The Future of Payment Options: Left-Handed Magnetic Cards

Finally, left-handed automatic cards have arrived! For far too long, left-handed individuals have been subject to the inconvenience and frustration of using cards designed for right-handed people. But now, with the introduction of left-handed automatic cards, this problem is solved. Left-handed individuals often struggle with products that are predominantly designed for right-handed users. From scissors to can openers, many everyday items can prove to be a challenge for lefties. And when it comes to card games and playing cards, the struggle has been all too real. Traditional playing cards are typically designed with the assumption that users will hold them in their right hand.

I'm not sold on this watch with a suit.

If you re wondering what it feels like, borrow a buddy s GMT-Master II or try to find a Rolex boutique that has not-for-sale sample models; they re expanding this practice in the U. If you re wondering what it feels like, borrow a buddy s GMT-Master II or try to find a Rolex boutique that has not-for-sale sample models; they re expanding this practice in the U.

Traditional playing cards are typically designed with the assumption that users will hold them in their right hand. This can lead to discomfort and awkwardness for left-handed players, as they are forced to hold and manipulate the cards in an unnatural way. This can affect their enjoyment of the game and may even put them at a disadvantage in competitive play.

Hands-On Southpaw Rolex: The Left-Handed GMT Gets It Right

While the new Air-King might be more radical than it first appears, the strange new destro GMT-Master II actually makes perfect sense.

When a new watch comes out, I try to reserve judgment. First impressions are fine and good, and necessary to do what I do for a living – and, hey, once you've held a watch in your own two hands you can go nuts with your opinions – but I don't love how everyone is either in camp it's amazing or camp it's lame before they even see the thing in person.

So I tried to avoid the partisan approach when I first encountered the most talked-about new release at Watches and Wonders, the green-and-black Rolex GMT-Master II ref. 126720VTNR, with the crown and date on the left-hand side. I did finally come to a conclusion by the time I left the Rolex conference room, and I'll share it here, but first I'm going to walk you through how I arrived at a verdict.

When you read a trade show Hands-On story, you're usually reading a finely distilled product. Rarely do we offer any insight as to what it's like in the actual meetings where we spend time with watches. And sometimes the experience of interacting with the brand is just as fascinating as the product.

An appointment with Rolex to see their new watches is similar to that at any other brand, except for one thing: Every detail is buttoned-up. Trade shows are generally chaotic, but Rolex engineers all of the chaos out of the experience. You are seated at a long table. Given water, still or sparkling. And then walked through a formalized presentation about each new piece.

In my case, two Rolex representatives from the U.S. Public Relations and Marketing departments led the presentation, and one Swiss product designer from HQ was on-hand to answer any technical questions. We discussed each release and the U.S. team shared some details, history, and info about updates to the watches. I sat back and just observed until the new GMT-Master II was passed around.

Looking at the watch, I could see a vibrant green on the GMT hand and the same color on the bezel – the exact same green as on the Submariner Date. From here, I developed a loose theory about how Rolex landed on green for this release.

The first Submariner, with a Cerachrom bezel, debuted in 2008 – ref. 116619L, and it was blue. Then, later, the Submariner ref. 116610LN with a black bezel and the Submariner ref. 116610LV with a green bezel came out in 2010. So you have a trinity of ceramic bezels: Black, green, and blue.

Now let's review the progression of the GMT-Master II models with cerachrom bezels. This is the most detailed breakdown on the internet. I'll condense it here.

In 2007, we saw the first all-black cerachrom bezel. In 2013 came the first inclusion of blue. Then blue-and-red and the "root beer" colorway followed. So where could Rolex go from there?

If the GMT-Master II followed the Submariner's color introduction pattern, then heading into this year the only color missing from the lineup would've been green. The clues were there all along. In hindsight this is all obvious.

But you know what's not obvious? The reasoning behind a left-handed configuration, with the crown on the left-hand side of the case and the date aperture at 9 o'clock, instead of at 3 o'clock like any other GMT-Master II (or original GMT-Master).

In Danny's initial coverage of the ref. 126720VTNR he notes that there's historic precedent when it comes to left-handed models from the Rolex factory:

Auction fans will remember that in 2018, during both its Geneva and Hong Kong auctions, Phillips did sell two possibly unique Rolex GMT-Master ref. 6542 models – one in the classic Pepsi configuration, and another in gold with a brown bezel (both without crown guards). But it is highly likely that these were commissioned pieces. In fact, the gold model seems to have been an issued watch. These two vintage lefties did technically establish a destro precedent (one further bolstered by the existence of left-handed Cellini and Submariner models).

All those examples are predated by the most famous Rolex "destro" model of all: The one made for Charlie Chaplin.

Rolex for lefties. I guess it's a real thing now.

I must confess that when I was playing with the new destro GMT, I didn't wear the watch on my right hand. But I did carefully observe how much I noticed the crown on the left-hand side of the case while I was wearing it on my left hand, and the answer is not much at all. I can confidently say that if you wear your watch on your left hand, this will be a non-issue. The crown and crown protectors are stubby enough that it just doesn't matter.

I can also share that I tried using my left hand to cycle through time zones off the wrist, and that did feel strange – both on a physical level and a mental level. If you're a righty, it's just disorienting to set your watch southpaw. It's even stranger when you consider that this is a watch meant for travel, and you'll be utilizing the jumping-hour feature often if you're a road warrior. Using it often also means you'll simply get used to it.

