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Rydal · 30 August 2009, 10:49 PM

Having recently bought a GMTIIc the first job was to figure out how to set it correctly. Having consulted the instruction booklet I must admit that I was none the wiser, so off to the internet. There are several instructional videos and write ups available but I still found that most seemed unnecessarily complicated and aimed at the US market with their multiple time zones but, obviously, taking no account of GMT vs BST etc.

So, just in case other new UK owners are having the same problems here is what I hope is a simpler guide. I guess there is strictly no right or wrong method but from what I can workout this seems to be the method most suited to the watches true purpose:

(1) The watch is called a GMT and therefore the first job is to correctly set the green 24hr hand to GMT. Only with this done properly will it be possible to quickly and easily keep track of your "home" time when traveling. To do this set the bezel so that it corresponds to the dial, ie both 12 o'clock markers at the 12 o'clock position.

(2) Next, go to http://wwp.greenwichmeantime.co.uk/ to find out current GMT. Unscrew the crown and pull it out to the 3rd position which will adjust the minute hand and the green 24 hour hand. Now set these hands to GMT by reference to the hour markers on the bezel and and the normal minute markers on the dial. Remember to account for the 24 hour bezel and ensure that, for example, to show 4pm the green hand is set to 16 on the bezel and not 4. You will see that at the moment (Aug) GMT will be an hour behind the "actual" time due to us currently being on British Summer Time. GMT should now be set and will be read off the green hand and the bezel whenever the bezel is "reset".

(3) Now push the crown in one click to position 2. This will set the "normal", shorter, hour hand only and along with this, the date. Now set the hour hand to local time by reference to the hour markers on the dial (for us at the moment, that means BST being 1 hour ahead of GMT). Remember to ensure the date will change at 12:00 midnight and not 12:00 midday.

(3) The green hand and bezel, when read in conjunction with each other, will now show GMT, whilst the regular hands and the dial will show the actual time (BST). To set up the watch so that whilst at home both sets of hands show the actual time all you have to do is rotate the bezel 1 click anti-clockwise. Now the green hand when read off the bezel will show exactly the same time as the regular hands and the dial. Importantly, the green hand and bezel will also now show UK time wherever you are in the world.

When you intend to travel, you can simply pull the crown out to position 2 and adjust the normal hour time to the local time of your destination. Now the green hand and bezel will show UK time whilst the regular hands and dial will show local time.

Don't forget to reset the bezel when we return to GMT from BST.

Having read this back through it may actually be as confusing as all the other instructions I read, but at least it takes the UK as a starting point. Hopefully one or two new owners may find it useful.

PeterT · 31 August 2009, 03:15 AM

Yes it works for me!!

PeterT

BigHat · 31 August 2009, 05:05 AM

Well you have the mechanics down. Setting it to GMT (UTC) has great utility for aviators and others that live and work in that realm, but there are a few other uses for that green hand.

Tools · 31 August 2009, 05:12 AM

Keep in mind..

GMT is just the name of the watch.... It has nothing to do with the arrangement or use of the hands. Just like the Submariner is not intended for use on Submarines..

Rydal · 31 August 2009, 05:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigHat

Well you have the mechanics down. Setting it to GMT (UTC) has great utility for aviators and others that live and work in that realm, but there are a few other uses for that green hand.

Do tell BigHat, what else can I do with my green hand?? I'm intrigued!

BigHat · 31 August 2009, 05:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rydal

Do tell BigHat, what else can I do with my green hand?? I'm intrigued!

Sure. First congrats on the GMTIIC. A favorite of mine.

Here's a couple of uses for me, especially when I'm not traveling.

1. You have a friend/ family member living in a another locale? Keep the 24 hr hand on that TZ so you know when to call etc.

2. Conduct business in Asia, etc? Set it to that TZ.

landroverking · 31 August 2009, 06:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tools

Keep in mind..

GMT is just the name of the watch.... It has nothing to do with the arrangement or use of the hands. Just like the Submariner is not intended for use on Submarines..

Larry, explain more, I am not sure I understand what you are saying. Yes GMT is the name of the watch, but It also refers to time and a place, alson known as UTC and Zulu time.

Tools · 31 August 2009, 06:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by landroverking

Larry, explain more, I am not sure I understand what you are saying. Yes GMT is the name of the watch, but It also refers to time and a place, alson known as UTC and Zulu time.

