If you never seem to find yourself in one place for long, you need a world time watch. Especially if you’re globetrotting from one time zone to another.
That’s not all it’s great for, though. With Zoom meetings the new norm ever since the pandemic hit us, we’re in touch with people across the globe more than ever before. Why else do so many offices have multiple clocks displaying different time zones?
Here’s a quick rundown of how to read world time watches and the best world time watches out there right now.
What Makes World Time Watches So Special?
You can keep track of different time zones, great. A GMT does just that as well, so what?
Let’s just say that a World time watch is arguably one of the most useful watch complications out there.
What makes them stand out of the crowd, you ask? Well, it’s the power to display the time in all 24 primary time zones simultaneously. Yep, emphasis on the simultaneously, please.
This nifty feature was dreamt up in the early 1930s by Swiss watchmaker Louis Cottier, and it’s making rounds in the horology industry since. Unlike GMT watches that track just two time zones, world time watches offer a complete panoramic view of global time.
How to Read a World Time Watch
Reading a world time watch might seem daunting at first, but it’s actually a piece of cake. Here’s a quick guide to get you started:
- Locate Your Home Time Zone: Find your home city on the outer ring of the watch
- Set the Local Time: Use the crown to adjust the local time on the main dial
- Align the City Ring: Rotate the city ring until your home city aligns with the local time
- Read the Time Zones: Voila! The outer ring now displays the correct time in all 24 time zones
A Parade of the Best World Time Watches
1. Patek Philippe Ref. 5231G
This self-winding mechanical movement is probably one of the most sought-after world timers out there right now and it’s quite obvious why. It’s rendered in 18k white gold and features the stunning grand feu cloisonné enamel dial that depicts the Asia Pacific in vivid colours.
2. Richard Mille RM 63-02 World Timer
Okay when we say this watch is an absolute stunner, we mean it. Richard Mille’s innovative spirit shines through in this watch, with its complex mechanism allowing the user to set local time by rotating the bezel.
The Richard Mille RM 63-02 World Timer features satin-brushed and polished grade-5 titanium. The blue and white disk also distinguishes between day and night time hours which is just another reason to love this piece.
3. Ball Watch Engineer Master II Diver Worldtimer
If you’ve been on the hunt for a user-friendly world timer that can accompany you on your diving adventures, we’re happy to tell you that your search ends here.
The Master II Diver Worldtimer hosts a dive scale as well as a ring of 24 cities, allowing you to keep track of times across the globe in style. It also has micro gas tubes filled with tritium, which gives it an incredible luminescence.
4. Christopher Ward C1 Worldglow
Okay, this has to be our favourite and do we even need to explain to you why? It’s a dress watch but its luminescence also makes it hard to believe something of such marvel can actually exist.
It’s the perfect time watch and is a breath of fresh air from your typical sports watch and we think we’ve come to really appreciate that. If you’re, for some reason, unable to travel, you can vicariously live through the C1 Worldglow.
World Time Watches: Still Relevant Today?
Folks, if you were to ask us whether or not a world time watch is relevant in today’s day and age, where you could simply pick up your phone: we’d have to say yes.
It’s taken the world several thousands of years to decide on a universal time standard and a couple more to perfect these marvels. Not only are they relevant even today, they’re also a fantastical part of history. The history of a son born to a watchmaker committed to carrying forth his father’s legacy.
Sure, you may not need world time watches to tell you what time it is in Australia while you’re in America. The craftsmanship and genius behind the concept, however, are just as exciting as they were in the 30s. Lovelies, we’d encourage you to browse our collection of preloved, gently used luxury watches at Love Luxury. Especially if you’re just as excited about horology as we are. We’re sure you’ll find something that lights you up inside, just like the C1 Worldglow.