Has anyone heard of this? Anyone tried it?

In a review of a Sinn GMT it said that the GMT hand has an arrow on it as if you point the hour hand at the sun, the GMT hand will point North.

Only in the Northern Hemisphere apparently.

“ you can use it as a compass, pointing the 12-hour hand at the sun. The 24-hour hand will then point to North.”
I can imagine myself trying to explain to my wife that that’s why I need one.

Heard of it? Yes.

Used it? No (other than to check it works).

Tried to explain it to Mrs nbg? Just went into the garden and tried…

“I know where north is. The sun rises in the east, which is in line with that tree. Therefore north is over there (pointing her secateurs at north, just missing me)”.

At this point I went back inside!

Neil

I believe you can. It would require the GMT hand to be set to the same time, and what happens when the clocks go forward or back?

Amor Vincit Omnia wrote: ↑Mon Apr 07, 2025 5:46 pm I believe you can. It would require the GMT hand to be set to the same time, and what happens when the clocks go forward or back?

I was wondering what the GMT hand should be set to. Not to GMT?
Hold on, I think I see what you mean. So at noon - hour hand would be top at 12 and GMT hand pointed to 6 inner (12 outer) which would be south.

You don’t need a GMT hand at all. On a basic two hand watch hold your wrist flat pointing the hour hand at the sun. South will be located equidistant between the hour hand and the 12 o’clock position on the dial. North will be 180 degrees opposite.

Des

Also… if you find yourself in the hills/mountains with fading light and you want to to know how much daylight you have remaining, place the fingers of your two hands between the bottom of the sun and the ridge line it is set to disappear behind. Each full finger’s width amounts to approximately 15mins of daylight.

Des

But I need a GMT for something.

My wife spends 3 weeks a year in Colorado but she seems to think that’s a poor excuse.

strapline wrote: ↑Mon Apr 07, 2025 7:05 pm You don’t need a GMT hand at all. On a basic two hand watch hold your wrist flat pointing the hour hand at the sun. South will be located equidistant between the hour hand and the 12 o’clock position on the dial. North will be 180 degrees opposite.

Des

Not always Des.

Go outside and try…

Do it now and it is north that is equidistant between the hour and 12.

It is AM and PM dependant.

Neil

@nbg You are absolutely right Neil.

Des

You can use a stick to find North

But this is a watch forum, not a stick forum.

exHowfener wrote: ↑Mon Apr 07, 2025 8:41 pm You can use a stick to find North

But this is a watch forum, not a stick forum.

That’s why neither Des or I mentioned a stick.

Neil

That’s why neither Des or I mentioned a stick.

A fair point, well made.

Personally I use a compass. Oh, wait ...

exHowfener wrote: ↑Mon Apr 07, 2025 9:12 pm

That’s why neither Des or I mentioned a stick.

A fair point, well made.

Personally I use a compass. Oh, wait ...

A compass compass or a compass on your phone…

Neil

I recall learning the methods @strapline noted with the hour and minute hands in Scouting. It was part of the orienteering skills we needed to demonstrate we could apply to advance in rank.

nbg wrote: ↑Mon Apr 07, 2025 9:09 pm

exHowfener wrote: ↑Mon Apr 07, 2025 8:41 pm You can use a stick to find North

But this is a watch forum, not a stick forum.

That’s why neither Des or I mentioned a stick.

Neil

I think he's twigged, Neil.

Des