ROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEX

Greg9999 · 27 August 2007, 12:47 PM

I wrote the following today for my new watch.

Please take a quick read to verify it's accurate. Thanks.

PS. I cannot take credit for all of it, some was copy and paste from websites, but wanting to know if I basically got it right.

Rolex GMT Master II
How to set time and use a GMT watch

How to use watch
=============
This watch is advertised to show 3 time zones.
1. Local Time: the regular hour and minute hands are always set to local time ("local time" is where you are at- either at home or traveling).
2. Home or GMT time: The 24hr hand is left at your home time, or can be set to always show GMT. Most people use the 24hr hand for home time, however some aviators and ham radio operators set it to GMT since their notes are taken in that time.
3. Spot-check foreign or GMT time: the bezel is normally left with the caret up, but you can quickly check the time in another time zone while at home by moving the caret CCW for a later zone, or CW for an earlier zone. For example, if you in Dallas and want to see what time it is in Tokyo, you move the caret on the bezel +14 hours CCW (keep in mind each hour on the watch face is two hours on the bezel). This is helpful when making telephone calls to those locations. The 24hr hand can also be set to GMT time using the same method (+5 hours ahead of Dallas)

Detailed setting procedure
====================
- Unscrew crown (CCW) until it is *completely* free of threads.
- Find an accurate time source. At the exact moment the minute changes, pull the crown all the way out (directly to third position) when the second hand is straight up. The second hand will stop. Then turn the dial to move the minute hand around to set the 24hr (red) hand to home or GMT time. You can see the 24hr hand is linked to the minute hand.
Note!: the hour hand makes no difference yet.
- Using the time source, at the exact moment the minute changes, push the crown all the way back in (but do not screw it down). The second hand starts and is now calibrated.
- Pull the crown back out ONE click (to the second position). Note the second hand is not affected by this. However, it will allow the hour hand to move, clicking hour by hour. The movement is made to allow moving in either direction. Move it until the date is one day before the current date, and then move forward until the date advances. The special movement causes the date flips fast moving forward, and moves slowly when going back. Now be sure you have the watch set to AM or PM: if the current time is PM, be sure the date will change on the next rotation when going past 12 midnight.
- Set the hour hand to the local time (where you are, either at home or traveling). Leave the 24hr hand alone - it shows the time back home.
- Screw the crown back down firmly to water/dust tight the watch.

Manually winding
=============
- Unscrew crown (CCW) until it is *completely* free of threads.
- Wind 20-30 30 partial rotations *away* from you only. Do not go back and forth. Winding is not normally required due to self-winding on wrist. Runtime approx 40-50hrs?

To make the watch faster or slower
=========================
Rolex mechanical watch chronometer certified watches are accurate to 99.9977%, or +6/-4 seconds per day (+/-3 seconds is normal, +/-1 seconds is best)

If your watch is running a little fast OR a little slow, Rolex suggests the following:
When you take your watch off at night, lay it in a position that assists in adjusting the time without the help of a specialist.
- If your Rolex is a little slow during the day, lay it flat, with dial up as this position tends to gain a few seconds during the course of the night.
- If your Rolex is running a few seconds fast, lay it in a vertical position with the crown down as this position will tend to lose a few seconds per night.
- If your Rolex is running more than a few seconds fast per day, lay it in a vertical position with the crown up. This position tends to lose a few more seconds per night that the previously suggested position.

Using the GMT display as a rough solar compass
====================================
This tip also applies to practically all the other watches equipped with a 24 hour hand. The wearer can use a 24h dial for approximate navigation anywhere between the Tropic of Cancer and the Arctic Polar Circle:

Important! Both the 12 and the 24 hour hand must be synchronized to display local time
Method 1: laid horizontally, the dial will head North if the 24 hour hand is pointed towards the sun
Method 2: if the 12 hour hand is pointed at the sun, the 24 hour hand will point North

The margin of error directly depends on the difference between local official time and actual local solar time. But one doesn't need to get too much in the technical details for approximate urban navigation

Rolex GMT Master II movement
The functionality of the GMT Master II is made possible by the Rolex caliber 3185. In service since 1988, the 3185 is a variation of what many consider to be one of the best, most robust movements of the 20th Century – the Rolex caliber 3135 (used in among other models, the Submariner). It is a 31 jewel movement, with a bi-directional winding rotor, and a balance wheel that oscillates at 28,800 bph. The power reserve of the automatic winding mechanism is approximately 50 hrs. It also boasts some impressively “high-horology” features like an adjustable inertia balance (also called a “free sprung” balance) and a Breguet overcoil hairspring. In addition to extensive testing and adjustment by Rolex, each caliber 3185 is sent away for testing and certification by COSC. COSC is the "Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres" - the official Swiss institute responsible for certification of wristwatch movements.

