How do you use your GMT?

[Porschen]

Curious how my fellow watch nerds utilize the GMT function (whether via the Explorer II, Sky Dweller, or GMT Master II).

I know the “correct” way is utilizing the 24hr hand to keep home time, and the 12hr hand for local time… however, with COVID changing how work gets done, while I go to the office a few days per week, my job requires absolutely no travel. I set my 24hr hand to UK time where my boss sits to keep track of that.

How does everyone else use this function?

[Krash]

I think you should set it the way it works best for you. For me, I’m keeping both the 24 and 12 hands set to EST and when I travel, I’ll adjust the 12 hour (local) hand accordingly.

A purest will say the 24 hour hand should be set to GMT (or UTC) time anyway. That’s what the original intent of it was.


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[Driver8]

Originally Posted by Porschen

Curious how my fellow watch nerds utilize the GMT function (whether via the Explorer II, Sky Dweller, or GMT Master II).

I know the “correct” way is utilizing the 24hr hand to keep home time, and the 12hr hand for local time… however, with COVID changing how work gets done, while I go to the office a few days per week, my job requires absolutely no travel. I set my 24hr hand to UK time where my boss sits to keep track of that.

How does everyone else use this function?

If I'm actually travelling then I use it "properly" - i.e. GMT hand set to home time with the 12 hour hand adjusted to the local time. However, if I'm not travelling, then similar to you I set the GMT hand to the time zone of whoever I'm working with - in other words keeping the 12 hour hand set to my local time. I run global projects so I may be working with people in the US, or India, Japan, Australia, etc, so it's handy to have an idea of the time where they are. And if I'm not working with anyone internationally, I just set the GMT hand to actual GMT.

[Calatrava r]

I set both to local time when I am home. I like the GMT hand as a 24-hour military time indicator. Traveling I would move the local hand to local time there.

[Cassian739]

Originally Posted by Driver8

If I'm actually travelling then I use it "properly" - i.e. GMT hand set to home time with the 12 hour hand adjusted to the local time. However, if I'm not travelling, then similar to you I set the GMT hand to the time zone of whoever I'm working with - in other words keeping the 12 hour hand set to my local time. I run global projects so I may be working with people in the US, or India, Japan, Australia, etc, so it's handy to have an idea of the time where they are. And if I'm not working with anyone internationally, I just set the GMT hand to actual GMT.

Similar for me as well. When not travelling I set GMT hand to Central European Time where I have family and close friends.

[DJ2020]

I use the 24 hour time to track my youngest son who lives in a different time zone than me. I use the normal hour hand for local time.

[amphr1]

Honestly I don't use GMT at all. The extra hand just sitting there looking pretty. But I do set it to gmt time.

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[codecow]

Never set it and don’t even set the day.

[JSCP]

Very carefully. Second time Paris, local Eastern USA

[Bluside]

I don't set the second time zone anymore.

My traveling these days only consist of 2-3 time zones at best and I usually don't take the GMT. I'll just set whatever watch I have to local time.

[Horologista]

GMT hand always set to GMT time.
Bezel rotated +/- # of clicks based on location I want to track. Allows me to quickly know time anywhere in the world.
Hour hand to local time.

This is how a Rolex GMT is supposed to work.

[Potawatomi]

I keep the gmt hand on gmt. 12 hr hand on local time. Pilots watch used by a pilot.

[vesnyder]

We were travelling Internationally earlier this month and used it just as one is supposed to - kepping track of GMT and home time. WHen I am in the office I use it similar to the OP - keeping track of the time zone where my Manager resides!

[Stan Cooper]

Originally Posted by Horologista

GMT hand always set to GMT time.
Bezel rotated +/- # of clicks based on location I want to track. Allows me to quickly know time anywhere in the world.
Hour hand to local time.

This is how a Rolex GMT is supposed to work.

This!

My flight planning is always in UTC as are log entries of all my ham radio transmissions, so the 24 hour hand (reference time) is always set to GMT. The 12 hour hand is always set to local time in whatever time zone I'm in. The jump hour hand feature makes it a snap to change local time when I'm traveling across time zones. The rotating bezel lets me see the time anywhere at a glance.

[Hankman]

Love GMT watches. I travel a lot and use the 24 hour hand to keep track of time back home (Tokyo) and the 12 hour hand for local. When I'm in Japan I usually set the 24 hour hand to Hawaii time as I have friends there and I can imagine what's going on in paradise.

[brandrea]

Both hands to local time. Jump the 12 hour hand to local time when I travel.

[Notimetodie]

Keep the GMT timezone on Central European time as I work with that timezone a lot and my parents live there. Used to set it on GMT but considering that everyone has daylight savings time in Europe (and at different days than USA) it was a bitch to stay on top of. When I travel I just adjust the bezel to have the GMT hand point at my home time, and adjust hour hands to local time.

[Dan Pierce]

Before retiring I spent 27 years working at over 60 airports around the globe as well as monitoring more from one of 3 offices. My GMT was a necessity. The 24 & 12 hands are set to home time, adjusting the 12 hour to destination time.
dP

[bay_area_kid]

Originally Posted by Horologista

GMT hand always set to GMT time.

GMT time = Greenwich Mean Time time?

[rmagoo57]

Originally Posted by brandrea

Both hands to local time. Jump the 12 hour hand to local time when I travel.

Same here.

[watch3r]

I daily the Explorer II, so bezel variable isn’t something I have to consider.

When traveling, I set the hour hand to local and keep the GMT hand on “home” time.

When home, I’ll leave both hands on local time and the GMT hand only serves to differentiate AM/PM (which I suppose is true to the origins of the Explorer II).

Occasionally, I’ll set GMT hand to family member time if parents/siblings are abroad.

[ArtNouveau]

Like most here, GMT and hour hands set to my home zone CST. When I travel, the hour hand moved to the local time.

[EaglePilot]

As a pilot, I always use the 24h hours hand set to GMT (pilots report GMT or "zulu" time on radio transmitions, flight plans, etc).
And 12 hours hand I set to local time!

[aboutadog]

I’m a purest, I guess. My 24hr hand is set to UTC. I use the bezel to track a second time zone for work. When traveling my hour hand adjusts to local time and the bezel adjusts to track home time. Easy peasy.


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[Harry-57]

There's no "correct" way of setting it up. It's a versatile watch which you can configure to suit your needs. My GMTs are set up in a variety of ways depending on what I'm doing and where I am. Right now they are just set up for home time and GMT., which is my default resting position.

When I'm working from home for a client in a different time zone I usually have the reference time set to the remote zone. If I'm in a different time zone it's usually the other way around. The mental maths doesn't tend to be difficult but I have slipped up occasionally and it's very convenient to have it a quick glance away. A rotating bezel has a number of additional uses - if you want them.

[Ricky Rolex]

Only use it when abroad like most. I just turn the GMT pointer or triangle whatever you call it to the local time so I don't have to adjust my watch.

Right now in London it is 07.07 and my GMT hand is at 06.00

[Old Expat Beast]

I keep both hands on local time so I can find north on the compass if ever I get lost off-grid on a sunny day.

[Normunds]

There was a time when 24h hand was set to Korea time, bezel turned to west Canada timezone and 12h hand to local time. Nowadays both hands are set to local time and if I travel, just set 12h hand.

[996marty]

Used to use the function when away on holidays but don’t bother anymore

[andic]

12 hour hand to local "home" time 24 hour hand on time in my home country which just happens to be GMT