Rolex GMT-Master II Setup – How to Track 3 Time Zones | Bob's Watches

In this video, we explain how to set up your Rolex GMT-Master II to display 3 time zones. Click here to shop all Rolex GMT-Master II watches: https://www.bobswatches.com/rolex-gmt-master-ii-1.html

Looking for additional information on how to set the Rolex GMT-Master II? Click here for our complete guide on how to set up the GMT-Master II to display 3 different time zones: https://www.bobswatches.com/rolex-blog/watch-101/rolex-gmt-master-setup-track-time-zones.html

The Rolex GMT-Master was first launched in 1954 but it received a major update in the early 1980s, with the release of the GMT-Master II. Unlike the original model, where the 12-hour hand was permanently synced with the 24-hour hand, the two hour hands were independently adjustable on the GMT-Master II, enabling it to display a third time zone with its bezel.

So, how do you set up your Rolex GMT-Master II to display 3 time zones?

Setting the GMT-Master II is done entirely through the winding crown, which has four positions, often referred to as positions 0 through 3.

Position 0 is when the crown is fully screwed down. This is the position that it should always be in when you are not actively setting the time or date.

Position 1 is the position that the crown naturally pops into once it is fully unscrewed from the case. This position allows for manual winding but not the adjustment of any settings.

Position 2 is when the crown is pulled out to the first notch. This gives control over the 12-hour hand, which jumps forwards or backwards in one-hour increments and the date display will change accordingly as the hand passes midnight.

Position 3 is when the crown is pulled all the way out and this provides access to the time-setting functions. In this position, the seconds hand comes to a stop and the hour and minute hands can be adjusted either forwards or backwards by rotating the crown.

The first step when setting your Rolex GMT-Master II is to set your home time zone (reference time). This is indicated by the 24-hour hand (GMT-hand). Some people choose to set this to UTC time, while others prefer to have this track their permanent residence.

To set reference time, keep your crown in position 3 and then rotate it so that the 24-hour hand and minute hand indicate the correct time in your desired location. It is important to remember that reference time will always be displayed in a 24-hour format.

Once reference time has been set, the next step is to set your local time zone. To do this, push the winding crown back in one notch from position 3 to position 2. It is important to remember to set the date on your watch at this point since the Rolex GMT-Master II does not feature a quickset date. Keep rotating the winding crown until the date display shows the correct value.

Once the date has been set, continue rotating the crown so that the 12-hour hand displays the time in your current location. It is also important to keep track of AM or PM hours during this step since local time is displayed by a 12-hour hand, while reference time is indicated by a 24-hour hand.

Your GMT-hand will now show the correct reference time, your 12-hour hand will display the time in your current location, and the date window will contain the correct value. At this point, your GMT-Master II is completely set, and you can push in your winding crown and screw it back down to the case (position 0).

So, what about the third time zone?

Unlike the original GMT-Master, the Rolex GMT-Master II can display 2 different time zones using just its hands, freeing up its bezel to reference a third. To do this, simply rotate the bezel either clockwise or counterclockwise to correspond with the correct number of hours offset from reference time.

It is important to note that since the bezel has been rotated, the 24-hour hand no longer displays UTC time because the GMT-Master II does not have a secondary 24-hour scale on its dial. Therefore, even with its rotating 24-hour bezel, the GMT-Master II is not able to display all three zones at once. However, the bezel does offer users a quick and easy way to reference a third and it has become the single most defining characteristic of Rolex’s legendary pilot’s watch.

Although the core concept behind the GMT-Master II has existed since the early 1980s, it still remains the gold-standard for multi-time-zone travel watches, and the current-production Rolex GMT-Master II is easily one of the most desirable watches in the entire world.

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