24-hour watch

A 24-hour watch is a wristwatch with an hour hand that completes a revolution every 24 hours. This type of watch is especially useful for airplane pilots, astronauts, members of the military, or anyone who uses a 24-hour clock.

The face may be arranged in either of two ways: with the 12 at the top (as on standard watch and clock faces) and the 24 at the traditional 6 o'clock position, or else rotated 180° with the 24 at the traditional 12 o'clock position and the 12 at the traditional 6 o'clock position (as pictured).

A 24-hour watch with multiple hour hands or a rotating bezel is particularly useful for displaying the time in multiple time zones. Rolex was asked to create what is considered to be the original version of this watch by Pan American Airlines in the 1950s, and as a result they made the Rolex GMT Master II.

A 24 hour watch with a compass card dial can be used to determine direction when set to local noon and used in conjunction with the sun. (See: Direction Finding Watch).

Many (but not all) current digital watches can be set to show the time in 24-hour format.

See also

* 24-hour analog dial
* Direction Finding Watch