Many of us are getting back to a life of travel, whether for work or for pleasure, and travel feels sweeter after some time away. But if you have time zone issues like I do, your confusion may have gotten worse by staying stuck in one time zone for about two years. When I pick up the phone to call or text a friend, family member, or colleague, I’m sure to wake someone up because I forgot that, yes, New York is actually earlier than San Francisco, or that my report about my amazing dinner in Switzerland will hit someone’s inbox just as they’re starting to get hungry after lunch at the office. This is one of a dozen reasons (some more practical) why I dream of having Greenwich Mean Time.
So that you’re not as embarrassed as I was when I realized my mistake, this weekend’s edition is dedicated to a basic GMT 101 course, from how to tell which GMT you’re holding and how to read it, to insightful academic research and personal stories that help explain why GMT is so appealing. Happy time zones!
When you first encounter a GMT or any travel swiss replica watches, it’s helpful to know what type of timepiece you’re using and how to use it. Sometimes a little research goes a long way; other times, a little experimentation with the watch will reveal the problem. This story will help you understand the myriad of travel schedules you may have to deal with so that you can use them to their full potential.
Once you have the GMT hanging in your hand (or on your wish list), you may wonder about the watch’s origins. Rather than digging into a philosophical and historical deep dive into the concept of time zones, I suggest reading an equally thorough article on the history of the Rolex GMT-Master. I think it’s hard to argue that any other watch is more closely tied to the concept of travel. The fact that we can just say “GMT” to refer to almost any travel time watch is a testament to that. So if there is one watch that deserves to have every reference at our fingertips, I think it is the GMT.
I admit that a not insignificant part of my dream of owning a Rolex GMT comes from this story by Jason Heaton. Cole Pennington reminds me almost every month of the one thing he thinks I have in common with the man in this story – a spirit of adventure, a connection to National Geographic, and the fact that I see buying a watch as a lifelong commitment. I think this is one of the greatest HODINKEE stories in history, and it perfectly encapsulates why the GMT is a watch with a strong emotional appeal.
Maybe the Rolex GMT is a little too expensive, or like many people, you find yourself unable to stomach the waiting list that comes with wanting one of the tightest cheap replica watches on the market. Since James Stacey’s story about the Tudor Black Bay GMT, there have been more options on the market, including the Tudor. But James’ story about this particular watch will long prove that the Black Bay GMT is not “settling” for a lesser watch, but is a fantastic alternative altogether.
Perhaps you’ve been lucky enough to own a GMT, whether you bought it yourself or got it as an heirloom from a family member. Eventually, you may realize that the price of a good GMT, especially of the Rolex variety, has become increasingly impossible to ignore. What’s a person to do? Danny Milton has wrestled with this very issue, and I recommend reading and heeding his advice.
In the course of our conversation, I realized that even though his GMT was much more worn than mine – battered, faded, barely holding up the elongated studded strap – it was definitely the more popular of the two. I was jealous. Not jealous of his watch, but jealous of him.