I don't think I am using the GMT Master II correctly?

[htrap2294]

Hello all,

I may need some help - perhaps I am a little stupid. This is my first GMT, so still getting used to it (126710BLRO).

To my understanding, you set the reference hand (Triangle shaped hand?) to GMT time. The minute hand and second should also by sync'd and set during this stage.

From there, you set up the hour hand (local time) to the time where you are currently.

Now, the watch is displaying both GMT time and your local time (PST in my case).

From there, you rotate the bezel forwards or backwards based on the offset? For example, I should rotate the bezel -5 hours for EST or +4 hours for Dubai? However, when I check the reference hand (Triangle Hand) against the bezel, the time is completely incorrect from what Google is telling me.

What am I doing wrong here?

[Jerrocop]

How far off is it? An hour by chance?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[htrap2294]

Originally Posted by Jerrocop

How far off is it? An hour by chance?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

When I do -5 on the bezel, the GMT hand points to 1:11PM when it should be pointing to 3:11PM

[Calatrava r]

You can set the GMT hand to any time you like. I always set both to local time so I have the time in military and regular display.

[htrap2294]

Originally Posted by Calatrava r

You can set the GMT hand to any time you like. I always set both to local time so I have the time in military and regular display.

Right, I understand that's another way to use it but I prefer using it the purist way so I can rotate the bezel pretty easily to reflect a third timezone. It's just the bezel rotating portion isn't displaying the expected result. I'm perplexed.

[Tools]

Originally Posted by htrap2294

. . .
To my understanding, you set the reference hand (Triangle shaped hand?) to GMT time. The minute hand and second should also by sync'd and set during this stage.

From there, you set up the hour hand (local time) to the time where you are currently.

Now, the watch is displaying both GMT time and your local time (PST in my case).

. . .

Any offset is from 2400. If your GMT is truly showing GMT on the bezel/24hr hand when the bezel triangle is at 2400, and you rotate the bezel triangle -4 hours, then the resulting time you would see at the 24 hr hand must be -4.

Don't rotate by looking at the 12hr dial - they are not relatable. Every offset is from the 24hr position and the bezel, nothing else.

[htrap2294]

Originally Posted by Tools

Any offset is from 2400. If your GMT is truly showing GMT on the bezel/24hr hand when the bezel triangle is at 2400, and you rotate the bezel triangle -4 hours, then the resulting time you would see at the 24 hr hand must be -4.

Don't rotate by looking at the 12hr dial - they are not relatable. Every offset is from the 24hr position and the bezel, nothing else.

I'm an idiot...when I was doing -5 hours for EST with GMT being the reference time, I was moving the bezel to the left when I should've been moving it to the right.

Now when I move the bezel -5 hours to the right, the reference hand displays the correct time on the 24 hour scale. The only issue is now am I supposed to be looking at the reference hand to determine AM/PM or the bezel? Technically, the time should be 3:32PM EST but both the reference hand and the minute hand are pointing to the red portion of the bezel (which indicates AM, no?)?

[Dave O]

I use a much more simpler method. I set both hands to my current time zone. Then let's say I travel to the east coast (+3 hour time difference). And lets say it is currently 12:00 noon on the west coast. I turn the bezel until "15" is at the GMT hand. So reading the normal hour hand it is 12:00 west coast and looking at the GMT hand it is 15, or 1500 hours.

In my opinion, this is a much easier way of telling the time in a second time zone and you don't have to change anything on the watch itself other than the bezel. Granted, you can only do two time zones using this method but I rarely need to do more than two. If I do, I'll just use my iPhone.

[slide13]

Originally Posted by htrap2294

I'm an idiot...when I was doing -5 hours for EST with GMT being the reference time, I was moving the bezel to the left when I should've been moving it to the right.

Now when I move the bezel -5 hours to the right, the reference hand displays the correct time on the 24 hour scale. The only issue is now am I supposed to be looking at the reference hand to determine AM/PM or the bezel? Technically, the time should be 3:32PM EST but both the reference hand and the minute hand are pointing to the red portion of the bezel (which indicates AM, no?)?

