GMT setting for 2 time zones?

[Lol-x]

If you are going overseas or to a different time zone, do you:
(a) set the bezel to the destination time zone before you go; or
(b) set the regular minute and hour hands to the destination time zone before you go, and adjust the bezel to your home time zone; or
(c) following (a) above and upon arrival at your destination, change the regular hour and minute hands to the new destination time zone, and move the bezel to your home or original time zone?
Is there a correct answer?
Thanks & 73

[JJ Irani]

Originally Posted by Lol-x

If you are going overseas or to a different time zone, do you:
(a) set the bezel to the destination time zone before you go; or
(b) set the regular minute and hour hands to the destination time zone before you go, and adjust the bezel to your home time zone; or
(c) following (a) above and upon arrival at your destination, change the regular hour and minute hands to the new destination time zone, and move the bezel to your home or original time zone?
Is there a correct answer?
Thanks & 73

If you are talking about a GMT-II, the best thing would be NOT to touch the position of the bezel.

Assuming your red 24-hour hand is set on your local time, then all you have to do when you reach your destination is to unscrew the crown, pull it out to positon '2' and move the small hour hand backwards or forwards depending on whether you have travelled east or west.....and set it to the time in your new place.

This way you've got the new time in your new place by a direct read out on the dial and your red 24-hour hand will indicate your home time.

JJ

[C.J.]

Originally Posted by JJ Irani

If you are talking about a GMT-II, the best thing would be NOT to touch the position of the bezel.

Assuming your red 24-hour hand is set on your local time, then all you have to do when you reach your destination is to unscrew the crown, pull it out to positon '2' and move the small hour hand backwards or forwards depending on whether you have travelled east or west.....and set it to the time in your new place.

This way you've got the new time in your new place by a direct read out on the dial and your red 24-hour hand will indicate your home time.

JJ

Thats how I do it It does seem to be the easiest to set and read that way

[padi56]

Most of watch related information is in the. Watch articles And links Information forum.

http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=757

[Rockrolex]

Steve, JJ doesn't travel much beyond his home and museum so he's not the great authority on time zone travel. But for once, he's got it right. When I travel across time zones, I typically wait till I'm in the air, and then move the hour hand to the destination time. If I'm going to Europe, I usually wait till I'm close to arrival, so the date will already have changed (not that it matters with the GMT, but it's my little idiosyncracy). Then I just pull the stem out to position "2" and set the hour hand to local time. I never touch the bezel or the 24 hour hand. That's how I can always keep track of home time with a minimum of fuss.

[Lol-x]

If one takes the 2 of most important design aspects of Rolex namely, the oyster case and the double locking crown, then wouldn't Rolex say, all as you need to do is change the bezel position? This would mean that you never have to re-set the time whilst your away from home, and you are not risking damage (albiet very small, if any) to your watch by having to unwind the crown. It seems that the purpose of the case and the bezel is to give 2 time zones without the need to change the time backwards and forwards. However, if you are away for a significant time in one place then that may warrant a change to the main hands so that the main time shown is the local time rather than your home time (zone).

[Rockrolex]

Originally Posted by Lol-x

If one takes the 2 of most important design aspects of Rolex namely, the oyster case and the double locking crown, then wouldn't Rolex say, all as you need to do is change the bezel position? This would mean that you never have to re-set the time whilst your away from home, and you are not risking damage (albiet very small, if any) to your watch by having to unwind the crown. It seems that the purpose of the case and the bezel is to give 2 time zones without the need to change the time backwards and forwards. However, if you are away for a significant time in one place then that may warrant a change to the main hands so that the main time shown is the local time rather than your home time (zone).

That is certainly one way of setting the second time zone. For myself, I find it easier to read local time off the main hour hand and check home time with the 24 hour hand. I don't travel so much that I am constantly resetting the time. And when I do travel across time zones, it's usually for 3 or more days. In that case, I really do find it easier to change the hour hand to local time.

But bottom line is, do it whichever way is easiest for you. I doubt that unscrewing the stem and changing the hour hand every so often is going to wear down the parts significantly. A Rolex is made better than that.

[Launch Mini]

If your just going to turn the bezel, you do not need a second hour hand.
Just my opinion.

[JJ Irani]

Originally Posted by Launch Mini

If your just going to turn the bezel, you do not need a second hour hand.
Just my opinion.

Turning the bezel can make things a little more complicated. It's so much easier to leave the bezel 'triangle' at '12' and read off your home time with the help of the RED 24-hour hand after you've adjusted your watch to the existing time in your new place.