Yes, yes.. I know all that.. And forgive my strange quirks as a long-time GMT watch owner and user..

The original GMT did not have an adjustable hand.. It was intended for one purpose.. To keep the watch on local time, and to turn the bezel to any new time-zone the aviator would go to. That way the pilot (or aviator) could always reference his own home time and adjust his sleeping habits accordingly.. It's sole purpose was to lessen jet-lag and have an alert Pilot for international flying..

Actual GMT time was always available in the cockpit or asking any Air Traffic Control facility for a Time-hack..

New users simply associate the name of the watch with GMT time and incorrectly assume that the watch was somehow designed to indicate GMT time...

Again... yes..yes... I know that with the added versatility of the adjustable hand, you can now set the 24 hr hand (it is not a "GMT" hand) separately to GMT time if desired... It's a great watch.. but in the biginning, you could not..unless you lived there, of course...

My only small goal with this watch and my constant crowing, is so that new owners don't lose the history and original purpose of one of the most versatile watches in the Rolex line-up.

landroverking · 31 August 2009, 07:52 AM

Great answer! As you well know some owners of second time zone watches may never really need the 2nd time zone, same can be said of chronographs and their owners as well when it comes to timing events. I have or have had six GMT type watches two of which are Rolex 1675's and as a pilot I do understand the need to track Zulu time for flight plans ect. Now having used only General Aviation aircraft none have had anything more than a clock, in the case of older Cessna's some are wind up 8 day clocks. Newer panels have electronics on board that do a variety of things included 2nd time zones. With the 1675 Rolex GMT or the old Accutran Astronaunts rotate the bezel and leave it set to Greenwich Mean Tme.

Andad · 31 August 2009, 09:04 AM

Hi Larry,

Can you help me. I am still having problems setting my GMT II TTc.

My local time is +09:30.

Ozzie · 31 August 2009, 09:17 AM

Are you in Alice Springs?

Flyer737 · 31 August 2009, 09:27 AM

Another use being if the green hand is set to GMT, is if you point the actual hour hand to the sun, the green GMT hand will indicate north in the Northern Hemisphere and south in Southern Hemisphere! This works throughout the day. Handy if I had complete instrument failure in the cockpit!

alfanator · 31 August 2009, 10:22 AM

I set the GMT hand to my local time.
Set the bezel to the foreign time that I track most often.
When I travel I move the hour hand to the destination time and set the bezel to track home time.
I also use the movable bezel to track elasped time by placing the triangle to the min hand.

Andad · 31 August 2009, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flyer737

Another use being if the green hand is set to GMT, is if you point the actual hour hand to the sun, the green GMT hand will indicate north in the Northern Hemisphere and south in Southern Hemisphere! This works throughout the day. Handy if I had complete instrument failure in the cockpit!

HaHa, a QANTAS pilot...right?

Andad · 31 August 2009, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ozzie

Are you in Alice Springs?

Adelaide.

therolexguy · 31 August 2009, 12:31 PM

Don't forget, you can also use the GMT as a compass.

30 August 2009, 10:49 PM	#1
Rydal "TRF" Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: UK Posts: 27	Idiots guide to setting a GMT in the UK Having recently bought a GMTIIc the first job was to figure out how to set it correctly. Having consulted the instruction booklet I must admit that I was none the wiser, so off to the internet. There are several instructional videos and write ups available but I still found that most seemed unnecessarily complicated and aimed at the US market with their multiple time zones but, obviously, taking no account of GMT vs BST etc. So, just in case other new UK owners are having the same problems here is what I hope is a simpler guide. I guess there is strictly no right or wrong method but from what I can workout this seems to be the method most suited to the watches true purpose: (1) The watch is called a GMT and therefore the first job is to correctly set the green 24hr hand to GMT. Only with this done properly will it be possible to quickly and easily keep track of your "home" time when traveling. To do this set the bezel so that it corresponds to the dial, ie both 12 o'clock markers at the 12 o'clock position. (2) Next, go to http://wwp.greenwichmeantime.co.uk/ to find out current GMT. Unscrew the crown and pull it out to the 3rd position which will adjust the minute hand and the green 24 hour hand. Now set these hands to GMT by reference to the hour markers on the bezel and and the normal minute markers on the dial. Remember to account for the 24 hour bezel and ensure that, for example, to show 4pm the green hand is set to 16 on the bezel and not 4. You will see that at the moment (Aug) GMT will be an hour behind the "actual" time due to us currently being on British Summer Time. GMT should now be set and will be read off the green hand and the bezel whenever the bezel is "reset". (3) Now push the crown in one click to position 2. This will set the "normal", shorter, hour hand only and along with this, the date. Now set the hour hand to local time by reference to the hour markers on the dial (for us at the moment, that means BST being 1 hour ahead of GMT). Remember to ensure the date will change at 12:00 midnight and not 12:00 midday. (3) The green hand and bezel, when read in conjunction with each other, will now show GMT, whilst the regular hands and the dial will show the actual time (BST). To set up the watch so that whilst at home both sets of hands show the actual time all you have to do is rotate the bezel 1 click anti-clockwise. Now the green hand when read off the bezel will show exactly the same time as the regular hands and the dial. Importantly, the green hand and bezel will also now show UK time wherever you are in the world. When you intend to travel, you can simply pull the crown out to position 2 and adjust the normal hour time to the local time of your destination. Now the green hand and bezel will show UK time whilst the regular hands and dial will show local time. Don't forget to reset the bezel when we return to GMT from BST. Having read this back through it may actually be as confusing as all the other instructions I read, but at least it takes the UK as a starting point. Hopefully one or two new owners may find it useful.

