What kind of watch is in the GMC commercial?

"Wow!  That's a cool watch!"  It's a statement I've said aloud nearly every time I've seen the watch in the "sharp" commercial for the GMC Denali series of full-sized SUV.  

What's that watch in the GMC commercial?

Our hints are revealed in a quick turn of the wrist.  The dial is labeled "Lancaster, Pennsylvania USA" at 3 o'clock and "RGM" on the left.  The watch itself is the RGM 400 Chronograph and it retails for about $3,500.  But, before you click on, there is something very special you should know about an RGM watch.  It's made in America.  

RGM 400 Chronograph from GMC Denali Commercial

RGM Watch Company is America's premiere watch maker.  Founded by Roland G. Murphy, the company has been making watches in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, for 20 years.  Murphy started out as an assistant at a clock repair shop, and then pursued a passion for fine timepieces at trade school and through advanced training in Switzerland.  Today, RGM is one of the only American watch companies making precision movements "in house" right here in America.  They use a mix of traditional and automated processes to efficiently make high quality timepieces.  If you visit the RGM site, you'll see mechanical watches that are within the range of middle class aspirations to the prestigious Pennsylvania Tourbillon for the most wealthy of watch collectors.  These watches incorporate mechanical genius and exquisite craftsmanship that rivals anything produced in Europe.

If you appreciate the precision of a GMC Denali, you'll love the precision of an RGM watch.  RGM is a watch company that makes all Americans proud!

The Timex Expedition Camper - A Simple Watch for Telling Time

There are a lot of new watch brands offering watches with basic readable dials.  It's a move towards simplicity in a complex world.  But, if you want simplicity, you don't have to gravitate towards an new and expensive watch brand, traditional brands like Timex have plenty to offer.  Simple field watches are not about cache, they are about telling time.

Timex Expedition Camper Watch in Walmart (around September 2016)

I recently spotted this Men's Timex Expedition Camper watch (above) at a local Walmart store.  It has 24-hour and traditional 12-hour markings for time.  It also has a comfortable nylon fabric strap with hook and loop closure. The white dial and black case evoke the traditional school room clock.  For less than $32, this Timex Expedition easily fits most budgets.

The Timex Expedition Camper in Black (Amazon.com Photo)

However, low cost isn't the only reason to choose a Timex Camper watch.  The watch has Indiglo dial backlight for night use.  With a 100-meter water resistance, this Timex should also hold up to trips to the local swimming hole.  However, if you aspire to ninja-hood, you'll also find the all black version ready for action!

[As of August 2025, this Timex is still available on Amazon.com and is regularly available at sale prices. If you need a bang around field watch, you can find the Timex Camper here on Amazon.] 

The Solid Citizen - Basic Citizen Watches for Men

When it comes to watches for men, sometimes basic models are best.  They have a simple, functionality, that can be refreshing.  The trend towards basic models that sometimes invoke the classic watches of the 1960s and 1970s, has been called the classical revival.  I just think basic watches are good for readability, reliability, and focus on the essential task of telling the time.  I recently spotted two excellent examples of basic watches from Citizen at my local Belk department store.

Citizen Men's Silver-Tone Stainless Steel Watch

The first watch I sighted is this Citizen Silver-Tone Stainless Steel Watch (Model BF0580-57L).  It has a brilliant blue dial, a stainless steel band, and a pair of classic Citizen batons at 12 o'clock.  It has a 40 millimeter diameter case, and a day and date window in the 3 o'clock position.  It's the kind of no nonsense wristwatch that lets potential employers know that you are ready for business.  The crown is protected with bump-outs from the case.  Water resistance is only 30 meters so you'll have to leave it in your shoes when you go to the beach.

Citizen Stainless Steel Watch

Watches like this Citizen Stainless Watch go on sale regularly and can bring customers into a department store.  Updating this post in July of 2025, the price of these watches on Amazon is still quite reasonable.  Here is the similar Citizen (Model BF0580-06E). As of this update in 2025, it is 29% off and comes in at just less than $100. You can see this watch here on Amazon.

