A little knowledge about watches: multi-function time zones
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2024-11-30 12:31
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As time has passed, the design of world time zone watches has continuously evolved, gradually incorporating the "dual time" function to allow travelers to track both local time and destination time simultaneously. If there is one watch function that reflects significant breakthroughs in human history since the 17th century, it must be the time zone function.
The Origin of Time Zone Function
The concept of time zones was first introduced by Canadian engineer Sandford Fleming in 1879 and was adopted at the Washington International Conference in 1884. This concept divided the world into 24 time zones, each spanning 15 degrees of longitude, with all times being based on the Greenwich Observatory in London, England. This is what we now call Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). This time division provided a foundation for standardizing time across the globe, and it further advanced the development of watch functions, eventually leading to the creation of world time zone watches.
Ulysse Nardin’s Innovation in Dual Time Watches
In the field of modern high-end watchmaking, Ulysse Nardin is one of the pioneers in dual time zone watch design. Their dual time zone watches feature a unique design where the wearer can adjust the time and date flexibly through buttons located at the 8 o’clock and 10 o’clock positions on the case, making it easier to adapt to different time zones. This design not only meets the needs of those who travel across time zones but also provides a convenient way to set the time. Furthermore, Ulysse Nardin's world time zone watches also feature a time zone ring and city markers, allowing users to easily view the time of different regions by aligning the city name on the world time zone ring.
Dual Time Watches (Dual Time)
Dual time watches, also known as two-time zone watches, can display both local time and the time of another time zone, making them extremely convenient for frequent travelers or business people who cross time zones. The design of dual time zone watches varies widely. Some brands use an independent sub-dial to display the second time zone, while others use the main dial's hands to directly point to the second time zone. There are even designs that display the second time zone time through a digital window. Different brands and designers have introduced various forms of dual time watches based on market demand, catering to the diverse needs of consumers.
For example, Tiffany's CT60 series dual time watch provides a clear display of the second time zone, and the red markers help wearers easily distinguish between day and night, providing more convenience for travelers. In addition to dual time watches, GMT watches are another popular category of watches, primarily used to display the second time zone, especially for airline pilots and business people who frequently travel internationally.
GMT Watches: The Benchmark for Global Time Zone Watches
GMT, originally standing for Greenwich Mean Time, is now commonly used in the watch industry to refer to any watch that has a second time zone display function. The GMT watch was first introduced by Rolex in 1954 to meet the needs of airline pilots, helping them to check the time in their destination while flying across time zones. Today, GMT watches have become a standard feature in many watch brands, using a 24-hour scale to display time accurately and showing both local time and the time of another time zone. They are ideal for global travelers and business people.
Daylight Saving Time (DST) and Time Zone Adjustments
Daylight Saving Time (DST), also known as summer time, is a system implemented to save energy and optimize daylight hours. The concept of DST was first proposed by Benjamin Franklin in the 18th century and was later advocated for by British politician William Willett in 1908. DST works by advancing the standard time by one hour to make the most of long daylight hours. Today, many countries, especially those in Central Europe, still observe DST in the summer. The implementation of DST has further encouraged watch designers to innovate time zone functions to accommodate time adjustments in different regions.
World Time Zone Bezel and City Markers
Many world time zone watches are equipped with a "world time zone bezel," which features the names of representative cities for the 24 time zones around the world. These city names are usually arranged in a clockwise direction, allowing wearers to easily check the corresponding time by aligning the city names on the dial. For example, China is in the East 8th time zone, represented by Hong Kong. With this design, wearers can easily obtain the time for cities around the world.
From GMT to UTC: The Evolution of Time Standards
Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) was once the global standard for time, but due to slight variations in the Earth's rotation, GMT is not entirely accurate. In 1982, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) decided to replace GMT with Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) to account for Earth's rotational irregularities. While UTC has become the new time standard, GMT is still widely used in the watch industry, particularly in watches with time zone functions.
Louis Cottier: The Founder of World Time Zone Watches
Louis Cottier was one of the inventors of the world time zone watch. In 1931, he designed the first watch that could display all 24 time zones. In 1935, Cottier further improved this design by integrating the 24 time zones into a single dial in the "world time zone watch," allowing wearers to check the time for different regions of the world simultaneously. In 1950, Cottier innovated once again by adopting a dual-crown design, making it easier and more stable to adjust time zones, further improving the accuracy and reliability of the watch.
Conclusion: The Future of Time Zone Function Watches
Since their inception, time zone function watches have undergone constant innovation and development. From the basic time zone displays of the early models to the more complex dual time and GMT watches of today, this function has become an essential tool for modern travelers and business people. As globalization continues to advance, watch manufacturers will keep pushing the innovation of time zone functions, offering more accurate, practical, and beautiful timepieces. Whether for global travel or international business, time zone function watches will continue to provide convenience in time management and witness the ongoing progress of human technology and intelligence.
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