New pics

[GMF]

Here's a couple of stuido shots of my Alpha Explorer II that I have submitted for the banner competition.

[Adam]

Very nice pics, I like #2 the best

[mamas]

Nice.. is the 24 hr hand independantly mobile? maybe its too much to ask for a $30 watch.. but i'm hoping..
mamas

[Haj]

I cannot get over the price of those Alphas. Excellent.

[GMF]

mamas said:

Nice.. is the 24 hr hand independantly mobile? maybe its too much to ask for a $30 watch.. but i'm hoping..
mamas

Yes, it is. Unlike the real Explorer II (and GMT II) where the 12 hour hand is independently adjustable, on the Alpha you can independently set the 24 hour hand. Pull the crown out to the first stop and rotate it clockwise to quickset the date, counterclockwise to adjust the 24 hour hand.

This is such a simple and elegant way to do it I can't help but wonder why Rolex chose the way they did on the 3085 and 3185 movements.

[clifton]

Gary, I'm confused - if the turning the winding crown counter clockwise allows you to adjust the 24hr hand, does that mean it only moves one way?

Also, if the hour hand moves independently of the 24hr hand then does that mean if you are traversing timezones you have to set both the 24hr and the hour hand?

I think the whole point and beauty of the 3185 movement is to allow for quick timezone change +/-. Sounds like on the alpha this is a two step process which invites user error. I think Rolex applies the K.I.S.S (keep it simple stupid) methodology to their movement operations... ;D

[GMF]

Yes, it only moves one way. But adjusting the 24 hour hand doesn't affect the 12 hour hand.

However, if you hack the watch and adjust the time normally, the 24 hour hand gets adjusted also.

Thus, with the 3085/3185 you can cross timezones and quickly adjust the 12 hour hand to the correct time while the 24 hour hand remains set where it was. With the Alpha, you can adjust the 24 hour hand to the new time while the 12 hour hand remains set where it was.

If, however, you use the 24 hour hand to actually indicate GMT (the time in Greenwich, England) and the 12 hour hand to indicate your local time, crossing timezones would require the adjustment of both hands on the Alpha.

[GMF]

One other point about the 24 hour hand on the Alpha: It doesn't adjust in one hour increments. It's adjustable freely just like the minute hand. This means you have to pay attention to get it matched up correctly with the 12 hour hand, which is easy if you adjust it when the time is on the hour or half hour.

For tracking two timezone, where one is just a 1/2 hour off from the other, this feature would come in handy.

[clifton]

So let me get this straight, you have to hack the watch, i.e. stop the seconds, when you change a timezone? One of the main points behind the 3x85 is to be able to adjust timezones with out having to re-sync with an atomic clock.

On the 3x85's, I can adjust the hour hand all day long while the seconds keeps on ticking, thus never losing actual minutes and seconds. To me that is the best part about it.

[clifton]

gmf said:

Thus, with the 3085/3185 you can cross timezones and quickly adjust the 12 hour hand to the correct time while the 24 hour hand remains set where it was. With the Alpha, you can adjust the 24 hour hand to the new time while the 12 hour hand remains set where it was.

Huh?

If the 24hr hand moves with the hour hand how can you maintain and track a second timezone that was already set?

Example:

- 24hr hand is set to GMT
- Hour hand is set to current timezone

You change current timezone on the Alpha ahead by one hour, does that mean the 24hr hand moves ahead an hour, thus losing the GMT TZ it was tracking?

[GMF]

Let me try to illustrate by example. It's 11:20 am right now where I am. Let's suppose I drive west on I40 into Tennessee and I'm wearing my GMT-Master II. When I cross the timezone into central time somewhere between Knoxville and Nashville I can switch the 12 hour hand to 10:20 central time without hacking the watch or affecting the 24 hour hand, which will still show 11:20.

If I'm wearing my Alpha Exp II, I can adjust the 24 hour hand to 10:20 without hacking the watch or affecting the 12 hour hand, which will still show 11:20.

[clifton]

gmf said:

If I'm wearing my Alpha Exp II, I can adjust the 24 hour hand to 10:20 without hacking the watch or affecting the 12 hour hand, which will still show 11:20.

So basicaly it is just the exact oposite of the 3x85 movement then. The 24hr hand is the timezone tracker while the hour is stationary. On a Rolex you adjust the hour hand while the 24hr is stationary. Not really a better mouse trap then, just a reverse spin on the same theme.

[GMF]

Yes. It's just a different approach to the GMT complication. With the 3x85, the 24 hour hand is the fixed dominant timekeeper. It can't be independently adjusted. With the Alpha, the 12 hour hand is the fixed dominant timekeeper. It can't be independently adjusted.