What is a GMT watch? But first, a little background on GMT. The acronym refers to Greenwich Mean Time, which was established in 1884 as the prime meridian against which all other time zones are referenced. The prime meridian is the line of longitude at 0˚; any time zone to its east is ahead of GMT while to its the west is behind GMT. Every 15˚ longitude represents a one-hour difference.
Unlike a world-timer displaying 24 time zones, a GMT watch usually displays only two time zones – the home time and the local time. It is also different from a two-time zone watch with only 12-hour scales since a GMT watch has a 24-hour scale, often with the additional AM and PM display. This scale is often found on a rotatable bezel, indicated by a dedicated hand that makes a complete round on the dial every 24 hours.
When travelling abroad, one can either maintain the GMT scale as it is for home time or set a second time zone by moving the scale forward or backward to the desired time.
Above Photo: Rolex
Rolex GMT-Master II
Originally created for Pan Am pilots in the 1950s, the GMT-Master is synonymous with travel. The 2018 iteration is crafted in Oystersteel with a patented ceramic bezel in red (for day time) and blue (for night time). The date at ‘3’, enlarged via a Cyclops crystal, is synchronised with the local time.
Other solid features include the Triplock winding crown for unbeatable waterproofing (up to 100m), the Jubilee bracelet with five links, and the new calibre 3285 equipped with Parachrom hairspring that is 10 times more precise than a traditional hairspring in case of shocks.
Must-read: Paul Newman’s Rolex is the most expensive wristwatch ever sold
Above Photo: Ball Watch
