 40–42mm range, which can overpower smaller wrists and feel out of place in more formal settings.

I like the simplicity here. The dial isn’t trying to impress you with busy typography or needless textures. Just clean, legible markers and a restrained design. For a GMT, that’s almost a rebellion in itself. If you’ve ever had to squint past a dozen unnecessary details to read the hour, you know what I mean.

Functionality matters more than flash, especially if you’re relying on it daily. For me, living in Alaska and traveling often, the GMT function isn’t a novelty—it’s a constant reference point. When I’m away, I want to know exactly what time it is back home without second-guessing myself.

And then there’s the story behind the brand. MAEN takes its name from the Dutch word for “moon,” tying into their theme of exploration and travel. I’ll admit—microbrands usually have to work harder to earn my trust. I’m not buying into marketing hype alone. I’d still want hands-on time before I committed, but I respect the attempt to make something that stands apart without feeling like a gimmick.

A GMT complication sounds romantic—tracking time zones as you cross continents—but in reality, it’s a lifesaver in very specific situations. For me, it’s when I’m working in places where smart devices are banned. No phones, no tablets, no easy way to check the time back home.

While others start doing half-awake math in their heads to figure out UTC, I just look at my watch. One quick glance, and I’ve got the answer. That’s not a luxury; that’s efficiency when you need it most.

It’s also a surprisingly good tool for staying connected without actually “being connected.” If I see it’s 3 a.m. at home, I know to wait before sending that message. It’s a small detail, but it saves a lot of awkwardness and shows respect for the people on the other end.

The Hudson’s minimal bezel design works here too. No clutter, no clicking drama—just a clean GMT ring that doesn’t fight the dial for attention. When you’re using a watch as an actual tool, that simplicity is worth more than most people realize.

Using a GMT regularly trains you to think about time differently. It stops being just “now” and becomes “now… plus context.” You start building an instinct for how your actions align—or conflict—with someone else’s schedule. That awareness makes you better at managing commitments, meetings, and deadlines, even without a second time zone to track.

Owning a GMT also forces you to interact with your watch more. Setting that second hand, adjusting the bezel—it’s tactile. It builds the habit of checking your tools before you move. For me, that’s part of the appeal. The watch isn’t just tracking time—it’s reinforcing a discipline.

The Hudson 38 GMT won’t be for everyone. But for those who want a purpose-built, compact watch that doubles as a quiet travel companion, it’s one of the few options in this size and style. And that alone makes it worth a look.

A watch like the Hudson 38 GMT isn’t trying to win every category—it’s built to do one thing well: track multiple time zones without getting in your way. That kind of focus is rare in the current market, where even “tool watches” often get bloated with unnecessary design flourishes.

I’ve said before that I’m picky about microbrands, and I stand by that. But when a brand creates something with genuine utility—something that actually solves a problem I have—it earns my respect. The Hudson checks a lot of those boxes for me. Compact size, clean dial, practical complication. It doesn’t try to be everything to everyone, and that’s exactly why it works.

Whether you’re navigating restricted work environments, juggling global travel, or just like knowing the time in two places at once, a GMT done right is more than a novelty. It’s a discipline—one that shapes how you interact with your own time and with others.

So, I’m curious: where do you stand on GMT functionality? Is it part of your daily toolkit, or just an interesting feature you’d rarely use?

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