With the GMT-Master II 116710 through the timezones

[Prof. Rolex]

Dear Rolex-Fans,
in December I was on a business trip in Jakarta/Indonesia and and it was the first time that my GMT-Master II 116710 accompanied me and had to prove her functionality under real conditions.

The flight to Jakarta had a stopover of several hours in Abu Dhabi and the 116710 was set as follows:



Coming from the hometime the hour-hand was set 6 hours forward and the bezel turned 3 hours to the left. So the watch shows the localtime of Jakarta (13.43) und the time in Abu Dhabi can be read on the bezel through the 24h-hand with 10.43. The hometime can be read with this bezelposition only “imaginary” through the 24h-hand and an “imaginary” fixed 24h-scale with 7.43.

In case the GMT-Master II would really have a second and fixed 24h-scale (e.g. printed on the dial) the reading of the hometime would also be directly possible with the bezel not being in the „neutral“ position. The practical operation of the GMT-Master II would be improved by such a second and fixed scale, as the reading of a third timezone (which then would always be the hometime) would then be “real” and no longer “imaginary”.

The setting of the bezel compared to the “old” models is much more easier, as only the „clicks“ must be counted and the fineadjusting of the bezel is no longer necessary. But the price to pay for this is the lack of setting the 116710 to uneven timezones (e.g. India).

The backflight from Jakarta was again including a stopover in Abu Dhai, but this time a stay overnight was necessary. The setting of the 116710 was therefore changed as follows:



Coming from the „Jakarta-setting“ the hour-hand was now set 3 hours back and the bezel was set another 3 hours (3 „clicks“) to the left. Now the watch shows the localtime in Abu Dhabi (7.21) and the time in Jakarta can be read on the bezel through the 24h-hand with 10.21. The hometime can be read with this bezel-setting once again only “imaginary” with 4.21.

The time until the plane takes off again in Abu Dhabi was taken for a visit to the Hotel Emirates Palace. The bezel of the 116710 was set back to the neutral position, as the time in Jakarta was no longer of interest, but finally once again the hometime:



The localtime can be read with 9.33 and now the hometime is no longer „imaginary“ but real readable through the 24h-hand and the bezel in neutral position with 6.33.

For coming to an end, please find following some views from the Emirates Palace without the “disturbing” watch:





Best Regards
Matthias

[jholbrook]

Most excellent photos Mathias....thanks so much for sharing!!

[PCS]

More photos, please!

[Hannibal]

Excellent photos, but I don`t feel, that the watch is disturbing
Kind regards
Volker

[steve73]

Nice Story!
I want to see more pics!!!
I love the 116710!

[Prof. Rolex]

You want to see more pictures of my 116710? Here you go:

The 116710 in Switzerland (in the background the Eiger-Northface):



The 116710 on the Schilthorn (better known to James Bond fans as Piz Gloria):


The complete set:


And a comparison between the 116710 and my “good old” 16750:




And another comparison between the 116710 and my Date 15210, which shows the special optic quality of the 116710-cyclope with less reflections:




Best Regards
Matthias

[PCS]

Original von Prof. Rolex

And a comparison between the 116710 and my “good old” 16750:

The old one looks so small......

[jholbrook]

Wow...this the first I've heard that the magnifier on the new GMTs have special optical qualities...any further information?

[Hannibal]

Very interesting comparative photos. The magnifier seems to have less reflections (perhaps coating?).
Kind regards
Volker

[trk1969]

wow, i haven´t seen a picture of a new GMT next to an old GMT yet.

i didn´t know it´s that big! now i know what my next rolex is going to be since i still think my submariner is too small and thin for me (being used to huge breitling chronos).

what´s the diameter? 42mm??

thanks a lot for sharing those pictures!

rene

[Prof. Rolex]

Original von trk1969
wow, i haven´t seen a picture of a new GMT next to an old GMT yet.

what´s the diameter? 42mm??

rene

Even if the 116710 looks bigger than the 16750, both watches have a diameter of 40 mm!

Please have also a look to Hannes thread from today (“36mm is not equal 36 mm”) where you can see three Rolex with a diameter of 36mm, but it seems that all three watches have a different diameter.

Regards
Matthias

[NicoH]

Original von jholbrook
Wow...this the first I've heard that the magnifier on the new GMTs have special optical qualities...any further information?

AFAIK it´s a simple anti-reflective coating.