Dan Pierce · 27 August 2007, 12:58 PM

And it looks great too.

dP

Destroy · 27 August 2007, 02:06 PM

"The special movement causes the date flips fast moving forward, and moves slowly when going back."

Can I just confirm this - are you saying the date can move back and fourth independent of the hour hand? ie. much faster??

Greg9999 · 27 August 2007, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Destroy

"The special movement causes the date flips fast moving forward, and moves slowly when going back."

Can I just confirm this - are you saying the date can move back and fourth independent of the hour hand? ie. much faster??

Yes, that sentence could be written better. I was trying to say that the date flips fast when you go ahead in time, and if you turn the hour hand back the date will move back slowly. Does

SPACE-DWELLER · 27 August 2007, 06:30 PM

Nice description!

But why not just read this?

ROLEX DAYTONA MANUAL. CLICK HERE!

Destroy · 27 August 2007, 09:17 PM

Er....Bo, daytonas don't have a date function.....thanks though!

SPACE-DWELLER · 27 August 2007, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Destroy

Er....Bo, daytonas don't have a date function.....thanks though!

I know! Sorry, picked the wrong link.

frostie · 27 August 2007, 09:19 PM

great info gregg

Destroy · 27 August 2007, 09:54 PM

Oh, I thought you had further info on the super fast date setting........I thought maybe there was additional info to what was in the manuals.

jbradley02 · 27 August 2007, 10:03 PM

Great Instructions

jx299 · 28 August 2007, 12:09 AM

Good stuff! Thanks!!!

Tools · 28 August 2007, 02:31 AM

Looks pretty good.

Mine came with this....I keep it in the box.

Aiya008 · 29 August 2007, 03:15 AM

Fast/Slow Section is very helpful! thx!

rlandis · 16 January 2008, 12:29 PM

I just bought this watch 4 hours ago. The ambiguous wording in the manual, and the very confused salesperson made understanding the settings difficult.

I get it now!!!!

Thanks

rainman_16 · 16 January 2008, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aiya008

Fast/Slow Section is very helpful! thx!

Agreed! Thanks for sharing.

jajo63 · 29 March 2014, 05:15 PM

I just picked up my GMT II Master yesterday. and thanks for the instructions. I purchased mine and they are in Japanese.

After careful thought I decided to go for the BLK bezel. And wow I am very happy with this purchase. I am always working in 2 time zones with my job. Plus it looks great.

Cc1966 · 29 March 2014, 10:13 PM

For a manual winding I would change, "...Wind 20-30 30 partial rotations *away* from you only..." to read, "...Wind 40 Full rotations *away* from you only. One cannot overwind the watch...". Just my .02. Good job and enjoy your GMT II.

yankinoz · 28 April 2015, 06:37 AM

Does anyone know where I can get the owners manual, (green cover), for the Rolex Master ll? Mine is in German. Will trade/buy for an English version. I have the BLNR GMT & am very pleased with this addition to my collection. It has become my favorite.
Great instructions, I've just printed them out for reference.

Old Expat Beast · 28 April 2015, 08:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yankinoz

Does anyone know where I can get the owners manual, (green cover), for the Rolex Master ll? Mine is in German. Will trade/buy for an English version. I have the BLNR GMT & am very pleased with this addition to my collection. It has become my favorite.
Great instructions, I've just printed them out for reference.

PM sent.

