Tracking a 2nd Time Zone with a Submariner.

[Rani Drama]

When i was first hunting for a rolex i always thought i would get the GMT IIc since i travel quite frequently across the atlantic but then practicality set in and i decided a SUB would be a better daily fit. Well i started thinking of all the different ways i could set my watch up to track other time zones and i liked the way i could do it with a diver as opposed to a gmt since i'm not used to 24 hour time.

If the time at the second time zone is ahead just rotate the bezel counter clockwise how many hours. If the time is behind move the pearl to the amount of hours ahead it is starting clockwise. The pearl indicates 12 oclock. Just double the first digit of any of the bezel numberals and you have the hour readout for that time zone just know if it's morning or evening over there which is pretty obvious.

AND to top that off i now have an elapsed time feature as well. Hit all birds with one stone.

[mikelprz]

[steubi1]

Thank you,

you are absolutely right, it works as you have described, but there is a little bit too much calculation for me in it with the doubling of the digits.

I use the bezel for elapsed time, too, e.g. when I have a speech or similar with a given time limit.

Regards
Tom

[Watch Professor]

[Frogman4me]

GMT II would have been a better choice as it appears the functions you need are exactly what the watch was designed for.

[EchoBlueUK]

...or you could just + or - the hours from the current time (which you need to know anyway).

[rxgremlin]

Personally, I think if you have to do a calculation it is just easier to remember that the other time one is X number of hours ahead or behind where you are at.

[Dan Pierce]

But that requires math!!!
I wear a GMT to avoid math!!!
dP

[ASW1]

Originally Posted by EchoBlueUK

...or you could just + or - the hours from the current time (which you need to know anyway).

What he said .........

I've been away in a few different time zones recently. Took my ExpII the first time. Didn't really use the 24hr hand, as I found it wasn't hard to remeber the time elsewhere. The only upside was being able to change the hour back/forward without stopping the second hand - not really a major issue. This time I'm sporting my new Sub and surprisingly I can still remember the time differences ;-)

[Brushpup]

Originally Posted by Frogman4me

GMT II would have been a better choice as it appears the functions you need are exactly what the watch was designed for.

Yes, I can't think of a better case of someone needing a GMT.

It leaves me>

[Evan614]

Originally Posted by EchoBlueUK

...or you could just + or - the hours from the current time (which you need to know anyway).

or just adjust your watch to local time.

[Z-Dweller]

I have a GMT Master IIc, bought it for its looks and 24h functionality. But I still look at my iPhone Clock app to look at international time – automatically takes into consideration DST changes. Habit : )

The GMT Master IIc still looks good, though.

[cdweller]

Just get 2 subs, and adjust 1 for local time.

[al_bongo]

Originally Posted by ASW1

The only upside was being able to change the hour back/forward without stopping the second hand - not really a major issue.

Only realistic benefit I can see. As far as multiple time zones go it's the one area in which technology really scores over a mechanical system for displaying the time in different time zones.

[Rani Drama]

Originally Posted by steubi1

Thank you,

you are absolutely right, it works as you have described, but there is a little bit too much calculation for me in it with the doubling of the digits.

I use the bezel for elapsed time, too, e.g. when I have a speech or similar with a given time limit.

Regards
Tom

You don't really need to double the first digit once you get used to it. I just never got used to using the 24 hour time format. You can guage it by knowing that 30 is 6 oclock and BAM

If i have time i'll drum up some diagrams with photos as examples.

[Roxas]

Good tip. Thanks.
However, I think using GMT watches is much easier.

[Roxas]

duplicate

[Rani Drama]

alright here is an example. I took the time to make a dial in adobe illustrator.



Alright so now. Let's say we want to track GMT time. Time is set to 10:30 Eastern Standard Time (GMT-5) so GMT is 5 hours ahead we will proceed to turn the bezel counter clockwise 5 hour stops it will land on the 7 oclock marker.



I have superimposed the hours the bezel represents with the pearl being 12 oclock. Looking at the hour hand where it lies it is 3:30.

Now another example let's say i am in Eastern time and i want to track pacific time which is 3 hours BEHIND i will make note that the pearl should be set 3 hours clockwise which lands on the 3 oclock marker.



Looking at this diagram we know it is 7:30 in california. The only thing you got to think of is if it's pm or am which is a no brainer since it's relative to your location easy.

[Rani Drama]

And there you have it the universal versatility of the diving bezel compared to the sole function of the GMT bezel. This is why i ended up going with the sub instead of the GMT. For everyday use i have elapsed time when i do travel i can track time back at home.

[CKLinLA]

Cool! one more thing we can do with a bezel. And we already know there's
stuff to do if you have a watch with chrono/timing feature. As Ianto Jones
(on BBC's Torchwood) said, "Think about it. Lots of things you can do with
a stopwatch. "

[cdweller]

Wow, sweet illustration! I like the commitment to help everyone understand!

[al_bongo]

Useful. I'd tried this but I was dividing the minutes on the bezel by 5 to get the hour! Your way makes this a lot more practical.

[mc1010]

I get it. I can now track time in Vancouver. Useful. Thanks.

[rfknauss]

Very ingenious!

[Rani Drama]

I'm surprised i haven't heard about this before? I just googled it to see if anyone else mentioned this before and i haven't found anything. I guess i did come up with this.

[Rolesor]

Wow that's one way to prove a point lol well done!

[rxgremlin]

Originally Posted by Rani Drama

And there you have it the universal versatility of the diving bezel compared to the sole function of the GMT bezel. This is why i ended up going with the sub instead of the GMT. For everyday use i have elapsed time when i do travel i can track time back at home.

Yes except that you could use the GMT bezel just like a Sub bezel. You would move the triangle to start the timer and then you know that every number (2-4-6....) the minute hand passes equates to 5 minutes of elapsed time.

The point is that the Sub bezel makes such a calculation possible at a glance. Similarly, the GMT bezel makes tracking time zones a breeze.

I sill maintain it is a lot easier to know how many hours apart the time zones are. I've traveled the world and never have had difficulty remembering what time it is at home.

[rickyslam]

This was what I did as a kid before I knew the real function of the bezel.

[DCgator]

Great information. I never knew you could use the sub bezel to track another time zone. I simply bought a gmt watch. Thanks.

[Rags]

Originally Posted by cdweller

Just get 2 subs, and adjust 1 for local time.

yeah what he said!!!!