The attraction of the rotating bezel?

[emt1581]

I'm used to wearing very simple watches without a lot of bells & whistles or bling. This is why I ended up buying a blue DJ. It's perfect for letting me mark the time and date with all of my patients on paperwork which I need to do throughout the day.

However, I notice that the vast majority of those sharing pics here, and even the Rolexes I see people wearing in public, are models like the submariner, sea dweller, etc. that have the rotating bezel. Now for divers, I can understand their utility. But I'd bet that the majority of us that own Rolexes with rotating bezels have never and will never use them. Then I see talk of Hulk, Pepsi, Batman, etc. and it leads me to believe these models are appreciated more for their aesthetics than functionality. Is that the attraction?

Not sure if the DJ will be my first or only Rolex. Maybe if I consider it enough and allow the rotating bezel models to grow on me, I'll pick one up. Just trying to learn about the rationale for the sake of my Rolex education.

Please share your thoughts. Thanks!

[BumbleB]

The GMT II bezel is to keep track of time when you travel as it allows 2 timezones.

The one on the SkyDweller is to control timezone functions.


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[Major69]

The rotating bezels represent the original function of a "tool" watch. On the Submariner and other "dive" watches, this can measure dive time. For the GMT, this can be used to determine time in other time zones.

But other watches have rotating (Sky-Dweller) and functional bezels (Explorer and Daytona) for different functionality.

However, I agree with you that in the modern era, it's more of an aesthetic thing.

On a tangent, I would opine that the DateJust and Day-Date are more of the iconic representative Rolex to the general public.

[Rockrolex]

I have a Y-series GMT-II and I hardly ever us the bidirectional rotating bezel. I primarily like the aesthetics of the watch and I find it very useful when I travel among time zones.

[RJRJRJ]

I use mine to time simple things like parking meters, cooking times etc.

[Largoshark]

I just like to fiddle with it

[samson66]

I really only use the bezel for timing things, even on my GMT watch.

Really you only need the GMT bezel for a THIRD time zone, so I can't see ever using it for that purpose. But for timing - use it all the time

[tkc324]

I use the bezel to time things.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by emt1581

I'm used to wearing very simple watches without a lot of bells & whistles or bling. This is why I ended up buying a blue DJ. It's perfect for letting me mark the time and date with all of my patients on paperwork which I need to do throughout the day.

However, I notice that the vast majority of those sharing pics here, and even the Rolexes I see people wearing in public, are models like the submariner, sea dweller, etc. that have the rotating bezel. Now for divers, I can understand their utility. But I'd bet that the majority of us that own Rolexes with rotating bezels have never and will never use them. Then I see talk of Hulk, Pepsi, Batman, etc. and it leads me to believe these models are appreciated more for their aesthetics than functionality. Is that the attraction?

Not sure if the DJ will be my first or only Rolex. Maybe if I consider it enough and allow the rotating bezel models to grow on me, I'll pick one up. Just trying to learn about the rationale for the sake of my Rolex education.

Please share your thoughts. Thanks!

I would say that around 85% of all dive watches bought never see water other than perhaps a dip in the pool.And most have no idea what the bezel is used for, as many today think it must be kept perfectly lined up within a cats whisker of the 12 O'clock marker.

[LooseCann0n]

Even the dive bezels can measure elapsed time so you can time things like car parking, lunch times, etc with it. Use mine all the time.
...and must be lined up with 12 when not in use!!

My Daytona however, has a chrono so I use that for measuring elapsed time and don’t use the tachymeter on the bezel (non-rotating) at all.

[BzKneez]

I use my subs rotating bezel as a timer pretty often. I do find it very handy.

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[emt1581]

Originally Posted by BzKneez

I use my subs rotating bezel as a timer pretty often. I do find it very handy.

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I can understand the 24 hour bezel being useful, but how do you use the submariner's bezel?

Thanks

[BzKneez]

Originally Posted by emt1581

I can understand the 24 hour bezel being useful, but how do you use the submariner's bezel?



Thanks

So right where the minute hand is (2:10), I'll line up my bezel (pearl part) to it as the starting point. As the minutes go by for whatever I time, wherever the minute hand ends up at, I'll know exactly how long it's been.