27 August 2007, 12:47 PM	#1
Greg9999 "TRF" Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Dallas, Texas Posts: 62	GMT-Master II Instructions I wrote the following today for my new watch. Please take a quick read to verify it's accurate. Thanks. PS. I cannot take credit for all of it, some was copy and paste from websites, but wanting to know if I basically got it right. Rolex GMT Master II How to set time and use a GMT watch How to use watch ============= This watch is advertised to show 3 time zones. 1. Local Time: the regular hour and minute hands are always set to local time ("local time" is where you are at- either at home or traveling). 2. Home or GMT time: The 24hr hand is left at your home time, or can be set to always show GMT. Most people use the 24hr hand for home time, however some aviators and ham radio operators set it to GMT since their notes are taken in that time. 3. Spot-check foreign or GMT time: the bezel is normally left with the caret up, but you can quickly check the time in another time zone while at home by moving the caret CCW for a later zone, or CW for an earlier zone. For example, if you in Dallas and want to see what time it is in Tokyo, you move the caret on the bezel +14 hours CCW (keep in mind each hour on the watch face is two hours on the bezel). This is helpful when making telephone calls to those locations. The 24hr hand can also be set to GMT time using the same method (+5 hours ahead of Dallas) Detailed setting procedure ==================== - Unscrew crown (CCW) until it is completely free of threads. - Find an accurate time source. At the exact moment the minute changes, pull the crown all the way out (directly to third position) when the second hand is straight up. The second hand will stop. Then turn the dial to move the minute hand around to set the 24hr (red) hand to home or GMT time. You can see the 24hr hand is linked to the minute hand. Note!: the hour hand makes no difference yet. - Using the time source, at the exact moment the minute changes, push the crown all the way back in (but do not screw it down). The second hand starts and is now calibrated. - Pull the crown back out ONE click (to the second position). Note the second hand is not affected by this. However, it will allow the hour hand to move, clicking hour by hour. The movement is made to allow moving in either direction. Move it until the date is one day before the current date, and then move forward until the date advances. The special movement causes the date flips fast moving forward, and moves slowly when going back. Now be sure you have the watch set to AM or PM: if the current time is PM, be sure the date will change on the next rotation when going past 12 midnight. - Set the hour hand to the local time (where you are, either at home or traveling). Leave the 24hr hand alone - it shows the time back home. - Screw the crown back down firmly to water/dust tight the watch. Manually winding ============= - Unscrew crown (CCW) until it is completely free of threads. - Wind 20-30 30 partial rotations away from you only. Do not go back and forth. Winding is not normally required due to self-winding on wrist. Runtime approx 40-50hrs? To make the watch faster or slower ========================= Rolex mechanical watch chronometer certified watches are accurate to 99.9977%, or +6/-4 seconds per day (+/-3 seconds is normal, +/-1 seconds is best) If your watch is running a little fast OR a little slow, Rolex suggests the following: When you take your watch off at night, lay it in a position that assists in adjusting the time without the help of a specialist. - If your Rolex is a little slow during the day, lay it flat, with dial up as this position tends to gain a few seconds during the course of the night. - If your Rolex is running a few seconds fast, lay it in a vertical position with the crown down as this position will tend to lose a few seconds per night. - If your Rolex is running more than a few seconds fast per day, lay it in a vertical position with the crown up. This position tends to lose a few more seconds per night that the previously suggested position. Using the GMT display as a rough solar compass ==================================== This tip also applies to practically all the other watches equipped with a 24 hour hand. The wearer can use a 24h dial for approximate navigation anywhere between the Tropic of Cancer and the Arctic Polar Circle: Important! Both the 12 and the 24 hour hand must be synchronized to display local time Method 1: laid horizontally, the dial will head North if the 24 hour hand is pointed towards the sun Method 2: if the 12 hour hand is pointed at the sun, the 24 hour hand will point North The margin of error directly depends on the difference between local official time and actual local solar time. But one doesn't need to get too much in the technical details for approximate urban navigation Rolex GMT Master II movement The functionality of the GMT Master II is made possible by the Rolex caliber 3185. In service since 1988, the 3185 is a variation of what many consider to be one of the best, most robust movements of the 20th Century – the Rolex caliber 3135 (used in among other models, the Submariner). It is a 31 jewel movement, with a bi-directional winding rotor, and a balance wheel that oscillates at 28,800 bph. The power reserve of the automatic winding mechanism is approximately 50 hrs. It also boasts some impressively “high-horology” features like an adjustable inertia balance (also called a “free sprung” balance) and a Breguet overcoil hairspring. In addition to extensive testing and adjustment by Rolex, each caliber 3185 is sent away for testing and certification by COSC. COSC is the "Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres" - the official Swiss institute responsible for certification of wristwatch movements.

