Rolex Sky Dweller Jumping Hour does not take date

[Mackinley]

Hi all,

I have a new from AD Rolex sky dweller. I was shocked to find the jumping hour GMT function (main hand, not 24hr dial) brings the date forward, but not backward. This means if moving backward instead of forward in time, I have to reset all the functions and can’t rely on the GMT hand alone because the date will be incorrect.

Is this a specific flaw to my watch, or a flaw to the sky dweller in general? My GMT Master II does not have this issue and brings the date in both directions.

[diracpoint]

You're correct. The date doesn't flip backwards, unlike the GMT. For this reason, I prefer the GMT for travel, even though I have both.

[Tylerlsu2008]

Originally Posted by diracpoint

You're correct. The date doesn't flip backwards, unlike the GMT. For this reason, I prefer the GMT for travel, even though I have both.

Wow -- I would have never guessed that. That's a deal killer for me ever getting one of these.

[Harry-57]

You adjust the date in both directions at a different bezel position to the hour jump bezel position. The Sky Dweller is a very simple watch to set up and its movement is different to a less complicated GMT. If you must have the hour jump and date jump on the same control you'll be wanting a GMT Master or Explorer II. Of course, you'll then be resetting the date more frequently.

[enjoythemusic]

Originally Posted by Harry-57

You adjust the date in both directions at a different bezel position to the hour jump bezel position. You have to turn the bezel past the date adjust position to get to the hour jump position.

^^^ thx for posting

[WS9D]

Originally Posted by Mackinley

Hi all,

I have a new from AD Rolex sky dweller. I was shocked to find the jumping hour GMT function (main hand, not 24hr dial) brings the date forward, but not backward. This means if moving backward instead of forward in time, I have to reset all the functions and can’t rely on the GMT hand alone because the date will be incorrect.

Is this a specific flaw to my watch, or a flaw to the sky dweller in general? My GMT Master II does not have this issue and brings the date in both directions.

which one you have? this sounds like a problem I would like to have. I'll take it off your hands for you

[diracpoint]

Yes, you can adjust the date easily by the bezel. But that does not completely solve the problem.

Suppose, after midnight you flip the date back using the bezel. And, also change the jump hour back before 12 (say 10 o' clock). Then, you will end up with 10 AM on the previous date, not 10 PM. You'll have to flip the jump hour one full cycle to go to 10 PM of the previous date.

Not sure if this is clear or not. I tried it several times and this was my experience.

[Harry-57]

Originally Posted by diracpoint

Not sure if this is clear or not.

I'm afraid it isn't but that's probably me being fick. Sorry.

The Sky Dweller is a 24 hour watch. It knows if it's am or pm by the position of the reference time disk, which you set in the hacked position.

The forward jumping date with hour function is an extra feature which Rolex managed to incorporate into the 9001 movement. It's not how you adjust the date, it's just a bit of extra functionality thrown in because they could.

[diracpoint]

Originally Posted by Harry-57

I'm afraid it isn't but that's probably me being fick. Sorry.

The Sky Dweller is a 24 hour watch. It knows if it's am or pm by the position of the reference time disk, which you set in the hacked position.

The forward jumping date with hour function is an extra feature which Rolex managed to incorporate into the 9001 movement. It's not how you adjust the date, it's just a bit of extra functionality thrown in because they could.

You're correct. But, I was not talking about that. My point was about traveling, when your local time at destination is on the previous date, before midnight.

[B2 Stealth]

As a commercial airline pilot when flying international I wear my BLRO--the Sky-Dweller stays at home.

[Mackinley]

Wow, thank you for the feedback. This is both surprising and disappointing. For those mentioning that I can adjust the date manually, you are correct. However, because I have no way of reliably knowing if it’s AM or PM (for example if I jump past midnight then go back behind midnight), the only solution is to set everything to the day before and then go to first position, stop the watch, and manually set to the date prior then pass forward to the current date to ensure it’s AM then PM.

I just spent a 3 day trip with the date being correct in the morning then switching at noon and being incorrect. Threw me off all weekend.

In summary, it has about the same actual GMT functionality of a $600 Seiko “caller” because the only accurate way to set it is stop the whole watch and individually set everything. What a POS…

[diracpoint]

Originally Posted by Mackinley

... However, because I have no way of reliably knowing if it’s AM or PM (for example if I jump past midnight then go back behind midnight), ...

Hi, it sets to AM time. You just have to cycle the jumping hour one full cycle to go to PM. No need to stop the watch.

It's not as friendly as the GMT for travel.

[drrd]

Originally Posted by Mackinley

What a POS…

That was an expensive mistake then.

[alex.cicollo]

Originally Posted by drrd

That was an expensive mistake then.

[watchwatcher]

Originally Posted by Mackinley

In summary, it has about the same actual GMT functionality of a $600 Seiko “caller” because the only accurate way to set it is stop the whole watch and individually set everything. What a POS…

If I'm not mistaken, I don't think you have to "stop the whole watch" to set the date. I was under the impression you could just switch bezel positions and do it from there.

If wrong, I'll happily stand corrected.

[Harry-57]

Originally Posted by diracpoint

My point was about traveling, when your local time at destination is on the previous date, before midnight.

You'll be needing the GMT Master II or Explorer II.

[Harry-57]

Originally Posted by watchwatcher

If I'm not mistaken, I don't think you have to "stop the whole watch" to set the date. I was under the impression you could just switch bezel positions and do it from there.

If wrong, I'll happily stand corrected.

You're not wrong.

[Mackinley]

Originally Posted by watchwatcher

If I'm not mistaken, I don't think you have to "stop the whole watch" to set the date. I was under the impression you could just switch bezel positions and do it from there.

If wrong, I'll happily stand corrected.

You are correct that I can move the date by changing bezel positions, but without knowing if it’s AM or PM the date is useless.

[Mackinley]

Originally Posted by WS9D

which one you have? this sounds like a problem I would like to have. I'll take it off your hands for you

Stainless steel blue on the oyster bracelet.

[drrd]

Originally Posted by Mackinley

You are correct that I can move the date by changing bezel positions, but without knowing if it’s AM or PM the date is useless.

You might wish to watch this video, 0.50”-1’30”:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=O1KUXPDmu8k

The 24 hour Sub dial is always the reference home time.

When you set the local hours hand for the first time turn it past 12 until the date changes. That’s midnight.

If you change time zone then it’s bezel position two for the hour hand and position one for date and your done.

If for some reason you completely lose track of night and day with the local hours hand then you can at any time return to bezel position two, spin the hour past midnight and then set the date.

You do not need to reset the watch in position three to do any of this.

The ring command and bidirectional date setting makes the sky dweller very quick to set up and maintain.

Did the SA demo this watch to you? Have you read the instructions book?

[watchwatcher]

Originally Posted by Mackinley

You are correct that I can move the date by changing bezel positions, but without knowing if it’s AM or PM the date is useless.

Of course you know the AM or PM. That's the second bezel position function, I believe. That's what those little numbers in the center circle are for.

TBH, it sounds like you never took the time to learn about the functions of the watch. Maybe you should do that.