Start into a new clock time at supersonic speed
From the 1940s onwards, flight distances became increasingly longer. The fact that several time zones had to be crossed during this process was particularly challenging for pilots. Pan American Airlines was the first airline to recognise the need to equip its flight crew with watches that could display different time zones simultaneously. In a tender, Rolex won the competition with its design of a special pilot's watch that used a fourth hand to display a second time zone. The Rolex Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) with its classic look from 1954 quickly achieved cult status in the era of transcontinental flights. Although Universal Time (UTC) was introduced in 1972, the familiar Rolex GMT remained.
When the Rolex world showed color...
It wouldn't be a Rolex if the GMT Master II didn't make a splash with its looks as well as its amazing technology. In 2005, the time had come to update the legendary navigation chronometer. At first glance, the GMT Master II looks little different from the original version. The bezel is no longer made of aluminum, but of scratch-resistant (harder than steel!) black ceramic. The numerals are milled with platinum on the stainless steel model, and gold on the gold model. In 2013, the two-tone ceramic bezels in black, blue and green caused a stir at Baselworld. In 2014, the GMT Pepsi appeared on the market in red and blue (on the white gold version). Those who can't live without diamonds will get a particularly glittering model. It's safe to assume that collectors can already look forward to acquiring their colored GMT Master II. HORANDO strives to give its customers access to the most sought-after models when buying watches online.
Rolex GMT Master II - exquisite but not out of touch
Despite all the admiration for its elegant look, the GMT-Master II cannot hide the fact that it remains a functional watch that is not afraid of everyday use. Its wearer certainly does not necessarily have to be a commercial or private aircraft pilot, but a little desire for high-altitude flights can't hurt. Frequent business flyers who feel at home on long-haul flights also appreciate the functionality of the GMT. With a little imagination, you might hear the sonorous hum of starting engines as soon as you fasten the clasp. Even in the 21st century, long-haul flights spanning continents and oceans still mean high tension with a touch of adventure.
The navigating Rolex in focus
Its hallmark: a bezel that can be rotated in both directions with a Cerachrom dial, with 24-hour graduation and a separate 24-hour hand. There is no quicker way to set a new (additional) time zone. The fourth hand with a triangular tip rotates completely across the dial every 24 hours. The normal 12-hour hand is set in one-hour increments, with the minute and second display and the 24-hour hand remaining fixed to the time of the starting point. When set north, the 24-hour hand also functions as a compass, provided both hands are at the exact local time.