Citizen Quartz Day-Date Watch (Model BF0580-06E)

Citizen Men's Stainless Steel Bracelet Watch

This Citizen Men's Stainless Steel Bracelet Watch (Model BI1030-53A) is another no-nonsense watch that is perfect for job interviews.  It has a 42 millimeter diameter case with a date window at the 6 o'clock position.

Citizen Silver Tone Three Hand Watch (Basic)

In 2016, Belk called this watch the Silver Tone Three Hand Watch (Basic) and sold it for around $90.  It was a good deal. In 2025, you can still find similar watches (the Citizen BI5010-059E) with a price of around $140.  However, it is now available in black and, as of July 2025, was selling at 29% off.  With that 2025 deal price, you can find it here on Amazon for less than $100.  

Citizen Quartz Watch (BI5010-59E)

As simple as these watches seem, it's tempting to simply buy a generic watch.  There are plenty of them around.  However, you notice the fit, finish, and quality of materials simply aren't up to the levels set by the mainstream powerhouse brands like Citizen, Seiko, or Pulsar.  It's worth it to get into the respected brands.  Otherwise, a watch might get noticed for all the wrong reasons.

[This post was updated in July 2025 to provide new comparison watches and links.]

MeisterSinger Watches: A Single-handed Watch for Maximum Tranquility

I recently read about MeisterSinger Watches in About Time magazine. MeisterSinger is a premium watch brand dedicated to single-hand watches. One of the most affordable watches in their lineup is the Metris Men's Watch.  I find the vintage look of the ivory dial.

MeisterSinger Metris Men's Watch

The company believes that some things are simply not to be rushed. On their website they link their watches to the medieval single-hand clocks in towers all over Europe. People devoted themselves to spending quality time, taking time to do things right, and not being rushed. The absence of the minute hand encourages a state of mind that is not pushed or stressed by the passage of minutes.

Meistersinger explains this is section of their website titled the Rituals of Time. Customers are encouraged to enjoy the rituals of their day and to savor and value time. If that so, customers would likely really enjoy the Meistersinger Lunascope watch that features a beautiful moonphase complication.

Meistersinger Lunascope Watch

If you are interested in a high quality single-handed watch from a premium Swiss maker, you should definitely check them out!

Watch Sighting: Shinola Rambler GMT

Shinola has been one of the bright spots in the world of watches over the past few years.  They are an American company committed to making watches, bicycles, and leather goods right here in the United States.  They are bringing much needed jobs back to Detroit, Michigan.  For more on the Shinola story, check out their website.

Detroit, Michigan - photo By Shawn Wilson [CC BY-SA 1.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/1.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

I had never seen a Shinola watch before, but I recently saw one for a great price at Nordstrom Rack.  It's a Shinola Rambler GMT.  It's a quartz watch with an bi-directional rotating Bezel and a cyclops over the date window.  It only held it for a few seconds, but it had a nice, substantial weight, and a soft supple leather band.  The caseback had an impressive design.  Overall, it looked like a really great watch.  It has an orange 4th hand that I believe indicates the Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).  I found a more detailed review on WristWatchReview.com ,

There are an impressive number of Shinola watches on Amazon.com. As the company grows, they are offering more models and models with different features.  While these luxury watches are just out of my comfortable reach, I'm glad to see such luxurious models being made in America. 

Watch Spotlight - The Graf Zeppelin 100 Years of Zeppelin Watch

Once upon a time, air travel was not the nerve-wracking exercise that it is today.  The wealthy traveled in style, floating in the clouds, and moving at a leisurely pace in huge airships called Zeppelins.  One of the largest and most stately of the monster airships was Germany's Graf Zeppelin.  According to airships.net, it was commissioned on July 8, 1928 and flew until shortly after the Hindenberg disaster in 1937.  While in service, it circled the globe carrying passengers in grand style.

The Graf Zeppelin

Looking back on the airships today, there is a mix of elegance, romance, technology, the innocence of a bygone era, and the edginess of the danger from hydrogen.  The era of these magnificent airships is celebrated by Germany's Zeppelin watch brand.

