Rolex GMT - how do you set it up? 2 or 3 times zones

[asisrich]

Hey all! Background is I have a Batgirl. I've been recently been playing around and setting the Blue GMT hand to:
Option 1: GMT time (2 times zones + GMT time zone)
Option 2: Local Home time (same as normal silver hour hand), then rotate bezel to show another time zone.

My scenario is I always want to show 2 city time zones 80% of the time when I'm in my home time zone. However, when I travel 20% of the time, I change the hour hand to new local city time where I've travelled too. I lose my home local time zone. The GMT hand is still pointing my second time zone.

Sorry if I'm confusing, but I'm hoping GMT owners know what I mean. So less about explaining my scenario, more I'm just interested how forum members actually use thier GMTs to cater for what personal scenarios.

Words of wisdom welcomed!

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[tomallen]

Single time zone. The only time I change is daylight savings time The 24 hour hand stays at EST and change the hour hand for EDT.

[Steed]

Home = London, (Where I live and work) 24hr = New York time due to our other office being over the pond.

Haven’t travelled this year so far, so haven’t needed to change this setting.

[Easy E]

It seems like you need to set the 12hr to your local time, the 80% and the 24hr to your 20%.

[Harry-57]

I set the reference time to GMT. When travelling I set the reference time to home time. I haven't yet travelled with a GMT watch where I could potentially set 3 zones using a rotating bezel. I would most likely leave the bezel and change local time (and home time if not GMT). I don't presently need a third time zone but the facility is welcome because I might need it .

[brandrea]

I set the 24 hour hand to local time and I move the hour hand when I travel.

[Aberdein]

I have the GMT not the GMT ll so can only set to read two time zones. I set the 12 hour hand to local time when overseas and set the bezel to indicate the UK time with the 24 hour hand.

[rmagoo57]

Originally Posted by brandrea

I set the 24 hour hand to local time and I move the hour hand when I travel.

This is the first post here that I understand! I just picked up a 16710 so I'm trying to figure out functionality. I don't travel often so I just need a quick reference when I do. This is as simple as it gets. I love flippin that hour hand!!

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by rmagoo57

This is the first post here that I understand! I just picked up a 16710 so I'm trying to figure out functionality. I don't travel often so I just need a quick reference when I do. This is as simple as it gets. I love flippin that hour hand!!

Happy to help. I like simple too

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[mr ling]

Originally Posted by brandrea

I set the 24 hour hand to local time and I move the hour hand when I travel.

By my understanding this is correct.

[Pangit]

I set the GMT hand to GMT, the hour hand to local time and the bezel to whichever location I wish to track.

[Dan Pierce]

Originally Posted by brandrea

I set the 24 hour hand to local time and I move the hour hand when I travel.

^ This. When adjusting the 12 hour hand to your local time when traveling, the 24 hour hand remains at home time [reading 24 hour hand off the bezel]. By moving the bezel [back or forth by the number of time zones necessary] you can see a 3rd time zone using the 24 hour hand.

There are multiple ways to use the GMT but I've found this the easiest and most useful for me.
dP

[monet33]

Here’s a video of how to do it. How to set GMT time

[Rashid.bk]

Originally Posted by Dan Pierce

^ This. When adjusting the 12 hour hand to your local time when traveling, the 24 hour hand remains at home time [reading 24 hour hand off the bezel]. By moving the bezel [back or forth by the number of time zones necessary] you can see a 3rd time zone using the 24 hour hand.

There are multiple ways to use the GMT but I've found this the easiest and most useful for me.
dP

Seems to be the most logical, and what I do as well.

[asisrich]

Originally Posted by monet33

Here’s a video of how to do it. How to set GMT time

This is really useful especially knowing the cool compass function for us northern hemisphere people.

Just a quick update. I decided to do this for asthetics reasons. Since I'm not going to travel anytime time soon. For asthetics reasons to keep the 24hr bezel centred, the arrow pointing to 12 o'clock. I'm going to give this setting a try for a while:

- 24hr bezel centred at 12 o'clock
- 24hr hand set to 2nd time zone (Sydney)
- 12hr hand set to Home time zone (Singapore)

So it will stay like this nicely 80% of the time.

If I travel to New York which is 12hours behind Singapore.

I will do this on the plane:
- 12hr set to New York time 12hours behind Singapore.
- rotate 24hr bezel 2 hours back to show my Home time Singapore (Sydney time minus 2 hours)

I found this to be the least adjustment steps to change times and also maintain the bezel centred most of the time whilst at home.

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[Likestheshiny]

I personally set the GMT hand to GMT time. That's fairly clearly the design intent, since the GMT hand isn't quick-set and otherwise you have to set the entire watch to account for daylight saving in the GMT time zone. Also, if you're only using local and destination time then you're basically treating the watch as if it has a fixed bezel.

However, "design intent" is also basically irrelevant to me since I never use the watch to tell other time zones. I can do it in my head more easily. Much like the depth rating on a sub for pretty much every wearer, the GMT feature is just decorative for me.

[FTX I]

I used to set mine local time (12 hourd hand).

[Ci54]

The short hand is always local time zone. The GMT hand is set to GMT on the inner dial and the third time zone is tracked by the GMT hand on the bezel. If you don’t need to track the GMT, the GMT hand can be set to your home time and that leaves the bezel offset to track the third time zone. Hope that explains it.

[dutch86]

Originally Posted by Ci54

The short hand is always local time zone. The GMT hand is set to GMT on the inner dial and the third time zone is tracked by the GMT hand on the bezel. If you don’t need to track the GMT, the GMT hand can be set to your home time and that leaves the bezel offset to track the third time zone. Hope that explains it.

That's how I've always understood it as well, but then I get thrown off by looking at the GMT hand and trying to use the bezel for the second timezone and end up reading the third.

[blue lion]

Glad you use the watch as it's designed. I just choose my time and that's all I set.

[D.P.G.]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jTaFmy38xM

[Napoleon]

GMT hand at home time. Hour / minute hands at local time. Bezel for the 3rd

[Water Wonderland]

24 hour hand to GMT. Local hour hand changed as necessary. I guess I’ll also be the curmudgeon that says it’s the 24 hour hand, not the GMT hand.

[pickettt]

I’ve got two homes, each hour hand is set to a home time.

[bremersm]

When I am not traveling I set my GMT and reference hand to local and rotate the bezel to EU time where I have a team.

[JChips]

24 hrs hand set to head shed time, hour hand to whatever local time zone I’m working in at the time.


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[Ci54]

Originally Posted by dutch86

That's how I've always understood it as well, but then I get thrown off by looking at the GMT hand and trying to use the bezel for the second timezone and end up reading the third.

I think the best implementation for the GMT complication is by Grand Seiko. They have the 24 hour markers alternated between the dial and on the bezel insert. It’s a clever little feature to help track 3 time zones, IMHO.

[tomallen]

Supposedly you can use it as a compass also.

[pickettt]

Originally Posted by Ci54

I think the best implementation for the GMT complication is by Grand Seiko. They have the 24 hour markers alternated between the dial and on the bezel insert. It’s a clever little feature to help track 3 time zones, IMHO.

Yep, all 3 time zones show concurrently.

[minute_man]

24H hand set to GMT against a 12 o'clock positioned bezel.
Hour hand set to local.
Third time zone tracked by 24H hand on bezel, by turning the bezel clockwise or counter clockwise.

When traveling, I'm setting the hour hand to local and read home time by 24H hand against the bezel which is offset counter clocwise by 2 or 3 hours (Greece, DST).