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[RJRJRJ]

Originally Posted by BzKneez

So right where the minute hand is (2:10), I'll line up my bezel (pearl part) to it as the starting point. As the minutes go by for whatever I time, wherever the minute hand ends up at, I'll know exactly how long it's been. [IMG]https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190521/4fda85feb7c2d81f05a43f38184fab05.jpg[/IG]

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Either like that, or say I've got 20 min in the parking meter, I'll turn the triangle to 20 min ahead of the minute hand, and that's when it expires.

[mbrown55]

I use the second time zone hand on my GMT II to track local time when traveling. In the afternoon I rotate the bezel to reflect the local time in 12 hour format because my brain is 24 hour time deficient.

[emt1581]

Originally Posted by RJRJRJ

Either like that, or say I've got 20 min in the parking meter, I'll turn the triangle to 20 min ahead of the minute hand, and that's when it expires.

Ok, so good for an hour or less of keeping track of time lapses.

Makes sense.

EDIT: I haven't left my time zone in around 25 years so no real need there. However, we are in the process of getting our passports with the intent of finally seeing a tropical beach...so we'll see what the future brings!!

Thanks

[Zakalwe]

Sub/GMT owners need a rotating bezel about as much as you need an 8000 buck watch to mark the time and date.

We’re all irrational in this hobby.

[emt1581]

Originally Posted by Zakalwe

Sub/GMT owners need a rotating bezel about as much as you need an 8000 buck watch to mark the time and date.

We’re all irrational in this hobby.

It actually only cost me ~$2500 out of pocket.

But point taken.

[mulgogy]

the original figit spinner!

[sillo]

Originally Posted by BzKneez

I use my subs rotating bezel as a timer pretty often. I do find it very handy.

Same. Much more practical than a chronograph. Easier to use, easier to check at a glance and much simpler.

[Dan Pierce]

The rotating bezel is the feature I use most often, whether it’s for a second time zone or simple timer. My favorite feature on any watch.
dP

[Brew]

I like the way they vibrate my fingers, but can never decide if I prefer 60-click/firm or 120-click/smooth.

[watchmaker]

Originally Posted by Brew

I like the way they vibrate my fingers, but can never decide if I prefer 60-click/firm or 120-click/smooth.

Always 120 clicks for me

[LooseCann0n]

Originally Posted by sillo38

Same. Much more practical than a chronograph. Easier to use, easier to check at a glance and much simpler.

But only measures times less than an hour. At least my chrono shows up to 12 hrs of timing.
Probably the most used feature on my watches (maybe equal to a date).
I agree that in those circumstances, it is easier to check at a glance than a Daytona!


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[ashokleyland]

In my line of job it’s very useful to time how many minutes lapsed since we started our code blue in the hospital.

[jonny deacon]

Originally Posted by sillo38

same. Much more practical than a chronograph. Easier to use, easier to check at a glance and much simpler.

+1

[dhknola]

I have a vintage Tudor 7020 w a rotating bezel. I thought I would use it more but now primarily it's sole 'function' is to be aligned perfectly, drives me nuts if it's not properly centered.

[Bob the brush]

I have a rotating bezel on both my TOG and GMT, and I can't recall ever having used them in all the years of ownership. For timing in the kitchen I use the ovens 'pinger', and for car parking I use my memory , just check the time when I park and be back before the ticket runs out. With the TOG, the black infill on the bezel markers has worn to such an extent as to render the bezel function useless anyway. Rolex want over a £1000 for a replacement bezel!

[Pauln]

I tried to warm up to rotating bezels. Had a Sub for a while. In the end, decided they’re just not my style.

[Likestheshiny]

I see talk of Hulk, Pepsi, Batman, etc. and it leads me to believe these models are appreciated more for their aesthetics than functionality. Is that the attraction?

This. Obviously the bezels do have a function, but I strongly suspect that most are never used regularly. I frequently use the second time zone function of my GMT Master, but I pretty much never use the rotating bezel for a third zone.

But functionality isn't always about function. I also really like moon phase indicators. I am, however, neither a werewolf not a druid, and therefore I get approximately zero functionality out of that complication. I just think it's neat.