problem with 24 hour hand on 116710 BLNR

[baldnut]

Hi, I am new to this forum and have just taken delivery 2 days ago of a 2014 116710 BLNR (Day/Night blue/black bezel GMT II)

I am loving the watch which actually is a replacement for my 1997 GMT II which I had to sell when we needed to raise cash quickly in 2003. My problem is when I set the 24 hour hand to minus 5 hours withing a few hours the hand is losing time and eventually the main hour hand has caught up and then passed it.

Could this be due to something I am doing wrong or does it sound like a problem with the watch? I set the 24 hour hand first before then setting the main hand.

Any help or advice appreciated.

[bayerische]

Huh?

The 24 hour hand will move once around the dial every 24 hours, as opposed to the 12 hour hand that moves twice around the dial every 24 hours.

The "normal" i.e. 12 hour hand will definitely catch up to the 24 hour, or GMT hand.

[Sub4Life]

^^ What he said

[baldnut]

Ah so it would seem I am thinking it does something that it doesnt? I was thinking set it to GMT -5 to Florida time, then when I want to know what time my friend is at I would look at that dial. It seems it is not designed to stay 5 hours behind the hour hand.

My mistake, I think I need to read the manual a little more :)

Im guessing then I would move the bezel then to set a permanent -5 hour time?

Thanks for your answer.

[baldnut]

Lol at myself, what a way to start on the forums :)

[Tools]

Originally Posted by baldnut

Hi, I am new to this forum and have just taken delivery 2 days ago of a 2014 116710 BLNR (Day/Night blue/black bezel GMT II)

I am loving the watch which actually is a replacement for my 1997 GMT II which I had to sell when we needed to raise cash quickly in 2003. My problem is when I set the 24 hour hand to minus 5 hours withing a few hours the hand is losing time and eventually the main hour hand has caught up and then passed it.

Could this be due to something I am doing wrong or does it sound like a problem with the watch? I set the 24 hour hand first before then setting the main hand.

Any help or advice appreciated.

Sounds normal.. As said, the 12 hour hand will always catch up and pass the 24 hr hand. If the 24 hr hand is set 5 hours behind the 12 hr hand, it will catch and pass it in 14 hours.

However, there is no other relationship - the 12 hr hand is always read off the dial and the 24 hr hand is always read off the bezel; therefore, the 24 hr hand does indeed always stay 5 hours (timewise) behind the 12 hr hand.

[baldnut]

Got it! Thank you :)

[Sole_]

I thought you had an older GMT… You didn't know how it works?

[toph]

Originally Posted by baldnut

Ah so it would seem I am thinking it does something that it doesnt? I was thinking set it to GMT -5 to Florida time, then when I want to know what time my friend is at I would look at that dial. It seems it is not designed to stay 5 hours behind the hour hand.

My mistake, I think I need to read the manual a little more :)

Im guessing then I would move the bezel then to set a permanent -5 hour time?

Thanks for your answer.

It does stay five hours behind but according to the 24 hour bezel not the 12 hours face.

[joe100]

The small hour hands rotates twice around the dial in 24hrs. Just like a normal clock. The GMT 24hr hand reads off of the outer 24hr black/blue bezel and rotates once per day. The minute hand is always true. So if you set your watch to midnight by noon the small hour hand will be vertical and pointing at the 12 o'clock position while the blue 24hr hand will be pointing straight down at the "12" on the GMT black/blue bezel.

To set a Rolex GMT master to GMT -5 for Florida, simply set it like you normally would with the hour hand and GMT hand both pointing to the 12 o'clock position at midnight. Now you're synced correctly. Simply set the time as you would any other watch. I keep mine on GMT -0 myself

[Brenngun]

Didn't your previous GMT II have the same 24hr hand Well glad you got that sorted

[baldnut]

Originally Posted by Sole_

I thought you had an older GMT… You didn't know how it works?

Yes I never actually set the 24 hour hand on it unbelievably.

Thanks for all your answers much appreciated.

[kryten2001]

Originally Posted by Brenngun

Didn't your previous GMT II have the same 24hr hand Well glad you got that sorted

Unless he had a very early generation GMT, the very first models.. I think the GMT hand on those were fixed to the hour hand (ie went around every 12 hours).. I could be wrong, but I seem to recall that's how they worked in the early days.

The 24 hour setup is cool. Even if you don't want to use the GMT function you can just use it as a 24hour indicator instead (ie military time). Shows a whole day in a single sweep.. Love that idea.

[Old Expat Beast]

Originally Posted by kryten2001

Unless he had a very early generation GMT, the very first models.. I think the GMT hand on those were fixed to the hour hand (ie went around every 12 hours).. I could be wrong, but I seem to recall that's how they worked in the early days.

The 24 hour setup is cool. Even if you don't want to use the GMT function you can just use it as a 24hour indicator instead (ie military time). Shows a whole day in a single sweep.. Love that idea.

That is the main difference between the GMT Master and GMT Master II. The former has a fixed 24 hr hand.

[DiamondJack]

I must admit I do find it difficult to understand how someone could buy a watch with a particular function......, infact, other than telling the time, this is the only additional function you are paying for..... even the name of the watch relates specifically to this additional function........ and then even after having bought the watch ...... presumably with some research undertaken.........they still have no idea how this function works.......