If you're wondering what it feels like, borrow a buddy's GMT-Master II (or try to find a Rolex boutique that has not-for-sale sample models; they're expanding this practice in the U.S.) and flip the watch upside-down on your left wrist. I think you'll see that it doesn't make it any less wearable.

I'm a modern GMT-Master II fan. I've had one for two years and it's my everyday watch. I keep it on my wrist for everything short of working with wet concrete. I'm not precious with it. Why? Because that's how I was introduced to the watch. Not through the modern hype train, but by observing what was on the wrist of figures who pushed boundaries. In an early draft of an article titled The Worst Thing You Can Do To A Rolex GMT-Master II Is Put It In A Safe that I wrote for HODINKEE magazine vol. 9, I expressed my views on the GMT-Master II:

The red-and-blue bezel of the GMT-Master and the GMT-Master II meant adventure; it was tied to science, exploration, and aviation. Beyond Yeager, Scott Crossfield, the experimental test pilot who flew the Bell X-1, wore one. Astronaut Edgar Mitchell put one on for the Apollo 14 mission. Jim Lovell of Gemini 7, Gemini 12, Apollo 8, and Apollo 13 wore one. Astronauts Lloyd Blaine Hammond and Leroy Chiao wore theirs on shuttle missions in the '90s. Pilots – both rotary and fixed wing – wore the watch during the Vietnam War. José López Portillo, former president of Mexico, wore one in meetings with Presidents Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan. The list goes on.

But in a world where they're selling for almost $40,000, there's a real temptation to lock the GMT-Master II away in a safe and deprive it of the adventure it was made for. This, I feel, is a horological tragedy. It contributes to the softening of the watch's ethos, and to the astronomical prices of the hyped-up speculation market.

With this attitude in mind, I took one look at the new GMT on my wrist and immediately imagined myself outside. Green and black feels adventurous. It feels casual. It feels less serious. It feels like it doesn't want to be anywhere near a suit and tie or a cubicle-filled office. And neither do I.

I'm not sold on this watch with a suit.

I'm drawn to the irreverence of the green-and-black bezel paired with the crown and date on the left-hand side of the case. I like that it breaks the typical sacrosanct Rolex formula.

I'm drawn to this watch because it feels like an anomaly. The pragmatist in me doesn't like it, but the collector in me just loves that Rolex came out with a left-handed GMT-Master II. The move is so un-Rolex. Glitches in the matrix are what make life interesting, and this feels like one of them. That said, it would be very much like Rolex to introduce a standard version alongside the destro version in the next few years. After all, the Pelagos LHD from its sister brand Tudor has remained in the catalog alongside the standard Pelagos models since its introduction.

One last note that has nothing to do with left-handedness: If I owned one of these new destros, I would do something sacrilegious. I'd ditch the steel bracelet and throw it on a rubber tropic strap. This feels like the perfect GMT-Master II for that treatment. Put me in camp I like it.

The HODINKEE Shop features a wide array of pre-owned and vintage Rolex watches; explore the collection here. To learn more about the GMT-Master II ref. 126720VTNR, visit the Rolex website.

In Danny's initial coverage of the ref. 126720VTNR he notes that there's historic precedent when it comes to left-handed models from the Rolex factory:

However, with the advent of left-handed automatic cards, these issues are a thing of the past. These cards are specifically designed for left-handed individuals, taking into account their unique needs and preferences. The deck is mirrored, meaning that the number and suit are displayed in reverse order, allowing left-handed users to hold the cards comfortably in their left hand. Not only do left-handed automatic cards provide a more comfortable playing experience, but they also promote inclusivity and equality. By acknowledging and addressing the needs of left-handed individuals, these cards send a powerful message of acceptance and understanding. They make it clear that everyone, regardless of their dominant hand, should be able to enjoy card games and other leisure activities without unnecessary barriers. It is encouraging to see that left-handed automatic cards have finally made their way into the market. This development not only benefits left-handed individuals but also highlights the importance of designing products that accommodate the diverse needs of all users. Hopefully, this will serve as a catalyst for other industries to consider the needs of left-handed individuals and create more inclusive products in the future. In conclusion, the introduction of left-handed automatic cards is a significant milestone for left-handed individuals. It addresses their unique needs and provides a more comfortable and enjoyable playing experience. Furthermore, it serves as a reminder that all individuals, regardless of their dominant hand, deserve equal accessibility and inclusivity in the products they use..

Reviews for "The Role of Left-Handed Magnetic Cards in a Digital Era"

1. John - 1/5 - I was extremely disappointed with "Finally left hznded matic cards". The cards were poorly made and the print quality was terrible. The colors were faded and the images were pixelated. The cardstock used was flimsy and easily bendable. Overall, the product did not meet my expectations and I would not recommend it to others.

2. Sarah - 2/5 - I purchased "Finally left hznded matic cards" hoping for a fun and engaging game. However, I found the game to be confusing and poorly organized. The instructions were unclear and did not provide enough guidance on how to play. Additionally, some of the cards seemed repetitive and there was a lack of variety in the gameplay. I was disappointed with this purchase and found it to be a waste of money.

3. Mike - 2/5 - "Finally left hznded matic cards" fell short of my expectations. The concept seemed interesting, but the execution was poor. The cards were flimsy and easily damaged, making them difficult to shuffle or handle. Furthermore, the game lacked depth and strategy, leading to repetitive and uninteresting gameplay. Overall, I was not satisfied with this product and would not purchase it again.

Left-Handed Magnetic Cards: A Game Changer for Retailers