GMT vs Explorer 2?

[Ravager135]

As alluded to above, the GMT has a more white collar heritage which is reflected in it's finish. I think the GMT has sort of made an aesthetic transition to be less of a pilot's watch and more of a traveler's timepiece. If you like the look of the GMT (which I certainly do) then go ahead and get it. However if you want a pilot's watch, it's really not even close to being one of the best on the market. Most military pilots I work with lust after Breitlings though I'd argue that IWC makes the finest pilots watches now-a-days.

If you're looking for a tough tool watch that happens to have a GMT function, then the Explorer II is your timepiece. It's pure utilitarian, it's why it only comes in steel. The Explorer II has gone from being marketed as a spelunker's timepiece to one that really applies to anyone who operates in the outdoors. The Sub is for water, the GMT is for air, and the Explorer is for land; which has the most functionality for you? As an aside, I think the Explorer II is going to look a lot better banged up 20 years down the road than the current GMT Master II.

[Piloto]

Originally Posted by Ravager135

I think the GMT has sort of made an aesthetic transition to be less of a pilot's watch and more of a traveler's timepiece. If you like the look of the GMT (which I certainly do) then go ahead and get it. However if you want a pilot's watch, it's really not even close to being one of the best on the market. Most military pilots I work with lust after Breitlings though I'd argue that IWC makes the finest pilots watches now-a-days.

If you want a true pilots watch, get a G-Shock.

I've been flying for 20+ years now and have gone through my share of Breitlings, Tags, and Casios. Nothing beats the G-shock solar/atomic when it comes to traveling through multiple time zones, and hanging your hat in different countries every week. But it's a plastic watch. I have no experience with IWC. As for Breitling, the digital displays on the Aerospace are too small for my older eyes, and they don't make the B1 anymore...

You are spot on with the differences between the Explorer II and the GMT though. Both are A+ performers. I went with the GMT, because the 42mm Exp II wears too big on me, and I do use the third time zone feature for the GMT. Once the BLNR version came out... I had to have it. So far, the pride of my fleet.

[DreambreaX]

gmt first.

[Ravager135]

Originally Posted by Piloto

If you want a true pilots watch, get a G-Shock.

I've been flying for 20+ years now and have gone through my share of Breitlings, Tags, and Casios. Nothing beats the G-shock solar/atomic when it comes to traveling through multiple time zones, and hanging your hat in different countries every week. But it's a plastic watch. I have no experience with IWC. As for Breitling, the digital displays on the Aerospace are too small for my older eyes, and they don't make the B1 anymore...

You are spot on with the differences between the Explorer II and the GMT though. Both are A+ performers. I went with the GMT, because the 42mm Exp II wears too big on me, and I do use the third time zone feature for the GMT. Once the BLNR version came out... I had to have it. So far, the pride of my fleet.

Oh no doubt. There are more versatile, cheaper alternatives to everything in the Rolex range. You are spot on. I've seen more Casios on pilot's wrists than anything else, I just know my Navy guys tend to get Breitlings once they "make it" pay wise or what have you.

The GMT is probably the best all round watch Rolex makes hands down, I just really couldn't justify buying it as a helo guy since I don't cross too many timezones. If I was a fast moving, fixed wing guy like yourself, I might have gone with the GMT Master II.

[ndsleep612]

Originally Posted by Fwebb416

What's the deal with these two watches? Aside from a rotating bezel on the GMT, what is the difference between the two?

The only differences is the rotating bezel and price spread on the used market. Besides that, both models use the same movement.

[polarinda]

Originally Posted by second time

I've never got this... If you look at the gmt II dial you see 2 time zones, the one indicated by hour and minute hand plus the time zone indicated by the 24hr hand. This is without changing anything on the watch.

Now in order to see this 'third time zone' you have to unscrew the crown and adjust the hour hand. Can't you do this on any watch? ie adjust the time setting to some other time zone and Voila! You're looking at a second time zone or third or fourth etc. And what if you move the bezel? More time zones!

Is this 'third time zone' on the gmt just some marketing guff or am I missing something?

if you want to read 3 time zones AT ONCE without turning the bezel to locate the 3rd, you have to use the 24hr hand to read against the hour markers on the dial as your 2nd time zone albeit one marker represents 2hrs jump. The bezel can then be set to the 3rd time zone permanently against the 24 hr hand.