TeeJay Posted May 28, 2009 Report Share Posted May 28, 2009 I just wanted to bring this up so as not to drag my upcoming pictorial off track, but I really wanted to get other's opinions and feedback on wearing a watch with a GMT function while in a different timezone, ie business trips/vacations, and most specifically, do people find that it helps, or hinders their ability to synch to the local time? Here're my findings... On my last trip to Spain, I wore my 029a, and used it to keep track on UK time (only minus an hour, but still fun to do ) I didn't have any problem adjusting to local time, I guess because it was so close to GMT anyway. However, on my trip to Japan, I wore a Rolex GMT and never adjusted to the local time at all. I'm back home, and having no problems with the UK timezone and the difference with Tokyo. Okay, I admit, I'm somewhat tired and mentally a little 'fuzzy round the edges', but a 12 hour flight will do that to a person I'm wondering if my inability to synch to the time in Tokyo, was because I was always aware of what the time was in the UK, rather than simply ignoring UK time all together, and just living purely on Tokyo time. I admit, I find the GMT function very handy to be able to track a second timezone, and I like having that function on a watch, but I'm not so sure that it actually helped me while in a second timezone... Might I have adjusted better had I not been using a GMT function... Might I have adjusted better had I stayed longer, or would sleep deprivation simply have driven me round the bend? What are other people's experiences? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cableguy Posted May 28, 2009 Report Share Posted May 28, 2009 I use 1 watch when I travel. My white dialed Explorer II. I love the fact that I can keep track of Hawaii time vs where I'm at. (Japan, Canada, Paris, NYC) It allows me to call home and not call them at 3am accidently. :-) I dont think it really hinders the ability to adjust to the timezone difference. For instance it was 12 hours difference while we were in Paris a week ago. After the 2nd day I was on Paris time, I think the fact that the sun went down at 10PM everynight was more confusing than having the watch tell me the time was 10am in Hawaii. In fact I love the watch's GMT feature so much I'm strongly considering it to be my 1st genuine purchase, more so than a Submariner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TeeJay Posted May 28, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 28, 2009 That's cool that you didn't have any trouble adapting to the local time, maybe it was just a case of me not adapting well, and then subconsciously trying to blame the watch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomhorn Posted May 28, 2009 Report Share Posted May 28, 2009 I wear my GMT when I travel to the west coast (-3 hour difference). It's mainly my choice for two reasons, to keep me aware of the time at my home office, and so I don't have to reset my watch. Yes I'm lazy, the GMT stays on Pacific Time all the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Carl Posted May 29, 2009 Report Share Posted May 29, 2009 I wear GMT's out of outdated habit. As a surveyor, I have been involved with GPS surveying from the old days, when there were only a few satellites up there and we had to do "mission planning" for our field sessions as there were only a few windows in 24 hours when we would have enough satellites. Sounds really retro I'm sure but the system started out on GMT and is still on it other than a shift of seconds totaling the leap seconds added since the inception of the NAVSTAR system. Carl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asf Posted May 29, 2009 Report Share Posted May 29, 2009 even though texas is like 2 hours away from here (california), Im going to bust out the gmt hand on my PAM 228 anyways. Right now its on -8 gmt on the regular time and HK time on the GMT hand so I know when to email DSN about a new 111H Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobbieG Posted May 30, 2009 Report Share Posted May 30, 2009 Ever since I started wearing this, my GMT experience greatly improved. I used to find it a hinderance with my Rolexes as if I used the bezel it would get hit and I personally don't care for the 24 hour bezel format as the hand reading changes. With the jumping hour pusher system moving forward and backward across midnite it is a breeze. And I love the 24 hour window for home time which tells night/day via 24 hr obviously, but does so without interfering with the main hands or dial. I wish more companies did "non-bezel read" GMT watches. I never travel with anything but this and I bring my DJ for a dressier change of pace usually as well. I will wear the GMT as a more casual day watch and the DJ as more of a night watch with of course strictly the Un on for actual travel days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shundi Posted May 30, 2009 Report Share Posted May 30, 2009 LOVE GMT watches- very convenient on business/ pleasure trips- i'm comforted knowing my home time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hiker01 Posted May 30, 2009 Report Share Posted May 30, 2009 I use my EXPII last trip to Asia.....I always adjust well coming Asia way, but have a hard time adjusting back home! It takes about 5 days to finally get in synch! TJ! Waiting for your Japan pix, Bro! Hope you had a great time with the wify! F Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TeeJay Posted May 30, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 30, 2009 Ever since I started wearing this, my GMT experience greatly improved. I used to find it a hinderance with my Rolexes as if I used the bezel it would get hit and I personally don't care for the 24 hour bezel format as the hand reading changes. With the jumping hour pusher system moving forward and backward across midnite it is a breeze. And I love the 24 hour window for home time which tells night/day via 24 hr obviously, but does so without interfering with the main hands or dial. I wish more companies did "non-bezel read" GMT watches. I never travel with anything but this and I bring my DJ for a dressier change of pace usually as well. I will wear the GMT as a more casual day watch and the DJ as more of a night watch with of course strictly the Un on for actual travel days. I've said it before, bro, that is an awesome watch, and incredibly elegant, but I'm a little confused by what you meant with the text I've boldened... I know what you mean about how a bezel can get knocked, and it's funny, previously, I said I liked the all-black GMT insert, as it meant that only the numbers moved, while the watch retained it's same appearance, but, I have to admit, having the coke insert did make it easier to make the day/night distinction at a glance... That's the awesome thing about this hobby, any time I get 'too comfortable' with an idea, a new watch shows me the error of my ways LOVE GMT watches- very convenient on business/ pleasure trips- i'm comforted knowing my home time I'd definitely agree with you there, but do you find that knowing your home timezone affects how you adapt to local time? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TeeJay Posted May 30, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 30, 2009 I use my EXPII last trip to Asia.....I always adjust well coming Asia way, but have a hard time adjusting back home! It takes about 5 days to finally get in synch! TJ! Waiting for your Japan pix, Bro! Hope you had a great time with the wify! F I thought you used your AP Safari It was actually your shots of that which made me wonder if I would have adapted better with a regular watch, rather than the GMT which constantly displayed the UK time... The pics are already up in the off-topic section, bro It was an awesome time, I only wish we could have stayed longer, to have experienced more of the country, and spent more time with people Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fakemaster Posted June 3, 2009 Report Share Posted June 3, 2009 I use to travel exptensively. The only time I was ever concerend with was where I was. If I needed to know where I had been I just remembered it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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