In Western countries, it is standard for leaders to choose somewhat modest clothing and understated jewelry and accessories, if any. One accessory that politicians do tend to wear are watches, and some models have been noted to crop up time and time again.
So much so, that the Rolex Day-Date has been dubbed as the 'President’s Watch', as it is one of the most popular watches worn by US presidents.
Whereas some presidential watches have been worn for convenience purposes, other presidents have been known to be watch aficionados. In some cases, the watches that Presidents have been gifted and which watches they have chosen to wear or not, have proven to be controversial.
Watches Worn By US Presidents
1. George Washington
The first United States President was known for his love of pocket watches.
In fact, he is believed to have owned at least three: a pocket watch by an unknown brand, a Jean-Antoine Lépine pocket watch (a maker whose watches currently fetch about $11,000), and lastly a James McCabe pocket watch (a maker whose watches can be had for around $1,500 at auction).
2. Thomas Jefferson
The third President also wore a pocket watch, this time made by Daniel Vaucher (a maker whose watches fetch about $5,000 when they come up at auction). Jefferson later handed this watch over to James Monroe, fifth President of the United States.
3. Dwight D. Eisenhower
Fast forwarding to the thirty-fourth President, Eisenhower owned several luxury watches:
- 1940s steel Heuer chronograph (that currently fetches about $6,300 in the secondary market)
- Gold Rolex Datejust that was a gift from the company (which might fetch anywhere from $5,000 to $20,000 today)
- Vulcain Cricket (which goes for anywhere from $300 to $1,500 in today's market)
- Custom Hamilton watch that featured the faces of his family on the dial (non-custom Hamiltons from that era now fetch about $300 to $1,500). Eisenhower is believed to have been the first President to have owned a Rolex.
During his presidency, he mostly wore the Swiss-made brand Vulcain Cricket. The story goes that Eisenhower wore this very watch during a press conference in which he announced new tariffs on Swiss-made watches.
The alarm on the watch went off during this conference and the sound was known to be specific to Vulcain watches, which on some level highlighted the hypocrisy of the tariff.
4. John F. Kennedy
Eisenhower’s successor, John F. Kennedy, also had somewhat of a collection of watches.
Kennedy owned a Rolex, which was an engraved watch gifted to him by none other than Marilyn Monroe, as well as a Cartier watch, a gold Bulova on a stretch bracelet (which sold at auction for over $25,000 in 2013), an Omega, and a 57-jewel, 14K yellow gold Nastrix, which brought $120,000 when it came up for auction in 2009.
Kennedy’s most famous watch was an Omega timepiece, partly because it was gifted to him by his friend Grant Stockdale who had the watch engraved with the words 'President of the United States | John F. Kennedy | From his friend Grant' before the election had even taken place.
Kennedy subsequently wore the watch to his Presidential inauguration. The watch was bought by Omega in 2005 for $350,000 and Omega released a commemorative reissue of the model.
Kennedy is said to have never worn the gold Rolex that was gifted to him by Marilyn Monroe for his birthday in 1962, and allegedly told the aide who gave it to him to 'get rid of it'. But when the watch came up for auction in 2005, it went for over $100,000 and is currently owned by a private collector.
He is, however, believed to have been wearing his Cartier watch that was gifted to him by his wife Jackie on the day that he was assassinated.
5. Lyndon B. Johnson
Johnson’s most famous watch was his Patek Philippe 'Golden Rule,' which featured the words 'Do Unto Others As You Would Have Them Do Unto You' on the dial (a model that fetched $33,550 the last time it came up at auction).
Johnson also owned a Hamilton Pacer (which currently brings anywhere from $800 to $1,500 in today's secondary market), a Vulcain Cricket and a Rolex Day-Date.
6. Richard Nixon
President Nixon was another leader who adored the Vulcain Cricket model. So much so, that when Nixon was offered a limited edition Omega Speedmaster following the first moon landing, he turned the offer down.
7. Ronald Reagan
Reagan is known to have been gifted a Vulcain Cricket but was mainly seen wearing his Rolex Datejust (a watch that now runs from about $7,000 to $17,000 new depending on bracelet, dial, and bezel choices).
Reagan also owned a Colibri watch which was bought at auction by a subsequent U.S. politician (see #10).
8. Bill Clinton
During his presidency Clinton was most often seen wearing a Timex Ironman timepiece (currently priced $29 and up at Walmart). Clinton’s watch collection has expanded considerably since he left office in 2001, including but not limited to:
- The Luminor 1950 Panerai PAM89
- A Franck Muller
- A Roger Dubuis MuchMore
- A gold Ballon Bleu de Cartier
- A Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Compressor Diving Alarm Navy SEALs
- As well as several Audemars Piguet models
9. Barack Obama
Obama’s watches of choice during his presidency were the Jorg Gray chronograph (a watch that currently sells for $295 to $395 new), and a TAG Heuer Series 1500 Two-Tone Diver watch (a quartz movement watch that sells for around $400 to $650 on the secondary market).
There was also his Highgear Enduro (a digital watch), which he wore mostly during sporting activities. Obama was also gifted a Vulcain timepiece by the brand itself.
10. Donald Trump
President Donald Trump’s watch choices are a little more extravagant than his predecessor’s. On the night of his inauguration, Trump sported a pink gold Vacheron Constantin Historiques Ultra-Fine 1968 (a watch that currently sells for about $25,000 on the secondary market).
Trump also owns an 18K yellow gold Rolex Day-Date (a model that starts at about $29,000 new and goes way, way up), a Patek Philippe Ellipse in yellow gold with a blue dial (a watch that currently sells for about $8,000 on the secondary market).
He also placed the winning bid of $7,000 for Ronald Reagan’s Colibri to benefit Alzheimer's research at a charity auction in 1999.
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