Who was the last President to wear a Swiss watch?

[bscepter]

was it George HW Bush? i read somewhere that he wore a PP.

clinton wore a cheap digital watch, i think. not sure about bush. obama wears a jorg grey chrono with a japanese movt. (it's actually not a bad-looking watch). biden wears a vintage vulcain cricket, i believe, which is pretty cool. i'm sure romney had a drawerful of PPs, rolexes and APs, but i would guess that he put them away when he started running for office ten years ago.

i realize that today a president can't be seen with a $20k watch on his wrist or the press and the blogosphere would go ape.

so what would be an appropriate mechanical watch for a president today?

staying under $2k, i'd probably go with a vintage datejust. if new, maybe a baume & mercier or a tag heuer or maybe an oris.

[bscepter]

btw - this is meant to be a watch thread, not a political thread....

[kilyung]

I'd say Towson, RGM, Kobold, Bozeman, and maybe Hamilton.

[Speed]

I'm with Mike re: Hamilton...perhaps TIMEX.

I recall Gore and Clinton both sported CASIOs or Timex Ironmen watches during their time in office. Clinton wears Panerai quite a lot these days.

[bscepter]

Originally Posted by Speed

Clinton wears Panerai quite a lot these days.

interesting. since his bypass and conversion to veganism, i would have guessed a panerai too big for him.

[VICI]

Our political heads have to be concerned with what the public will think since the technically "work for us."

The problem with the ramification of the public reaction, in my opinion, comes from how society thinks... I'd rather see a political head looking like a gentleman rather than a man of the people.

People look up to our "leaders" for how they talk, what they wear, how they think.

If they dressed the part - maybe the general public would take notice and maybe elevate their sense of style.

An excerpt from an article about Rolex & presidency:


With so many beautiful Rolex models available, in a variety of metals and styles, it can be overwhelming when seeking the perfect watch. All of the Rolex watches are exquisite though. Carefully crafted, then tested and re-tested to ensure that each watch satisfies Rolex’s high standards. The Rolex Day-Date is a watch from the luxury brand that also is sometimes referred to as a Rolex President. There are various rumors as to how this particular model came to be known as the “President.” Some say that the watch is called that because Rolex produces a watch band named “President,” others claim that Rolex started calling it President because of their long affiliation with world leaders, especially United States Presidents.

The company offers a Rolex Day-Date watch to every US President during their term, though not all accept. Former President Gerald Ford refused when Rolex offered him one of their watches, but purchased his own after completion of his presidential term. There are many photos of him wearing a Rolex after his presidency. The Rolex company started giving Rolex watches to show their appreciation to men in power in 1944. It was the end of World War II and the revered General of the Swiss Army, Henri Guisan, was a hero in Switzerland. Rolex headquarters had moved to Switzerland in 1919 and when they produced their 50,000th watch to receive official certification as a Swiss Chronometer, they thought Guisan would be the perfect recipient.


It had taken the company almost 40 years to reach their 50,000th Rolex watch milestone. When they produced the 100,000th watch to be certified, they bestowed it upon British Prime Minister Winston Churchill. His Datejust had a rose gold case and was engraved with his coat of arms on the back. Eight years later, in 1951, a 5-star American General by the name of Dwight Eisenhower was offered the 150,000th watch to be officially certified. Just a couple of years later, Eisenhower would make the move into the White House to become the 34th President of the United States. At the time he received his watch, General Eisenhower was offered it as a sign of appreciation for all he had done during the Nazi occupation of Europe during World War II. The yellow gold Datejust he received had his initials “DDE” on the back, as well as the clasp, which also had 5 stars engraved on it. At the suggestion of the Rolex company president at the time the date “12-19-1950” was also put on the watch; the date Eisenhower assumed the position of Supreme Allied Commander of NATO. Eisenhower was an avid golfer and can be seen wearing his Rolex watch during play. He wore it often, in and out of the White House.

The term Rolex President seems to have developed around the time of Lyndon B. Johnson’s presidential term. Johnson was the US President in the late 1960s and was seen wearing a Rolex Day-Date. In 1967, Rolex unveiled the “President Bracelet” in their catalogue. Though there is no official statement from Rolex stating their purpose for calling it by that name, there has been much speculation over the years. Regardless of their reason, if there is one, the Rolex President is a watch that has been worn on the wrists of some of the world’s most courageous and noble men.

[kilyung]

Look at the flak Sarkozy got for wearing a gold Rolex and even a Patek. Sadly politicians should probably stick with less well known brands than Rolex.

[bscepter]

Originally Posted by kilyung

Look at the flak Sarkozy got for wearing a gold Rolex and even a Patek. Sadly politicians should probably stick with less well known brands than Rolex.

what does putin wear? i heard he sports all sorts of wrist bling.

