How To Use Your Rolex GMT-Master II - Set & Change Time, GMT | Bob's Watches

In this video, we will teach you how to set the GMT Master II. Click here now to shop pre-owned Rolex GMT Master II watches: https://www.bobswatches.com/rolex-gmt...

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00:00 Intro
00:08 Overview
00:58 Setting 12 Hour Hand and Date
01:22 Setting Time
02:02 GMT Function
02:56 Outro

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The GMT Master II belongs to the greater GMT Master collection, which came to market in the mid-1950s. It was developed for professional pilots and other avid travelers and was the first Rolex watch to feature dual time zones.

As a professional series watch, the GMT Master II also features a waterproof Oyster case and a Perpetual movement with self-winding. It is available in a broad array of feature set options, including Oystersteel, two-tone, and all-gold.

The original GMT Master continued production until 1999, when the last reference in the series, ref. 16700 was discontinued. Interestingly, it overlapped production with its successor, the GMT Master II, for over a decade before finally retiring.

Rolex introduced the GMT Master II in 1983 via ref. 16760 – aka the “Fat Lady” or “Sophia Loren.” It picked up its intriguing nicknames after the fatter case required to house the movement and newly independent GMT hand. Eventually, the case was slimmed down when ref. 16710 hit the market a few years later.

Now that the hour hands can be adjusted independently, the GMT Master II can essentially be used to read up to three time zones at once. Depending on the year released, it is also available with either an aluminum or ceramic “Cerachrom” bezel insert.

Rolex has since released multiple generations of the GMT Master II. However, they all follow the same general operating instructions.

HOW TO SET THE GMT MASTER II – DATE
Step 1: Unscrew the crown and pull it out to the first position. By rotating the crown, the 12-hour hand will jump backward or forwards in 1-hour increments.

Step 2: Turn the crown until the correct date is displayed in the window at 3 o’clock.

*During this step, it is important to keep AM and PM hours in mind as the date mechanism will only switch over after the 12-hour hand has passed 12 o’clock twice.

TO SET THE TIME
Step 1: Pull the winding crown out to the second position. You will feel a faint click, and the seconds hand will come to a stop.

Step 2: Before you set the time, ensure that the two hour hands are synchronized. Rotate the 24-hour hand until it is pointing to 12 o’clock. If the 12-hour hand is not also pointing at 12 o’clock, repeat the previous step to align both hour hands.

Step 3: Turn the crown until the correct time is displayed on the dial.

*During this step, it is important to note whether your watch is displaying AM or PM hours. To do this, simply reference the 24-hour hand. If it is on the right side of the dial, it is AM. If it is on the left side of the dial, it is PM.

Both hour hands are now displaying the same time, with the 24-hour hand presenting it in a 24-hour format. However, if you wish to use the GMT Master II to read two different time zones, set the 24-hour hand to your secondary time zone and adjust the 12-hour hand forwards or backward until it reads the correct time for your current location.

The local time will then be displayed on the dial via the 12-hour hand, while home time will be displayed on the bezel via the 24-hour hand.

Step 4: Once you set the time and date, push in the crown and screw it back into the case to reestablish the waterproof seal. Do not skip this step, as the movement will not be protected against moisture and dust.

But what about the third time zone, as mentioned above? Since the GMT Master can display two different time zones via just the hands, the bezel is then free to display a third time zone. Simply turn the bezel in either direction to correspond with the number of hours ahead or behind it is of the time zone indicated by the 24-hour hand.

The third time zone can then be read by referencing the 24-hour hand’s position against the 24-hour scale on the bezel.

That’s it. You can now access your GMT Master II to read up to three time zones at once. Do you own a Rolex GMT? Tell us about it in the comment section below, then subscribe to Bob’s Watches to receive notifications for future Rolex videos just like this one.