Correct use of GMT Master

[SaddleSC]

I was perusing the Rolex web site last week and downloaded an application that teaches you how to use your GMT. I was always under the impression that the best way to use the GMT Master would be to:

1) Sync the GMT hand to your local time zone.
2) When traveling set the Quick Set hour hand to the new time zone and then continue to read your home time zone using the GMT hand on the 24 hour bezel.

The Rolex instructions suggest the following use, which actually tracks 3 time zones:

1) Set both the hour hand and the GMT hand to GMT time.
2) Then use the Quick Set hour hand to step back (or forward) to your local time zone.
3) When traveling, rotate the bezel to track the home time zone using the GMT hand and set to local time using the Quick Set hour hand.

Just curious how do most of you guys use your GMT Master? What is considered the correct way?

[SLS]

What Rolex states is correct IMO, that way you always have GMT to base your local time and travel time to.
Scott

[mkw]

Originally Posted by SLS

What Rolex states is correct IMO, that way you always have GMT to base your local time and travel time to.
Scott

Yup, otherwise if it were the former set-up, the watch would be have been named the HT( home time )-Master , no ?

[sea-dweller]

Correct, I follow the Rolex instructions.

Originally Posted by SLS

What Rolex states is correct IMO, that way you always have GMT to base your local time and travel time to.
Scott

[WARVET]

I work in GMT time so my 24 hour hand is always set to GMT.

[dannyp]

But who really measures against GMT? Not quite sure what that's good for in practical terms. Also, I thought that on the original GMT the hour hands moved in sync, requiring the bezel for travel but not leaving a free hand for GMT.

Sounds to me like this is Rolex's answer to: "Why should I spend more $$ on a GMT II vs. an Exp. II?"

[JPersat]

I use my GMT II as the hour and the 24 hour hand set to my home time zone, and depending on how I feel, I track the second time zone with either the bezel (if I am staying in my home time zone) or the hour hand (if I am travelling into a second time zone).

[flathead59]

Originally Posted by dannyp

But who really measures against GMT? Not quite sure what that's good for in practical terms. Also, I thought that on the original GMT the hour hands moved in sync, requiring the bezel for travel but not leaving a free hand for GMT.

Sounds to me like this is Rolex's answer to: "Why should I spend more $$ on a GMT II vs. an Exp. II?"

Actually, GMT is really practical. Eastern time is GMT -4/5, Central is GMT -5/6, Iraq is GMT +3, etc. I keep the 24 hour hand set to GMT, and rotate the bezel to reflect whatever timezone, relative to GMT that I want to track.

Mark

[Watch Professor]

While the Rolex way is the correct way if you want to use the GMT for three time zones, I find it too confusing, so I use the first suggestion.

[ayres]

Originally Posted by SaddleSC

I was perusing the Rolex web site last week and downloaded an application that teaches you how to use your GMT. I was always under the impression that the best way to use the GMT Master would be to:

1) Sync the GMT hand to your local time zone.
2) When traveling set the Quick Set hour hand to the new time zone and then continue to read your home time zone using the GMT hand on the 24 hour bezel.

The Rolex instructions suggest the following use, which actually tracks 3 time zones:

1) Set both the hour hand and the GMT hand to GMT time.
2) Then use the Quick Set hour hand to step back (or forward) to your local time zone.
3) When traveling, rotate the bezel to track the home time zone using the GMT hand and set to local time using the Quick Set hour hand.

Just curious how do most of you guys use your GMT Master? What is considered the correct way?

sorry to be picky about this, but...

you are referring to a gmt2, correct? there's a difference between the master & the master2

[dannyp]

Originally Posted by flathead59

Actually, GMT is really practical. Eastern time is GMT -4/5, Central is GMT -5/6, Iraq is GMT +3, etc. I keep the 24 hour hand set to GMT, and rotate the bezel to reflect whatever timezone, relative to GMT that I want to track.

Mark

Too much math for just a quick time check, IMO. Might as well just figure out the difference relative to your home time and track that way, seeing as you'd have to remember its relationship to GMT anyways, and this eliminates one step. If the GMT is supposed to be a pilot's watch, then I don't particularly see a need for more than two timezones, other than to differentiate from the cheaper Exp. II.

[Zed Homme]

I understand Rolex's logic, but prefer to tailor the watch to my life. I keep the gmt hand on my home time and use the quickset to adjust the hour hand to wherever I may be. When rotating the bezel to check the time in a third timezone I just calculate that zone's ofset to my home zone. For instance to check the time in Paris, I know they're 6 hours ahead so I turn the bezel to six and the time appears. I think Rolex recommends GMT as a place's timezone is usually stated in relation to gmt (NYC in summer is GMT -4) but for me that takes the third timezone away because I have little interest in what time it is at GMT....

Doing it this way allows me to monitor three timezones of my choice, not two and gmt.

[Flyjet601]

Originally Posted by WARVET

I work in GMT time so my 24 hour hand is always set to GMT.

+1

[Submarino]

I probably should've not sold my GMT II because my GMT doesn't do much but rotating the freakin' bezel to figure out a second time zone.

[Richard.]

Originally Posted by dannyp

Too much math for just a quick time check, IMO. Might as well just figure out the difference relative to your home time and track that way, seeing as you'd have to remember its relationship to GMT anyways, and this eliminates one step. If the GMT is supposed to be a pilot's watch, then I don't particularly see a need for more than two timezones, other than to differentiate from the cheaper Exp. II.

Want to know local time (always handy)
Need to know GMT (all flight times referenced to that)
Handy to know home time (for checking in to prove you're sober)

[flathead59]

Originally Posted by dannyp

Too much math for just a quick time check, IMO. Might as well just figure out the difference relative to your home time and track that way, seeing as you'd have to remember its relationship to GMT anyways, and this eliminates one step. If the GMT is supposed to be a pilot's watch, then I don't particularly see a need for more than two timezones, other than to differentiate from the cheaper Exp. II.

Absolutely. I've certainly seen many with both the 24 and 12 hour hands set to the same time. Set it how ever you choose to, and I'll set mine my way.

Mark

[petespendthrift]

It was conceived (GMT) and then improved (GMT2) for use by aircraft crews but popular with anyone who travels.

Different users with different needs means different methods for using it.

Some of the old instructions for the original GMT say set hands to Greenwich Mean Time and do not adjust them again. Then set the bezel for GMT, home or destination time as required. Not very convenient for business men or travellers but great for long haul aircraft crews who have no operational interest in any times other than GMT. The watches were used for flight planning and by Navigators for astronavigation (accurate GMT is essential for this).

The GMT2 is more versatile but as already stated by other posters all timezones are referred to by their GMT offset. Having the 24 hand set to home is convenient for the occasional traveller but if you change timezones regularly it involves unnecessary extra calculations. For todays airline pilots GMT is still the only time needed (operationally) and the jump hour hand and bezel are helpful conveniences for knowing home/destination time.

[ingoodtime]

I have the gmt hand set to military time. I don't travel
out of my time zone very often. Last time was Vegas
and that 15 years ago. As a man on an avg salary, if I
did more traveling, I would not have been able to
buy a couple of Rolex watches. I can have memories
that I can smile about or wear my watches and smile
everyday.

[Tools]

You guys are reading the Rolex site wrong..

They are using GMT time as the local time and demonstrating from that point. They never say that the 24 hour hand should always be set at GMT time.. ..........