[Furbo]

I have exactly the same 'problem' with my BLNR

Enjoy your watch, it's the best Rolex has to offer right now IMHO.

[Vincent65]

get a refund, quick!

[baldnut]

Originally Posted by DiamondJack

I must admit I do find it difficult to understand how someone could buy a watch with a particular function......, infact, other than telling the time, this is the only additional function you are paying for..... even the name of the watch relates specifically to this additional function........ and then even after having bought the watch ...... presumably with some research undertaken.........they still have no idea how this function works.......

I bought the watch because I like the look of it not for the 24 hour function. If I specifically needed the 24 hour function I would of bought a digital casio or if it was for the reason of another time zone then I could wear two watches! But the feature was there and as I communicate with a friend in Florida on a regular basis I thought I would set it.

Are you of the opinion you should only buy watches that have purpose? So if you buy a submariner should you really be diving 300m on a regular basis or just wear it in the shower?

[DiamondJack]

Originally Posted by baldnut

I bought the watch because I like the look of it not for the 24 hour function. If I specifically needed the 24 hour function I would of bought a digital casio or if it was for the reason of another time zone then I could wear two watches! But the feature was there and as I communicate with a friend in Florida on a regular basis I thought I would set it.

Are you of the opinion you should only buy watches that have purpose? So if you buy a submariner should you really be diving 300m on a regular basis or just wear it in the shower?

I did not say you had to use the watch for the purpose it was originally intended otherwise we'd all need to be aviators to own a GMT......

I simply said that I find it strange for someone to buy quite an expensive watch with a specific function and have absolutely no idea how that function works before they bought it....... But that's just my opinion and you may think its perfectly normal in your circle of friends......

And clearly this website is here to answer questions for those that don't know........Enjoy your watch now you do.........

[baldnut]

Sorry for my answer, I felt you had a pop at me for buying a watch I did not know how to use. I admit I was not aware how the 24 hour hand worked, but love the style of the watch hence the purchase.

I couldnt afford or warrant the purchase of multiple watches like most on these forums, getting a nice watch again is a great feeling. Thanks for all your answers.

[ale70]

To be fairly honest I have owned many watches, some Rolexes, even a Gold/SS GMT (maybe Master I though) and I had no idea!

This really makes the GMT even more fascinating.

Thank you everybody

[bondtoys]

Don't worry - we've had far more "funny" questions here

Just do a search be typing "can I wear my Rolex in ...." and you'll see.
Enjoy that BLNR!

[DiamondJack]

Originally Posted by baldnut

Sorry for my answer, I felt you had a pop at me for buying a watch I did not know how to use. I admit I was not aware how the 24 hour hand worked, but love the style of the watch hence the purchase.

I couldnt afford or warrant the purchase of multiple watches like most on these forums, getting a nice watch again is a great feeling. Thanks for all your answers.

Not a problem and apologies if any offence was taken.

The GMTIIC is one of my favourite watches and a fantastic choice. Both a great looking but also really functional watch and once you get to grips with the 24 hour hand and setting it etc.... which can be tricky...... you'll really appreciate it.

And if you travel, then it really comes into its own.

All the best........

[kilyung]

Funny thread. Big difference between 24-hr vs 12-hr GMT w/ day/night indicator.

[Andad]

Originally Posted by baldnut

Sorry for my answer, I felt you had a pop at me for buying a watch I did not know how to use. I admit I was not aware how the 24 hour hand worked, but love the style of the watch hence the purchase.

I couldnt afford or warrant the purchase of multiple watches like most on these forums, getting a nice watch again is a great feeling. Thanks for all your answers.

I have a similar problem with my DayDate.
Some months start off with the date one day behind the day and it just gets worse and worse every month.
I know how you feel.

[Laszlo]

I want one of these. Enjoy such a great piece.

I hope you don't mind me asking. But what is a baldnut?

[Tools]

Originally Posted by kryten2001

Unless he had a very early generation GMT, the very first models.. I think the GMT hand on those were fixed to the hour hand (ie went around every 12 hours).. I could be wrong, but I seem to recall that's how they worked in the early days. . . .

No, this is incorrect. The 24 hr hand has always traveled at 1/2 the speed of the 12 hr hand. (it's not really a "GMT hand" that is the name of the watch)

Early GMT Masters hands were indeed synced together though - but you still read the slower 24 hr hand on the bezel and the 12 hr hand on the dial, just like you do today.

The Difference is the GMT II models have the independently adjustable 12 hr hand (jump hand).

[Krieghoff]

Preferred to set 24 hand to GMT (UTC). You never need to reset that hand again for daylight savings. The hour hand is your time zone you are in. You can do three time zones when traveling that way. I see many GMTs with 24 hour hand on local time of wearer. The bezel is at GMT if at 12 o'clock position. You move the bezel to -5 for Florida if you want and that would coordinate with local time. It's really fun to think in terms of GMT. I live in Hawaii which is -10hours all year...no daylight time changes. Time zones in Southern Hemisphere are almost universally on daylight time. If you travel internationally a lot it just comes easy if 24 hand is GMT.

[zion_rasta]

Wow! Like discovering what that one button does in your car that you had for 5 years...

[Le Chef]

How hard is it to read what the manufacturer (any product category) says about how to operate the thing you just bought. If you can't be bothered to read the manual what kind of manager are you at work?