The gondola of the Graf Zeppelin. Photo edited by Grombo [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html), CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/) or CC BY-SA 2.5-2.0-1.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5-2.0-1.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

The Zeppelin's were ships of the sky and they featured controls and instrumentation that might look more at home aboard a ship at sea.  The classic calfskin band and vintage instrument look of the Graf Zeppelin 100 Years of Zeppelin watch evoke the classic efficiency and engineering excellence of the airship era.  However, this Zeppelin watch is also perfect for the modern traveler as it has a date window at 4 o'clock, and alarm subdial at 6 o'clock, and a subdial at 9 o'clock which looks like it should keep time in another timezone.

Graf Zeppelin Watch

The Graf Zeppelin is a proper watch with stately proportions that look just right on the wrist.  The 42 millimeter diameter case is just perfect for most wrists.  At 13 millimeters thick, it can even fit under a cuff when a gentleman dresses properly for dinner as they did aboard the airship Graf Zeppelin.

Diners aboard the Graf Zeppelin - Source Bundesarchiv, Bild 102-08200 / CC-BY-SA 3.0 [CC BY-SA 3.0 de (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/de/deed.en)], via Wikimedia Commons

While today's Zeppelin watches are powered by precise Swiss Quartz movements, the Zeppelins of the 1920s were powered by massive power plants.  You can see the way one of the engines dwarfs a legion of ground crew.

Graf Zeppelin Engine - Photo from Bundesarchiv, Bild 102-00735 / CC-BY-SA 3.0 [CC BY-SA 3.0 de (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/de/deed.en)], via Wikimedia Commons

One of the coolest things about Zeppelin watches is that they are actually made in Germany.  The watch highlights a proud German achievement.  It's also reasonably priced for a European-made watch with a Swiss Movement.  It's not easy to pull off the tricky combination of elegance, quality, and affordability.  But, the Zeppelin Graf Zeppelin watch succeeds!

Wristwatch Review: Nautica Quartz Black Dial Signal Flag Watch

For my recent birthday, I received two new watches.  Here is one of them.  It's a Nautica Quartz Watch with a black dial and signal flags on the bezel.  My wife found a pretty good deal on this model at Belk.com.  According to Amazon, this Nautica is listed as the NAD09509G NSR 100 FLAG Analog Display Quartz Black Watch.  As with many watches these days, I think there are some opportunities for marketing departments to come up with better names for watch models.

Nautica Black Dial Signal Flag Watch

Nautica Watch Design

I really like the design of this Nautica signal flag watch.  This Nautica combines traditional elements of a diver style watch and the nautical signal motif with a bit of the black seriousness of "commando" watch.  Nautica has several watches where the signal flags are on the dial and are actually colorful flags.  Those watches have a lighter mood about them than this Nautica in black.

The Nautica logo is featured in this design on the watch strap.  It is positioned on the upper part of the strap and faces away from the wearer.  Thus, it isn't a distraction to the wearer and let's the world know that you are wearing a Nautica watch.  The Nautica logo is also featured prominently on the nicely engraved back plate of the watch.

The Nautica label is also featured with the brand name on the clasp and on the logo faintly etched into the crown of watch.  These are premium details that are expect in a watch at this price level.  I thought they were nicely done.

Nautica Watch Proportions

This Nautica is just about the right size for daily wear.  The case is 44 millimeters in diameter and 12.5 millimeters thick.  Since the bezel doesn't rotate, the watch could probably be a millimeter or two thinner.  However, this watch hides under a long sleeved dress shirt with no problem.

Nautica Watch Construction and Function

This Nautica has a reliable quartz movement.  Warranty service is provided by Timex.  The watch has a stainless steel case and case back.  It offers water resistance to 50 meters (165 feet).  The dial is protected by a durable mineral crystal.  The strap is made of silicone.  It seems durable and a little more pliable than a resin strap. After 15 days of wear, the watch and strap seem to be holding up well.  Overall, the timekeeping and water resistance capabilities of this watch are great.  If there is a downside to the functionality of this timepiece, it's that the bezel doesn't rotate.  Yes, it is a cool looking fashion watch, but a rotating bezel would make it even cooler.

Nautica Black Dial Signal Flag Watch

Nautica Watch Overall Review

This Nautica Signal Flag Black Dial watch is a great watch for daily way.  It is comfortable and good looking.  Overall, I really like it and recommend it.