31 August 2009, 05:12 AM	#4
Tools TRF Moderator & 2024 SubLV41 Patron Join Date: May 2007 Real Name: Larry Location: Mojave Desert Watch: GMT's Posts: 43,514	Keep in mind.. GMT is just the name of the watch.... It has nothing to do with the arrangement or use of the hands. Just like the Submariner is not intended for use on Submarines.. __________________ (Chill ... It's just a watch Forum.....) NAWCC Member

31 August 2009, 09:04 AM	#10
Andad 2024 SubLV41 Pledge Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Real Name: Eddie Location: Australia Watch: A few. Posts: 37,526	Hi Larry, Can you help me. I am still having problems setting my GMT II TTc. My local time is +09:30. __________________ E

31 August 2009, 09:17 AM	#11
Ozzie "TRF" Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: London UK Watch: Daytona 116520 WD Posts: 143	Are you in Alice Springs? __________________ Daytona 116520 WD GMT Pepsi 16700 Sea Dweller 16600 Sub Date 16610 Panerai PAM 111

31 August 2009, 09:27 AM	#12
Flyer737 "TRF" Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: UK Posts: 183	Another use being if the green hand is set to GMT, is if you point the actual hour hand to the sun, the green GMT hand will indicate north in the Northern Hemisphere and south in Southern Hemisphere! This works throughout the day. Handy if I had complete instrument failure in the cockpit! __________________

31 August 2009, 03:15 AM	#2
PeterT "TRF" Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: England Watch: 16613 16710 16600 Posts: 1,021	Yes it works for me!! PeterT

31 August 2009, 05:05 AM	#3
BigHat Banned Join Date: Sep 2007 Real Name: Matt Location: Arlington, VA Watch: Lange One MP Posts: 4,043	Well you have the mechanics down. Setting it to GMT (UTC) has great utility for aviators and others that live and work in that realm, but there are a few other uses for that green hand.

31 August 2009, 07:52 AM	#9
landroverking "TRF" Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Real Name: Jay Location: TEXAS Watch: Daytona Posts: 7,648	Great answer! As you well know some owners of second time zone watches may never really need the 2nd time zone, same can be said of chronographs and their owners as well when it comes to timing events. I have or have had six GMT type watches two of which are Rolex 1675's and as a pilot I do understand the need to track Zulu time for flight plans ect. Now having used only General Aviation aircraft none have had anything more than a clock, in the case of older Cessna's some are wind up 8 day clocks. Newer panels have electronics on board that do a variety of things included 2nd time zones. With the 1675 Rolex GMT or the old Accutran Astronaunts rotate the bezel and leave it set to Greenwich Mean Tme.

31 August 2009, 10:22 AM	#13
alfanator "TRF" Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Seattle/Shanghai Posts: 134	I set the GMT hand to my local time. Set the bezel to the foreign time that I track most often. When I travel I move the hour hand to the destination time and set the bezel to track home time. I also use the movable bezel to track elasped time by placing the triangle to the min hand.

31 August 2009, 12:31 PM	#16
therolexguy 2024 SubLV41 Pledge Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Real Name: Todd Location: US Posts: 3,528	Don't forget, you can also use the GMT as a compass.

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