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International Timepiece
What kinds of watches display multiple time zones?
Literally, any kind of watch may be available in a multiple time zone option. These range from cheap digital watches to a top-of-the-range luxury timepiece like the Rolex Oyster GMT-Master II. Many people use the multiple time zone feature when traveling; others just like to have it for reference.
A Swiss timepiece such as a Patek Philippe is a perfect example of the way a superior watchmaker can incorporate a multiple time zones feature onto their timepiece; international travelers and collectors alike value this watch for its precision and simple beauty. Obviously, though, it’s not necessary to spend $50,000 to get a personal strapless timepiece that keeps track of multiple time zones at the same time. This technology is available throughout the market.
 
Why get a watch with multiple time zones?
For many people, a watch with multiple time zones is not a luxury timepiece, but an absolute necessity. International business travelers find the convenience of multiple time zones a boon – seeing at a glance what time it is in the country to which they will be flying. If you regularly commute between time zones, whether domestically or between countries, multiple time zones are a great laborsaving function. Using such a timepiece, international travel becomes that little bit easier – no fiddling about adjusting your watch when you land.
Nor do you have to actually be traveling to take advantage of such features – using a watch with multiple time zones saves doing the math when considering whether it’s too early to call the office in Japan or not. If you have family in a different time zone – perhaps a sister two hours behind, or a daughter traveling around Europe? – a watch with multiple time zones is a simple way of checking what time it is with them.
Many people who like watches with multiple time zones don’t require them for practical reasons, though. They simply enjoy the extra function that such a timepiece provides, particularly as a talking point. With many luxury timepieces, the allure of multiple time zones is a small but telling addition to the list of creative features on the watch.
What are some creative features to look for?
There are a number of different ways of displaying multiple time zones on a personal strapless timepiece, and which one you prefer really depends on your own tastes. Many watches use a rotating bezel which can be set to whichever time zone you prefer, and an additional hour hand which points to the time within that second time zone. Other watches work on a similar principle, but employ a rotating bezel inscribed with the names of world cities, allowing the user to quickly locate the time in a particular location.
Another common variation is to have a second time indicated on a small secondary “sub dial” somewhere on the watch face – a miniature clock face which you can set to your home time zone when traveling, for example.
An increasingly popular choice is the moon phase timepiece. Such watches have a slowly changing moon phase display that keeps you in touch with the skies, even when the clouds make observation of the moon impossible.
What are some top brands?
One of the finest luxury timepiece makers is Rolex. Their Oyster GMT-Master II (http://www.rolex.com/en/collections/oyster/fich_gmt.html) is simply one of the finest masterpieces of chronometry that is available, with an independently adjustable 12-hour hand that allows you to keep track of the time in any two different time zones. Like all Rolex watches, it is rugged and practical, as well as being beautiful to look at.
In a similar vein is the Patek Philippe World Timer (http://www.timeofswitzerland.com/details.cfm?a=4&x=Patek%20
Philippe&b=World%20Timer&m=5110&id=4034), which displays the names of 24 world cities and countries around its 18 carat gold case. It’s another beautiful Swiss timepiece for those who can afford its elegance and precision. Finally, in a slightly more affordable price bracket sits the Bulova Men’s Moon Phase Watch (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000G1YWKC/nextag-watches-20/ref=nosim), a handsome stainless steel quartz timepiece.
Where can you find them online?
There are many excellent websites that offer a range of watches from the everyday to the luxury timepiece, and which one you choose will depend to an extent on your location and your particular needs. If you are looking for a top quality Swiss timepiece, you may wish to go directly to the company’s website in the first instance (all have English versions of their sites). This will ensure that you get a genuine luxury timepiece and not an imitation!
An excellent general website is http://www.watchesplanet.com/ which offers watches from all over the world, from Japanese digital watches to top quality European watches from makers such as Cartier and Tissot.
Another similar website which offers a great deal of choice, including many watches with multiple time zone functions, is http://www.orolus.com/ which delivers via FedEx and UPS to locations worldwide. Finally, the USA Watch Company (http://www.usawatchco.com/) has a range of international timepieces, as well as a glossary of frequently used watch terms.
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