How to Use the GMT Hand on Your Seiko SSK Watch

Smallseconds Watch Reviews
Jul 30
3 min read

If you’ve recently picked up one of Seiko’s popular SSK GMT models from our store, like the SSK001, SSK003, or the popular SSK035, congrats! You now have one of the most affordable and stylish automatic GMT watches on your wrist. But if you’re scratching your head about how to use that bright-colored fourth hand (the GMT hand), don’t worry, you’re not alone. This is a question we get quite a bit. So in this post, we’ll break down exactly how to use the GMT function to track an extra time zone, and why it’s such a handy feature.

What Is the GMT Hand, Anyway?

The GMT hand on your Seiko SSK is that bold, arrow-tipped hand (usually red, orange, or some other color depending on the model) that circles the dial once every 24 hours, not every 12 like the hour hand. This hand is meant to point to the 24-hour bezel on the watch, allowing you to read a second time zone at a glance.

How the Seiko SSK GMT Works

The Seiko SSK uses a "caller GMT" setup, which means the GMT hand is independently adjustable in one-hour increments. This is perfect for keeping track of the time in a different city or country, like New York while you're in Los Angeles, or Tokyo while you're at home in London. Here’s how you can set and use it:

Tracking an Extra Time Zone

Set your local time

Pull the crown out to the second click.
Adjust the hour and minute hands to show your local time.
Push the crown all the way back in to resume normal timekeeping.

Set the GMT hand to your second time zone

Pull the crown out to the first click.
Turn the crown counter-clockwise to adjust the GMT hand in one-hour jumps.
Align the GMT hand with the appropriate hour on the bezel that matches the second time zone.
For example, if you're in Los Angeles (GMT-8) and want to track London (GMT+0), set the GMT hand 8 hours ahead of your local time.

You’re in NYC, Tracking Time in Tokyo

NYC is GMT-4 (during daylight saving), Tokyo is GMT+9. That’s a 13-hour difference.
Let’s say it’s 8:00 AM in New York.
Set your main hands to 8:00 AM.
Then pull the crown to the first click, and adjust the GMT hand forward 13 hours—so it points to 21 (9 PM) on the 24-hour bezel.
Just like that, you can now read the time in Tokyo.

Why Use a GMT Watch?

The GMT function is super handy if:

You travel frequently and want to keep home time visible.
You do business with people in other time zones.
You have friends or family living overseas.
You just like feeling like James Bond when you glance at your wrist.

Remember the GMT Hand is on a 24-Hour Scale

This means:

6 on the bezel = 6 AM
18 = 6 PM
It helps eliminate confusion between AM and PM in your second time zone.

Seiko hit a home run with the SSK series, offering an automatic GMT watch under $500 with real style and functionality. Learning how to use the GMT hand is part of the fun, but it can be confusing. Hopefully this article was helpful in helping you utilize your new SSK!

Shop the Seiko SSK at our store here