If you're making many business phone calls, you would then need the bezel to time your calls or perhaps even use it to check out a THIRD timezone.

JJ

[TARDIS]

Originally Posted by JJ Irani

Turning the bezel can make things a little more complicated. It's so much easier to leave the bezel 'triangle' at '12' and read off your home time with the help of the RED 24-hour hand after you've adjusted your watch to the existing time in your new place.

If you're making many business phone calls, you would then need the bezel to time your calls or perhaps even use it to check out a THIRD timezone.

JJ

If you turn the bezel around the red part faces the South Pole, the 12hr hand will give you the time beyond the black stump and the 24hr hand will give you the arrival of the next flight from Fantasy Island!

[mailman]

Originally Posted by TARDIS

If you turn the bezel around the red part faces the South Pole, the 12hr hand will give you the time beyond the black stump and the 24hr hand will give you the arrival of the next flight from Fantasy Island!

Boss, de plane, de plane.



I think this is a nice picture of Craig and JJ, don't you?

[Rockrolex]

Originally Posted by mailman

Boss, de plane, de plane.



I think this is a nice picture of Craig and JJ, don't you?

Why is JJ standing there wearing that rug?

[JJ Irani]

Originally Posted by Rockrolex

Why is JJ standing there wearing that rug?

[C.J.]

Originally Posted by mailman

Boss, de plane, de plane.



I think this is a nice picture of Craig and JJ, don't you?

I hope the biggest, meanest rotweiler in the neighborhood mistakes you for his favorite chew toy today.

[mailman]

Originally Posted by C.J.

I hope the biggest, meanest rotweiler in the neighborhood mistakes you for his favorite chew toy today.

[ji603]

Relatively old thread, but my first post, so here goes;

On my GMT II I set the 24hr hand to GMT. That way when I travel I never need to change it. I set the Hour and Minute hand to local time, and if I want to know the time in any given timezone, I turn the bezel either clockwise or counterclockwise, depending on if I'm East or West of Greenwich, the number of hours difference between the two time zones Then read the time off the 24hr hand in relation to the bezel. Sounds complex, but isn't.

Example:

1100 west coast USA time. GMT is 1800 hours. West coast is 7 hours behind GMT. If you do it properly, you would rotate the bezel (7 spots clockwise ... 7 time zones W of Greenwich) until the dot on the bezel indicating 17 is @ 12 o'clock. (24-7=17) Then read the time on the 24hr hand vs bezel... should be pointing at 1100. Bingo. Local matches GMT with the corrected bezel.

Now say you are in China. Leave all hands as they are, and since China is GMT +8 (8 hours ahead) you would turn the bezel 8 spots counterclockwise (E of GMT) and get Chinese time by reading 24hr hand against bezel, which shows 0000 hours.

If you travel and want to stay somewhere, just change the local hour hand. one pull on the crown and the seconds/minutes/24hour still run, so you never lose time.

[JJ Irani]

Originally Posted by ji603

Relatively old thread, but my first post, so here goes;

On my GMT II I set the 24hr hand to GMT. That way when I travel I never need to change it. I set the Hour and Minute hand to local time, and if I want to know the time in any given timezone, I turn the bezel either clockwise or counterclockwise, depending on if I'm East or West of Greenwich, the number of hours difference between the two time zones Then read the time off the 24hr hand in relation to the bezel. Sounds complex, but isn't.

Example:

1100 west coast USA time. GMT is 1800 hours. West coast is 7 hours behind GMT. If you do it properly, you would rotate the bezel (7 spots clockwise ... 7 time zones W of Greenwich) until the dot on the bezel indicating 17 is @ 12 o'clock. (24-7=17) Then read the time on the 24hr hand vs bezel... should be pointing at 1100. Bingo. Local matches GMT with the corrected bezel.

Now say you are in China. Leave all hands as they are, and since China is GMT +8 (8 hours ahead) you would turn the bezel 8 spots counterclockwise (E of GMT) and get Chinese time by reading 24hr hand against bezel, which shows 0000 hours.

If you travel and want to stay somewhere, just change the local hour hand. one pull on the crown and the seconds/minutes/24hour still run, so you never lose time.

Hi ji603,

Nice complicated way to introduce yourself! A big welcome to TRF. Hope you enjoy the madness here. Meanwhile, why not post some pics of your watch?

Cheers - JJ

[ji603]

[JJ Irani]

Very nice, thank you!!

[C.J.]

Originally Posted by ji603

Welcome to TRF, ji603 Great watch and pic Stick around and join the fun