This Autumn, Victorinox Swiss Army will start selling its new Maverick GS Dual Time collection featuring a second time-zone indicator sometimes referred to as “GMT.” While the brand, whose founder invented the Swiss knife as we know it, tries to leap into an “entry luxury” category, it keeps introducing a lot more affordable models catering to the customers with their budgets fixed below the $600 mark.
While secondary to the models developed and commercialized by top-tier brands like Rolex and IWC, they still offer their bang for the back.
One of the recent interesting entries from the Swiss brand is the new Maverick GS (Grand Sport), which is powered by the Swiss-made Ronda 6203.B quartz movement.
Built on 5 jewels and featuring a second time-zone indicator at 6 o’clock as well as a big date window at 12 o’clock, this tired workhorse stays light-years behind quartz calibers currently produced by Seiko or Citizen. However, the movement is more or less popular among several brands that sell “Swiss Made” watches, both affordable and “entry premium” ones.
For example, you can meet this caliber ticking inside the Technomarine UF6, Edox Class Royale GMT, Graf Zeppelin LZ127 Big Date Dual Time Zone (too many capitals here, to my taste), and some other products with prices ranging from a modest $250 to more “premium” $1500. Unfortunately, when you operate inside the $500-$600 niche your profit margins are tight and there is not much room for originality since originality is an expensive thing.
Victorinox Swiss Army’s abilities to modify the movement and develop the watch with a less standard face were pretty limited, so they probably decided to leave the things as they were and focus on the casing and bracelet.
Well, giving the Swiss knife manufacturer their due, I must admit that the Maverick looks pretty good for its price. The Rolex-style unidirectional rotating bezel is well-crafted and attractively decorated with polished black lacquer and traditional flutes on its outer rim. The dauphine hands feature an adequate amount of Superluminova and the GMT subdial at 6 o’clock is large enough to be clearly read when the lighting is good.
Of course, the big date window doesn’t look as cool as Glashuette Original’s Panorama Date complication, but the watch also costs about 16 times less than the German timekeeper, so the comparison is somewhat unfair.
If you are on the market for a well-executed timepiece powered by a quartz caliber with a second time-zone functionality and the famous “Swiss Made” inscription on its dial, this one sounds like an interesting choice. First of all, it comes from an easily recognizable, trusted brand that is known for its attention to quality and good customer support. Second, the price is not too high: it is difficult to find a product from a solid brand that costs less than USD 600. If you can’t spoil your child with an Omega or even TAG Heuer, you may consider this piece as a good candidate for a “back to school” present for your kid.
See also: Argonaut 1000 TQ Diver by CX Swiss Military
Photos: Victorinox Swiss Army
Victorinox Swiss Army Maverick GS Dual Time specification:
Price range: $539-$599
Movement: Ronda 6203.B, quartz, Swiss Made
Complications: GMT, big date
Power reserve: 60 months
Case: Stainless steel
Bezel shape: Round
Size: 43.00 mm
Case height: 10.00 mm
Dial: Black
Numerals: Arabic
Hands: Steel
Water resistance: 100 meters
Strap: Integrated stainless steel bracelet or genuine rubber strap
Crystal: Sapphire
Back: Solid