27 August 2007, 12:58 PM	#2
Dan Pierce 2024 Pledge Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Real Name: D'OH! Location: Kentucky Watch: Rolex-1 Tudor-3 Posts: 36,215	And it looks great too. dP __________________ TRF Member# 1668 Bass Player in TRF "AFTER DARK" Bar & NightClub Band Commander-in-Chief of The Nylon Nation The Crown & Shield Club Honorary Member of P-Club

27 August 2007, 06:30 PM	#5
SPACE-DWELLER "TRF" Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Real Name: Bo Location: Denmark Watch: Rolex, of course! Posts: 22,436	Nice description! But why not just read this? ROLEX DAYTONA MANUAL. CLICK HERE! __________________ With kind regards, Bo LocTite 221: The Taming Of The Screw...

16 January 2008, 12:29 PM	#14
rlandis "TRF" Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Nashville Posts: 6	Better Instructions Than The Dealer I just bought this watch 4 hours ago. The ambiguous wording in the manual, and the very confused salesperson made understanding the settings difficult. I get it now!!!! Thanks

29 March 2014, 10:13 PM	#17
Cc1966 "TRF" Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Real Name: Christopher Location: Georgia, USA Watch: ing the Sea... Posts: 6,713	For a manual winding I would change, "...Wind 20-30 30 partial rotations away from you only..." to read, "...Wind 40 Full rotations away from you only. One cannot overwind the watch...". Just my .02. Good job and enjoy your GMT II. __________________ "I wish to have no Connection with any Ship that does not Sail fast for I intend to go in harm's way." Captain John Paul Jones, 16 November 1778 "*Curmudgeons* " Favorites: 1665 SD, Sub Date, DSSD, Exp II, Sub LV, GMTIIc

27 August 2007, 02:06 PM	#3
Destroy Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Real Name: AJ Location: Australia Posts: 732	"The special movement causes the date flips fast moving forward, and moves slowly when going back." Can I just confirm this - are you saying the date can move back and fourth independent of the hour hand? ie. much faster??

27 August 2007, 09:17 PM	#6
Destroy Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Real Name: AJ Location: Australia Posts: 732	Er....Bo, daytonas don't have a date function.....thanks though!

27 August 2007, 09:19 PM	#8
frostie 1,000,000th PostMember Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Earth Posts: 14,048	great info gregg

27 August 2007, 09:54 PM	#9
Destroy Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Real Name: AJ Location: Australia Posts: 732	Oh, I thought you had further info on the super fast date setting........I thought maybe there was additional info to what was in the manuals.

27 August 2007, 10:03 PM	#10
jbradley02 Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Real Name: John Location: Connecticut Watch: GMT-Master II Posts: 91	Great Instructions

28 August 2007, 12:09 AM	#11
jx299 "TRF" Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: USA Watch: Sub & GMT Posts: 327	Good stuff! Thanks!!!

28 August 2007, 02:31 AM	#12
Tools TRF Moderator & 2024 SubLV41 Patron Join Date: May 2007 Real Name: Larry Location: Mojave Desert Watch: GMT's Posts: 43,514	Looks pretty good. Mine came with this....I keep it in the box.

29 August 2007, 03:15 AM	#13
Aiya008 Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Canada Posts: 19	Fast/Slow Section is very helpful! thx!

29 March 2014, 05:15 PM	#16
jajo63 Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Real Name: Jim Location: Virginia Watch: DSSD Posts: 35	I just picked up my GMT II Master yesterday. and thanks for the instructions. I purchased mine and they are in Japanese. After careful thought I decided to go for the BLK bezel. And wow I am very happy with this purchase. I am always working in 2 time zones with my job. Plus it looks great.

28 April 2015, 06:37 AM	#18
yankinoz "TRF" Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Australia/USA Posts: 3	Does anyone know where I can get the owners manual, (green cover), for the Rolex Master ll? Mine is in German. Will trade/buy for an English version. I have the BLNR GMT & am very pleased with this addition to my collection. It has become my favorite. Great instructions, I've just printed them out for reference.

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