Do Pilots Nowadays Wear the Rolex GMT?

[sea-dweller]

I've seen a few 1675/16710/16750's on international flight crews, namely on Cathay and British Airways flights.


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[shedlock2000]

The man who taught me to fly wore one right up until this year when he was mugged in Chile (or some such similar South American local -- he was travelling, and I can't remember exactly where it happened). Up until then, he wore the watch I now have: a GMT Root beer on a jubilee. His was a 1675/3 and mine is a 16753 -- but close enough.

I wonder if my grail was inspired by knowing and respecting the man since I was a small child (my second job was for him at his video shop when I was 13!); I always lusted after his Rolex -- but I disliked the matt dial and nipple markers (thus my grail became the two tone dial with larger markers).

I still hang out with the guy from time to time, but being in a different country I don't get to see him much these days. When I found out he'd lost his Rolie (bought new) he was wearing a god awful vintage omega! (I am certain that it's a beautiful piece, but it's not my kinda thing). He made no exclamations about replacing the GMT, but he's also retired (still flies Austers, though).

Addendum: Having flown over the pond 6 times and 10 flights in Europe this year, I have only seen one flight crew member with a Rolex (and I look). The gentleman was wearing a 16710 GMT coke; he complimented me on my Sub C and asked if I was a diver, which I am not -- but then, I am not a commercial pilot either but I do rock a GMT!!

[Danny83]

I have seen a few in Mexico

[pa30crewchief]

I do (Airline Transport Pilot and frequent business traveler).

I love the GMT complication and have a couple of 16710s, a 116710 BLNR and an Explorer II. Next will be a 116753 Root beer :-)


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[mailman]

Originally Posted by theflywrist

Haha thanks Dave!
We most certainly do!!
I must admit, I have been wearing my subs/divers a lot lately though..
In case I want to sky dive!



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Your divers are just beautiful but this one right here...

[beshannon]

Originally Posted by Davidloverolex

Do airline pilots of today actually wear this "pilot" watch? Do they wear a pilot watch at all for that matter? Do they wear IWC, Breitling, Zenith, etc.? Or do they just wear a typical watch like most people?

Ask them?

[robbiemarcelo2]

Originally Posted by Davidloverolex

Do airline pilots of today actually wear this "pilot" watch? Do they wear a pilot watch at all for that matter? Do they wear IWC, Breitling, Zenith, etc.? Or do they just wear a typical watch like most people?

I was on a United Airlines flight through the South Pacific Island hopper from Guam and co-pilot was wearing a Rolex GMT2c 116710LN, the captain was wearing Breitling Chrono (not a Navitimer though) . So I guess they still do.

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[Volatile Agent]

I wear a 17610 when flying my plane. I'm only a Doctor Pilot though.

[JP(Canada)]

I only play a pilot on TV, but I wear a Navitmer ;-)

[Nsx_23]

I see mostly Breitlings. Tends to be the cabin crew who wear GMTs (actually more cabin crew wear rolexes than pilots).

These days you have the time everywhere in the cockpit, but having a gmt watch does make reading notams, tafs, etc much easier lol.

[SeaAndSky]

I do.
IMG_0246

[sechsgang]

My pilot friends seem to have sea dwellers and explorer 2s.

[tpetra87]

Yes!

[masyv6]

Some? Yes.

[nobbylon]

I did my complete 22 year flying career wearing my Submariner. Only 3 friends that I flew with had gmt's. A few had breitlings but most wore casio or seiko. I never used it for anything other than telling the time.