The moment of the familiar ritual we carry out on the last Sunday of October is upon us: the seasonal time change is almost here. In 2020, this will happen during the night from the 24th to the 25th.
At three o’clock, we will turn back the clock one hour, bringing Spain to what we call winter time, which will continue until next spring; more precisely, until the last Sunday of March 2021.
This small gesture, implemented decades ago to promote energy savings, conceals a few fun facts that you have probably never heard of before. In this article, we have compiled four for you.
1. The time change is only done in Europe and North America
The clock change is not a universal practice. It only happens in 70 countries around the world. In fact, most countries in Asia, Africa, Oceania and South America do not change their time.
This includes sovereign states such as Russia, China, Japan, India or Argentina, whose populations leave their timepieces undisturbed throughout the year.
On the other hand, in Europe and North America the time change is applied extensively. It also happens in other areas of the globe, such as Chile or Australia.
2. Spain should be in the same time zone as the United Kingdom and Portugal
Due to its geographic location in relation to the Greenwich meridian, from a logical perspective, Spain should be in the same time zone as Portugal and the United Kingdom.
In other words, Lisbon, London and Madrid should have the same time.
In 1940, however, Franco’s regime decided to adopt Central European Time, probably to establish their affinity with Hitler’s Germany. As a result, sunrise and sunset
occur later than they should, if solar time was used as the reference.
3. The time change could be on its last legs
In March of 2019, the European Parliament agreed to delete the clock change in the entire EU starting in 2021. This means that next year, each country shall decide their standard time.
Those who would prefer summer time would adjust their clocks for the last time in the spring, whereas those who would rather stay on winter time will definitely synchronise the time
in October, well into the autumn.
Spain has yet to announce which alternative they prefer, since both options have advantages and disadvantages:
● With summer time, we would enjoy longer afternoons, but we would have to endure several weeks in winter when the sun comes up after nine in the morning.
● With winter time, mornings would start earlier. However, we would have to forego the late sunsets typical of the weeks before and after the summer solstice.
4. The time change, easier with VHP watches by Longines
In occasions such as the approaching time change, it is good to have a watch that makes easier any extremely precise adjustment. This is an aspect that Longines models with VHP technology
observe carefully, down to every detail.
Conquest VHP (Very High Precision) watches by Longines have a smart crown that enables three settings: 1, its normal position; 2, slightly extended to activate the energy-saving mode and adjust
the time; and 0, pushed towards the inside to manage additional GMT options.
How to change the time with Longines’ VHP technology?
In order to change the time in a Conquest VHP watch, follow these steps:
1. Set the crown into position 2 (slightly extended).
2. Turn the crown quickly until the shortest hand gets to the right time. The minute hand will readjust its location automatically.
3. If you want to adjust the time down to the minute, turn the crown slowly. When you are back in position 1, the seconds hand will start working from 12 o’clock.
Would you like to try Longines’ VHP system before –and after– this autumnal time change? Come to the
Relojería Alemana shops in Mallorca and discover the pleasure of
gliding through time with the innovations of this Swiss manufacturer.
