7 - GMT and Dual Time Complications

The 1970s was a decade of innovation in watchmaking, and one of the most significant developments was the introduction of GMT and dual time complications. These features catered to the needs of an increasingly globalized world, allowing travelers and professionals to keep track of multiple time zones with ease. This chapter explores the development and popularity of GMT and dual time complications, the practical benefits they offered, and the iconic models that exemplified this trend.

Introduction of GMT and Dual Time Complications

The concept of a watch that could display multiple time zones was not entirely new in the 1970s, but it was during this decade that GMT and dual time complications became more widely adopted and refined. The development of these features was driven by the growing demand from travelers, pilots, and business professionals who needed to keep track of different time zones.

GMT, or Greenwich Mean Time, is the time standard from which all other time zones are calculated. A GMT watch typically features an additional hour hand that can be set independently to display a second time zone. Dual time watches, on the other hand, often have two separate dials or displays, each showing a different time zone.

Practical Benefits of GMT and Dual Time Complications

The practical benefits of GMT and dual time complications were immediately apparent to travellers and professionals who needed to coordinate activities across different time zones. These features allowed users to easily track local time and the time in another part of the world, making it easier to schedule meetings, flights, and other activities.

For pilots and frequent travellers, a GMT watch provided a convenient way to keep track of home time while adjusting to different time zones during their journeys. Business professionals who worked with international clients and colleagues found dual time watches particularly useful for managing their schedules and staying connected across borders.

Iconic Watches with GMT and Dual Time Complications

Rolex GMT-Master

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Several iconic watches from the 1970s exemplify the trend of GMT and dual time complications. One of the most notable examples is the Rolex GMT-Master, which was originally introduced in the 1950s but saw significant advancements and popularity during the 1970s. The GMT-Master featured a distinctive rotating bezel with 24-hour markings, allowing users to easily track a second time zone. Its robust design and practical functionality made it a favorite among pilots and travelers.

Seiko World Time

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Introduced in the late 1960s and continuing into the 1970s, is another example of a watch with dual time capabilities. The Seiko World Time featured a unique dial design with a world map and a rotating bezel that displayed the time in various cities. This innovative design combined practicality with visual appeal, capturing the adventurous spirit of the era.

Heuer Chronosplit Manhattan

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Heuer pioneered electronic timing for the world’s leading racing teams, and this same type of technology soon made its way into chronographs. The 1975 Chronosplit appeared as a friendly robot, with its dual displays for the time and chronograph functions. The Heuer Chronosplit Manhattan was far more radical, its six-sided case housing both analog and digital displays. These new chronographs faced huge challenges, however, from difficult exchange rates between the Swiss Franc and the U.S. Dollar and from newly-developed quartz watches from Japan.

GMT and Worldtimers

The GMT complication has a particular significance at Tessé watches as this was the first complication we wanted to work with. I had a great connection with my grandfather Michel.

Upon relocating from France to Canada, I often found myself pondering the time difference as I contemplated when was a good time to call my grandparents.

One of my personal favourite watch that I wear on a daily basis is the Tissot Navigator Worldtimer 160th anniversary edition, based on a model from the 50's.

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While the Rolex GMT Master is arguably the best-known of all wristwatches to emerge from this era, other manufactures raced to develop a wristwatch that did more than just indicate a second time zone with a fixed 24-hour hand. These wristwatches employed rotating discs that displayed the world’s timezones, with names of major cities to represent each region.

This watch is for me thee most elegant iteration of a world timer.

The Tissot Navigator World Time debuted in 1953, a year before the GMT Master. Tissot produced the Navigator throughout the 1960s, shifting from a pusher-operated system to one with a rotating inner bezel.

Unfortunately, my grandfather passed away in 2020. During the initial stages of developing this model, the choice of a GMT complication felt natural—a meaningful tribute to the shared moments and distances that set us apart.