Don't believe the bezel color has anything to do with am/pm, it's a 24 hour scale so you don't need to worry about am/pm. 3am is 0300. 3pm is 1500.

The dual colors roughly correspond to morning vs night. 6am-6pm(18) is one color and 6pm(18)-6am is the other.

[htrap2294]

Originally Posted by slide13

Don't believe the bezel color has anything to do with am/pm, it's a 24 hour scale so you don't need to worry about am/pm. 3am is 0300. 3pm is 1500.

The dual colors roughly correspond to morning vs night. 6am-6pm(18) is one color and 6pm(18)-6am is the other.

Ah, that makes way more sense! Thank you for that clarification.

Thank you RolexForums for not calling me an idiot and helping me with my problem. :)

[Bazil]

Trust me there are plenty excellent YouTube videos that break it down how to use gmt for three time zones

[htrap2294]

Originally Posted by Bazil

Trust me there are plenty excellent YouTube videos that break it down how to use gmt for three time zones

Yeah, I watched those first - the small nuances though aren't really described in them.

The problem is now been sorted though! :)

[zengineer]

Originally Posted by Dave O

I use a much more simpler method. I set both hands to my current time zone. Then let's say I travel to the east coast (+3 hour time difference). And lets say it is currently 12:00 noon on the west coast. I turn the bezel until "15" is at the GMT hand. So reading the normal hour hand it is 12:00 west coast and looking at the GMT hand it is 15, or 1500 hours.



In my opinion, this is a much easier way of telling the time in a second time zone and you don't have to change anything on the watch itself other than the bezel. Granted, you can only do two time zones using this method but I rarely need to do more than two. If I do, I'll just use my iPhone.

I just wear a regular watch and add 3 to whatever time the watch says. If it is 1:00, I think real hard for a few seconds, secretly use my fingers behind my back if I get stuck mid-calculation, and then usually I actually shout out that "I know it's 0400 back home". And "that's 4:00 to you civilians" I often smuggly add

[brandrea]

Glad you got it sorted Parth, enjoy that beauty

[BroncoOne]

Originally Posted by Dave O

I use a much more simpler method. I set both hands to my current time zone. Then let's say I travel to the east coast (+3 hour time difference). And lets say it is currently 12:00 noon on the west coast. I turn the bezel until "15" is at the GMT hand. So reading the normal hour hand it is 12:00 west coast and looking at the GMT hand it is 15, or 1500 hours.

In my opinion, this is a much easier way of telling the time in a second time zone and you don't have to change anything on the watch itself other than the bezel. Granted, you can only do two time zones using this method but I rarely need to do more than two. If I do, I'll just use my iPhone.

That’s the most utility for me, as well. I typically don’t need fast reference to GMT so having some other info available on my wrist is more useful, but that’s personal.

It’s your GMT watch, use it in the way that best serves or even just pleases you that day

[BroncoOne]

Originally Posted by zengineer

I just wear a regular watch and add 3 to whatever time the watch says. If it is 1:00, I think real hard for a few seconds, secretly use my fingers behind my back if I get stuck mid-calculation, and then usually I actually shout out that "I know it's 0400 back home". And "that's 4:00 to you civilians" I often smuggly add

I carry my sundial when I’m outside.

[jfmiii]

Originally Posted by Calatrava r

You can set the GMT hand to any time you like. I always set both to local time so I have the time in military and regular display.

This is how I have mine set as well. If I travel to another time zone, I set the bezel so that the GMT hand shows the correct time in my new time zone.

[Tools]

Originally Posted by htrap2294

. . .

Now when I move the bezel -5 hours to the right, the reference hand displays the correct time on the 24 hour scale. The only issue is now am I supposed to be looking at the reference hand to determine AM/PM or the bezel? Technically, the time should be 3:32PM EST but both the reference hand and the minute hand are pointing to the red portion of the bezel (which indicates AM, no?)?

Ignore the colors, that is cosmetics.

The bezel is a 24 hr clock, so anything after 12 noon is pm and after 2400 is am. The color change is at 6 and 18 and is meaningless unless you like to think day/night, not am/pm.