What watch - GMT/UTC/Timezone function
What watch - GMT/UTC/Timezone function
Author
Discussion

Rich_AR

Original Poster:

1,996 posts

228 months

Monday 11th April 2011
quotequote all
Living outside the UK I need a watch with a second timezone/GMT function and I do a lot of talking with folks back home, so getting the time difference right is essential.

So I wonder if some of you chaps could enlighten me with some makes/models to look at further.

My current collection I have a Fortis and a Bell & Ross varieties. Both brand do GMT variants, but I'd like to see what else is out there.

I do like Sinn (UTC) versions, like the 856, 756 etc, but I think the 40mm cases are too small.

I'd like the watch to be quite plain, possible PVD/DLC coating. Budget up to 2k.

Thoughts welcome!

smile

audidoody

8,598 posts

280 months

Monday 11th April 2011
quotequote all
New Explorer II

Rich_AR

Original Poster:

1,996 posts

228 months

Monday 11th April 2011
quotequote all
audidoody said:
New Explorer II
I'm not a fan of Rolex's - Never liked the magnify date bubble thingy. Makes me think of NHS glasses.


Johno

8,592 posts

306 months

Monday 11th April 2011
quotequote all
In the hoiusehold we've a Sinn 757 and 856, the missus wears the 856 and on very rare occasions I get the chance too !

The 757 is 43/44 and is a tank of a watch, awesome, rugged, great looking and pretty much indestructible in my hands . . . it's my weekend and travelling watch. The 865 is a slimmer and smaller watch but much easier to wear with cuffs etc and suits for work. We bought it for the same reasons as you and there just aren't any decent ladies GMT/UTC watches without spending £5k+.

I'm after a Zenith Elite Dual time, which is porbably too small again at 39mm for you, but looks lovely and will wear well with a suit for everyday office wear.


jshell

11,977 posts

229 months

Monday 11th April 2011
quotequote all
Rich_AR said:
audidoody said:
New Explorer II
I'm not a fan of Rolex's - Never liked the magnify date bubble thingy. Makes me think of NHS glasses.
It comes off quite easily.

andy tims

5,598 posts

270 months

Monday 11th April 2011
quotequote all
Rich_AR said:
I do like Sinn (UTC) versions, like the 856, 756 etc, but I think the 40mm cases are too small.
The Sinn 757 or 857 UTC are both 43mm case diameter.

Rich_AR

Original Poster:

1,996 posts

228 months

Monday 11th April 2011
quotequote all
andy tims said:
The Sinn 757 or 857 UTC are both 43mm case diameter.
Valid point Andy, I'll take a looky.

poosha

76 posts

231 months

Monday 11th April 2011
quotequote all


I have one of these: Hamilton Khaki GMT Air Race - to give it its long winded name, (model H77695733). It has a 42mm diameter case and is very well finished.

The dual time zone is one of the things that sold it for me, I keep it on New Zealand time for calling my parents.

mattley

3,030 posts

246 months

Tuesday 12th April 2011
quotequote all
Check out the Glycine Airman range.

andy_s

19,816 posts

283 months

Tuesday 12th April 2011
quotequote all
Rich_AR said:
I'm not a fan of Rolex's - Never liked the magnify date bubble thingy. Makes me think of NHS glasses.
The thing about the Rolex is the quick-set hour hand.
Leave the 24hr hand (24hrs to go around the dial as opposed to 12hrs) on Zulu or home time, as you change zones you pull the crown out a snick or two and the normal hour hand clicks in hour increments; the advantage is that the watch still runs and you don't have to move or adjust the minute hand while setting the hour hand.

Neat, but overlooked.

I think the Sinns are a 12hr UTC hand as opposed to a 24hr 2nd time zone hand, as such. Initially these 12hr hands were used by pilots who work on Zulu/UTC time, usually an hour plus or minus from CET, so it was easy to read the time as there wasn't a big difference in them (i.e. whether + 19 hrs made it am/pm; a 24hr hand does this for you).
The second UTC hand can, of course be used as a timezone hand, but that's not its purpose, strctly speaking.
In this case the UTC hand is settable in hour jumps (I believe?!), rather than the main time hour hand.


Either would suit your needs well, especially as you're looking for a static time difference and not moving between timezones often yourself, but just thought I'd point out the details.

Edited by andy_s on Tuesday 12th April 09:47

GSP

1,965 posts

228 months

Tuesday 12th April 2011
quotequote all
How about a Breitling Colt GMT



I love the GMT function on mine.

RRP is £2350 but you should be able to get one new for under £2k

Edited by GSP on Tuesday 12th April 09:41

Johno

8,592 posts

306 months

Tuesday 12th April 2011
quotequote all
andy_s said:
I think the Sinns are a 12hr UTC hand as opposed to a 24hr 2nd time zone hand
Sinn 856 = 24hr (the fiance's actually let me wear it for the next couple of days travelling)

Sinn 757 = 12hr

Not sure on others in range, but there is a variance. I think the 'U' series are also 24hr such as the U2 UTC.


Johno

8,592 posts

306 months

Tuesday 12th April 2011
quotequote all
andy_s said:
I think the Sinns are a 12hr UTC hand as opposed to a 24hr 2nd time zone hand
Sinn 856 = 24hr (the fiance's actually let me wear it for the next couple of days travelling)

Sinn 757 = 12hr

Not sure on others in range, but there is a variance. I think the 'U' series are also 24hr such as the U2 UTC.


Johno

8,592 posts

306 months

Tuesday 12th April 2011
quotequote all
andy_s said:
I think the Sinns are a 12hr UTC hand as opposed to a 24hr 2nd time zone hand
Sinn 856 = 24hr (the fiance's actually let me wear it for the next couple of days travelling)

Sinn 757 = 12hr

Not sure on others in range, but there is a variance. I think the 'U' series are also 24hr such as the U2 UTC.


andy_s

19,816 posts

283 months

Tuesday 12th April 2011
quotequote all
^ Ah, cool - I was thinking of the older 103 utcs probably - cheers.

Cotty

41,958 posts

308 months

Tuesday 12th April 2011
quotequote all
My Tag Carrera twin time does a good job within you price range

Sorry for the poor picture

E24man

7,867 posts

203 months

Tuesday 12th April 2011
quotequote all
Breitling B-1.

It has a normal time and an alarm for it; a second time zone and alarm for it (useful for reminding when to call home) and UTC.

HTH

Dr JonboyG

2,561 posts

263 months

Wednesday 13th April 2011
quotequote all
Mk II LRRP?


S2_DPD

249 posts

253 months

Thursday 14th April 2011
quotequote all


Should get a good one for around £2k. Range of dial colours & straps.

I have a St Exupery edition, can read the 2nd time zone at a glance without pressing buttons.

Disco You

3,741 posts

204 months

Thursday 14th April 2011
quotequote all
The best* watch in the world:

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2380872.htm

  • I might be biased because I have one and love it to bits tongue out