[VICI]

Originally Posted by bscepter

what does putin wear? i heard he sports all sorts of wrist bling.

Vladimir Putin and Silvio Berlusconi & watches
Watch publication HODINKEE published a piece on watches worn by Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.

According to HODINKEE Putin wears a Perpetual Calendar by legendary watchmaker Patek Philippe. Putin’s watch features a self-winding movement, with a leather band, that retails for approximately $60,000, which is roughly the same amount he is paid every year by the Russian government as a salary.

Berlusconi wears even more expensive watch: a Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Minute Repeater Perpetual Calendar. This luxury piece has a 37mm platinum case, leather strap, and multiple complications including: Minute Repeater, Moonphase, and Perpetual Calendar. Its price is a staggering $540,000.

JFK and Marilyn & Rolex

In 2005 a gold Rolex that was given as a birthday present to John F. Kennedy by Marilyn Monroe, inscribed “Jack with love as always Marilyn May 29th 1962″, was sold on auction for $120,000 to an anonymous American collector.

[bscepter]

Originally Posted by Toplaw

Berlusconi wears even more expensive watch: a Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Minute Repeater Perpetual Calendar. This luxury piece has a 37mm platinum case, leather strap, and multiple complications including: Minute Repeater, Moonphase, and Perpetual Calendar. Its price is a staggering $540,000.

bunga bunga!

[aria]

im sure ive read somewhere that obama wears a tag

[kilyung]

Originally Posted by navichas

im sure ive read somewhere that obama wears a tag

He wears a Jorg Gray 6500

[Grumpy Badger]

I'm sure obabma used to wear a tag when he was running for office... 90's model, Brown leather strap if I remember...

[Grumpy Badger]

Originally Posted by Grumpy Badger

I'm sure obabma used to wear a tag when he was running for office... 90's model, Brown leather strap if I remember...

Found it!

[SUBversive]

Originally Posted by Grumpy Badger

Found it!

Put to sleep by such a boring watch



His new watch was a gift of the us ss.

As to the op....good question. Last president with a Rolex?

[Grumpy Badger]

Originally Posted by SUBversive

Put to sleep by such a boring watch



His new watch was a gift of the us ss.

As to the op....good question. Last president with a Rolex?

Yeah i think the Jorg Gray is Secret Service "standard issue" (rather a bizarre concept?!?)

[watchupee]

Obama has indeed been spotted wearing a TAG, an old quartz aquaracer aparantly gifted to him.
http://www.watchtime.com/blog/obama-...ear-tag-heuer/

[FNFZ4]

Clinton? He wore a Panerai right?

[bradbyrd1110]

The Prez should wear a Hamilton Khaki Field mechanical, you know, to show Patriotism!


Sent from the Abyss

[Dr. Robert]

Not too many US made watches for a prez to consider.......maybe a RGM?????

[Kingair]

Originally Posted by Dr. Robert

Not too many US made watches for a prez to consider.......maybe a RGM?????

Just checked their website . . . nice price . . . I was really surprised . . .

Do you own one ?

HAGOne Bob

[geekyjeff]

Originally Posted by FNFZ4

Clinton? He wore a Panerai right?

Clinton does wear Panerai but I don't think until he left office. ImageUploadedByTapatalk1358713663.713701.jpg

[Boardman]

Correct, no Panny til after office

Personally I lose respect for the man who wears plastic watches with suits. Especially the leader of our nation.

I've always thought omega would be the perfect presidential watch. Elegant, understated and affordable.

[Scott in Arizona]

Clinton also wears a JLC Navy Seals.

Sent from my ADR6425LVW using Tapatalk 2

[tudorluv]

edit - didn't know this was the "Jorg Gray 6500"

the prez also wears a secret service issue watch too

[Grumpy Badger]

I completely agree that a world leader should be able to wear a half decent watch without worrying about crusifiction in the press.

It might be a bit crass to wear some diamond encrusted übercomplicated watch that cost more than the GDP but, for all the taxpayers pay their salaries, they ARE world leader, responsible for decisions that affect all our lives. A few grand for a nice Swiss watch doesn't seem out of the way to me if that's what they choose.

[capote]

Joe Biden wears an Omega Seamaster I think

[bscepter]

Originally Posted by capote

Joe Biden wears an Omega Seamaster I think

i think he has one of those, too. but i believe it's a quartz model, sadly. still, better than a timex ironman...

[Sixshooter]

The funny thing is they are wearing some very high dollar custom suits, but won't wear a expensive watch.

[withthesword]

just a thought, but i sorta thought people in their kind of position didn't really need a watch. they have a whole staff of people catering to their every whim, and probably a handful of assistants who can tell him when and where to do what whenever he needs.

reminds me of that timberlake movie where he stood out like a sore thumb because he ran in a city full of rich people. they thought it odd because they had all the time in the world and had no need to run.