The Bezel-Beauty or Function?

[jimbo1mcm]

Okay, time to fess up. How many of us actually rotate or even use the bezel on our fancy watches? I occasionally look at the GMT IIC bezel to see the time in Paris where my daughter lives, but I could just as easily add 6 hours in my head. And, I never rotate the bezel. I wonder how many submariner owners ever use the bezel features or Daytona owners. I do like the look of the numbers on the submariner bezel, but I could be just as happy with the numeric hours printed on the bezel on that or any watch.

[jas55]

I guess it's there too use if you need it, and they do look cool

[Subexplorer]

Hi Jimbo! I completely understand your point of view.

But fact is that, in my humble opinion, most Rolex (or in general, watch fanciers) owners buy thier watches because they like the design, and not for its original intended use (me included).

Personally, I´m a sport scuba diver, and have used my Submariner as intended, moving its bezel when submerging, in order to time my dive.
Though presently U/W computers take care of this automatically, I´ve been diving since the early 60´s and can´t stop my old custom of using my dive watch And using the computer too.

But anyway, I own some other watches, like a Daytona, or Breitling Chronomat, because I just liked the watch design, and almost never use the chronos feature, except to time a boiled egg or just to admire and amuse myself with its precise running of the different sub dials from time to time.

I feel that if it were possible to read some sales stadistics, we could see that very few of Submariner and GMT owners, are actually divers or Pilots, but this doesn´t mean that all of them appreciate a great watch in their wrist.

By the way, my daughter has been living in Paris since 2003, up to December 2008, and has just returned back to my Country to establish here again.
I also added the 3 or 4 hour difference in my head everytime I thought about her and my little grand daughter!
Great place Paris! I had the opportunity to visit there several times in the last 5 years, and got to know this most beautiful City and France pretty well thanks to my daughter and son in law. But nice to have my daughter again back here!!

Best cordial regards, Abel

[Xenophon]

I use the bezel on my sub to mark dive times when I go scuba diving and to mark competition start times when spearfishing. It's not too easy to turn when wearing 5mm neoprene gloves though. Nor does just having the first 15 minutes graduated make working out decompression stops easy.

[padi56]

Well used mine both with SD and Sub what they were intended for diving etc. But would seriously doubt today.,if 10%-15% of all Rolex sports watches bought are used for what they were intended for.

[jeangtd]

I find it's easier for me too look at the bezel in my explorer II or Gmt master for the second time zone as I am always changing between +30 minutes or +2 hours and +6 hours, I do use the second time zone, it's easier than taking out my cell phone out of the pocket, and I get to look at a beautiful dial and in the gmt's case, dial and bezel. I also time things like "I'll call you back in 15" and such with the bezel on my sub when I wear it. AND I AM NOT KIDDING.

[Dan Pierce]

I use the rotating bezel daily. From timing parking meters, cooking time, and checking delivery times to dealing with clients and vendors across the globe. The best feature of any Rolex or any watch for that matter.
Here's a pic of my GMT showing both local and Guam time while working from my home office.
dP

[Lamone]

I use the bezel of my GMT's all the time. I use it mostly to time different events throughout the day/night.

[Trurolexer]

BOTH!!! Beauty & function.

[landroverking]

I use both the GMT and Daytona as intended. When I fly I rotate the bezel to GMT.

[Rolexitis]

I use the bezel on my Sub date for timing parking meters when I'm on sales calls....

[pricojorge]

i use my sub's bezel for when something should be done, like maybe 2 hours from now, or 10 minutes

[rajurama]

well till date havnt used the bezel function... so im one of those admirers of beauty ;)

[JJ Irani]

All 3 of my Rolex watches have bezels - never use them!!

JJ

[touchdowntodd]

never used it.. well i lie, did for a few hours once

[Gasoil4ever]

No i don't but i bought the GMT II cause i loved it, and cause i new it would be helpful in my new job as i go often to Japan

[scottjal]

I use my GMT bezel for timers all the time or a short trip to another zone when I don't want to just unscrew the crown to update the local time. I kinda wish it had the old 60 position detent like the 16710 did for timer function though.

[Omega_Precision]

I use my bezel on my dive watch for:

Billable time for to clients when we meet.

Billing clients for phone conversation.

Parking meter.

Lunch-hour.

If I have anything to do....

[Deep Sea]

Use them all the time for cooking, or generally marking the start or stop time for something.

Use them as backup when scuba diving, but not as the primary dive timer.

[BigHat]

Like others, nothing aside from timing something on the grill or in the oven with the Sub. Have played with the GMT-IIC bezel a bit, but to me it's a two TZ watch, so usually as a less precise kitchen timer too. No practical use for the Daytona bezel so considered it a distraction until I flipped it.

[mixedccr]

Ironically in the realms of technical diving where double redundancy systems are the norm, i had only 1 'tool' keeping time and that was my SD. After a certain depth, dive computers are outside their spec, even the fancy 'nitrox' and decompression programmable ones. Tables are actually 'cut' using software and this information laminated or written on a slate. Leaving the only other gauge, the depth gauge. So a lot of bezel turning marking decompression stops, up to 20 stops at times.
At work, its used as a surrogate elapse timer as other folks have mentioned previously.

[Singslinger]

I use the bezel on my Subs to mark out the time when running/jogging but hardly ever use the bezel on the Daytona or GMT.

[kokota]

I use the bezel on my DateJust TOG to time parking meters or while cooking. I can't say the same for my Daytona. I don't think I've ever used it for anything.

[rickyslam]

I use the bezel on my sub to keep track of my breaks and lunches at work =)

[jasper]

I've been an ex-pat for the last year, and my GMT bezel has been permanently tuned to my old home time so I can keep up with my Mom. Yes I could do the math, but I don't have to because I have GMT.

I'm thinking I'll need a Sub when I get back home though, so I can use the bezel to gauge elapsed time. Right now I have to look at the time when I put my food in the oven and then calculate *and remember* what time it will be 20 minutes later when the food is finished. That's a bit too complicated.

I suppose I could use the chrono function on my Speedy Pro, but that would keep me from buying another Rolex.

In other words - yes the rotating bezel is a functional device. You simply have to choose to use it. Make your life easy, no one else is going to do it for you.

[Lion]

Yes, I have used the bezel on my GMT to set it to another time zone. But i have to admit, I like the way it looks and appreciate it's two toned color!!!

[Perdu]

I use the bezel on my Sub all the time. I have rotten ADD and it reminds me of appointments, when to call people back and a host of other things. I find the Sub bezel really helpful. I use the GMT bezel in the same way but the Sub bezel is easier.

[you've come so far]

I've turned it 3 times in 8 months