Conveniently, “Spinnaker” is one of the same words in both English and Dutch. In fact, it’s the same in French and German, too, making the name of this watch brand easy to remember. And with the name Spinnaker, it’s likely the brand has a connection to the underwater world. In fact, most of its portfolio consists of diver’s watches, backing this up. For my first hands-on experience with Spinnaker, I had the chance to check out the Dumas GMT, a hefty watch based on the brand’s Dumas Diver. I was excited to learn more about this colorful GMT, whose design is heavily inspired by famous professional diver’s watches from the 1970s.
It would be an exaggeration to say that the Spinnaker Dumas GMT dented the desk when it was dropped on it. However, the size and weight of this watch alone make an unforgettable first impression. If you are familiar with Spinnaker’s model line, you know that the brand produces diver’s watches with a vintage-inspired yet modern design. The names of the various collections are based on famous underwater figures. In the case of the Dumas collection, the name comes from Frédéric Dumas. This French author was a good friend of the famous French underwater explorer Jacques-Yves Cousteau. He accompanied Cousteau on many of his deep sea expeditions around the world. Therefore, it makes sense to associate his name with a 70s-inspired diver’s watch. Now, let’s take a closer look at the GMT version of the Dumas.
Spinnaker Dumas GMT
This isn’t my first time covering the Spinnaker Dumas. I published a review of the regular white dial version of this watch back in 2020. I don’t normally like white dials, especially on larger watches, so naturally it wasn’t my favorite model in the Dumas collection.
Additionally, I prefer GMTs to standard dive watches, and the Dumas GMT is easily my favorite over the three-hand version, but despite its morphing into a multi-time version of the Dumas, it still looks and feels very much like a dive watch.
To give you an idea of what this traveler’s “monster of the deep” is, let’s take a look at some specs. The Dumas GMT has a 44mm stainless steel case that is 15mm thick, 48mm long, and water resistant to 300m. The retro-style case is angular and has no lugs. As you can see, a lugless case of this size has an imposing presence.
This watch features a blue gradient dial that is lighter in the center and gradually darkens towards the edges. The luminous hour markers are on a dark blue ring that surrounds the dial. This dark blue ring also contains a minute track with thin white markers for most minutes and alternating white and blue markers every five minutes. The dial also features a date window at the 6 o’clock position and the odd numbers of a 24-hour scale. The watch also has a rotating 24-hour bezel, allowing the Dumas GMT to display the time in three time zones simultaneously.
Inspired by the great diver watches of the past
The Omega Ploprof-inspired hands are finished in five different colors to further enliven the dial: the hour hand is orange, the minute hand is unpainted steel, the lollipop seconds hand is yellow, and the 24-hour GMT hand is black with a red tip. Additionally, all the hands are filled with white Super-LumiNova, as are the indexes.
Additionally, the GMT bezel is finished in two-tone blue and the 24-hour scale features luminous markers, all of which turn green in the dark, allowing you to keep track of different time zones at any time of the day or night.
Flip the watch over and you’ll see the Seiko NH34 GMT movement that powers the watch. This Kohler-style GMT movement is a serious workhorse caliber that’s often found in budget GMTs. Spinnaker uses a customized rotor on this movement that features the brand’s logo. But to be honest, it doesn’t make the caliber look any better, as the design isn’t all that appealing.
Overall, it’s debatable whether a watch with a movement like this needs a display caseback. For someone just starting to get interested in watches, it’s fun to see the movement in action. But I’m not a watch novice, so I’d prefer an all-steel caseback and a slightly thinner case.
Wearing a Spinnaker Dumas GMT
This watch comes on a sturdy stainless steel triple-row bracelet that is 22mm wide. It has a folding clasp with a safety lock and push button release. The bracelet tapers to 20mm wide at the buckle, but is still pretty solid. Additionally, this watch comes on a light blue rubber strap with a dark blue keeper that matches the color of the bezel. This second option is my preference for a simple reason:
As you know, the bracelet adds quite a bit of weight. With the bracelet on, the watch weighs a whopping 209 grams. The rubber strap significantly reduces the weight to 129 grams, making it more comfortable to wear.
What remains are the large dimensions of the case. At 44mm, the case is not just large, it’s also quite chunky. So this watch is certainly not for everyone. I’m a large guy, so the Dumas GMT suits me well. It looks substantial, but in a good way.
The colors are vibrant and summery, and they help visually balance the size. Additionally, the rubber strap physically balances the watch on your wrist. Looking at the Dumas GMT on a strap, you’ll see that it’s a colorful, waterproof GMT with a fair bit of 70s charm.
Final thoughts on the Spinnaker Dumas GMT
The latest model in the Spinnaker Dumas GMT collection is the first to feature a gradient dial, which suits the watch well, and we also love the two shades of blue the brand chose for this new release. A summery, waterside-style version of the Spinnaker Duma GMT is now complete. It is priced at $550, which begs the question, who is this watch for?
Given the size, this is not a watch for those with small wrists. If you want a slightly smaller dive-watch-based GMT from Spinnaker, the brand’s Fleuss, Bradner, and Croft collections are a good choice. The latter models are significantly smaller and thinner than the Dumas GMT, making them ideal for those with smaller wrists.
If the Dumas GMT fits your size, it’s a good choice for those who are just starting to get interested in watches and who like the distinctive 1970s style combined with fresh colors. Also, if you already have a watch collection, this watch is a great retro-style summer watch. The Dumas GMT is built to be sturdy and can withstand anything the warm weather throws at it.
Whether you want to take it with you on an underwater adventure or use it as a colorful travel watch, the Spinnaker Dumas GMT will serve you well. This new Dumas GMT is a great example of the brand’s colorful collection and is a great choice if you’re looking for an affordable ’70s-style diver-based GMT.
For more information, check out the official Spinnaker website Let us know what you think about this Spinnaker Dumas GMT in the comments section below.
