Good evening everyone!
This week, we have a new series, In this new project, we will explain the basics of luxury watches in an easy-to-understand way, for those who are not very familiar with luxury watches and those who want to learn more about them.
This is the 12th time
[ Introduction to Luxury Watches ]: 『 GMT Function 』
Among the functions of watches, the " GMT function" is a very popular function. Even famous brands, such as Rolex's " GMT Master II," always have models equipped with the " GMT function" in their lineup of major models. However, even though it is a function that is highly recognized and popular, not many people actually know the meaning and usage of it in detail. So, this time, I would like to explain the meaning and usage of the "GMT function" in an easy-to-understand way.
What is GMT?
" GMT " = " Greenwich Mean Time "
"GMT" is an abbreviation for " Greenwich Mean Time ." In 1884 , the International Meridian Conference decided that the time would shift by one hour for every 15 degrees of longitude, based on the Greenwich Observatory in England, which is at 0 degrees longitude. This led to " GMT" being used for many years as the globally defined time.
The " GMT" on luxury watches is also named after this Universal Standard Time. Its function is to allow you to set the time of a country other than your own on the dial. In addition to the hour and minute hands found on most watches, they are equipped with a " GMT hand" that is equivalent to the hour hand , and many models are designed so that the " GMT hand makes one revolution every 24 hours." The time is checked using the 24- hour scale on the bezel or inner bezel.
Background of the creation
The GMT watch was born in 1955. Its history began with the release of the GMT Master Ref . 6542 by Rolex. The GMT Master was created in response to requests from airlines as a wristwatch that would allow users to check two time zones at a glance during a flight.
At the time, Patek Philippe had a "World Time" watch, but it only told the approximate time, and the names of cities from 3 o'clock to 9 o'clock were upside down. Although the " GMT Master" could only tell the time of a few countries, it was easy to read at a glance, and it gained popularity not only among pilots but also among businessmen.
The difference between GMT and UTC
A term similar to "GMT" is " UTC" . " UTC" is an abbreviation for "Coordinated Universal Time " and is one of the standards for indicating time differences between countries. Since the word order changes depending on the language, it is unified as " UTC" . It has the same base as "GMT", but it adds a system of leap seconds , which allows you to correct the small time differences that occur with "GMT".
How to use GMT
Next, we will introduce how to set the GMT function . This time, we will explain how to set the home time to Japan and the second time zone to London using the Rolex GMT Master II.
"Align the hour hand and GMT hand at the same time"
First, align the hour hand and the GMT hand to the same time. Pull the crown out two notches to turn the minute hand and move the associated GMT hand to the 12 o'clock position. Next, align the hour hand to the 12 o'clock position.
"Set home time to current location"
Pull the crown out two notches to move the minute hand and set the home time to Japan, your current location.
(Japan: 10:06)
"Adjust to the time in the foreign country you are staying in"
Next, move the hour hand by the time difference. Since London, the second time zone, is 9 hours behind Japan, move the hour hand back 9 hours. The time the hour hand is pointing to is the local time, and the time the 24-hour hand is pointing to is Japan time.
(※London: 2:06am / Japan: 10:06am)
Popular model with GMT
Finally, we will introduce popular models from each brand that are equipped with a GMT function.
[Rolex][Rolex] Explorer II
Among Rolex watches with GMT functions, the Explorer II must not be forgotten. The Explorer II, a higher-end model of the Explorer, is designed for cave explorers and is designed with durability and functionality in mind, with a date function and a crown guard. The 24-hour hand, which is a major design accent, is a major feature of the Explorer II.
[Tudor] "Black Bay GMT"
The Black Bay GMT is a GMT watch from Tudor, a sister brand of Rolex. It has a retro feel reminiscent of the original GMT Master and is characterized by Tudor's distinctive squid hands.
[Omega] "Seamaster Planet Ocean GMT"
The representative model of Omega equipped with the GMT function is the Seamaster Planet Ocean GMT. It is equipped with a coaxial mechanism that requires less frequent overhauls, so maintenance costs can be kept low. It is also highly waterproof, making it a great choice for marine sports.
summary
This time, we explained the meaning and usage of the " GMT function" . What did you think?
The "GMT function" models are popular models in the lineup of each brand. They come in a variety of designs , so be sure to find one that suits your taste.
Once again, I hope that this article will pique your interest in luxury watches!
see you!