Presidential Watches: 9 Timepieces Owned by U.S. Presidents
Norma Buchanan
As Presidents' Day approaches here in the United States, we at WatchTime decided it would be a great time to revisit our piece on watches worn by American presidents over the years. Scroll down to see the list we've compiled of notable wristwatches and pocketwatches belonging to past (and current) commanders-in-chief.
George Washington carried a pocketwatch made by Jean-Antoine Lépine, watchmaker to King Louis XVI. The watch, a large, simple, keywound watch with a virgule escapements, was numbered 5,378. It remained in Washington's family until 1935.
George Washington and his Lepine pocketwatch (watch photo courtesy of NAWCC)
Fourteen U.S. presidents have been Freemasons and at least one of them, Warren G. Harding, had a watch to prove it. He carried a so-called "Masonic watch," a particular type of watch in which Masonic symbols, such as an hourglass, a compass, and a masons' square, were used as hour markers. Masonic watches had cases in the shape of another Masonic symbol, the equilateral triangle. These watches always incorporated a picture of the Masonic All-Seeing Eye, or Eye of Providence. On the Harding watch, this eye is on the watch's caseback, along with a picture of King Solomon's Temple. The watchcase is marked "Hiram Watch Inc., 14K, No. 145." The movement is signed by Waltham.
Warren G. Harding and his Masonic watch (watch photo courtesy of NAWCC)
Franklin Delano Roosevelt wore a calendar wristwatch with the name "Tiffany & Co." on the dial and a Movado movement inside. He also owned a minute-repeater pocket watch from the Geneva-based A. Frankfeld company.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt and his Tiffany watch with Movado movement (watch photo courtesy of NAWCC)
Harry S. Truman owned a Flying Officer's Chronograph made by the Swiss firm Gallet. The watch, which had a rotating bezel enabling the wearer to read the time in time zones around the world, was given to him in 1939 by two members of his senatorial staff.
Harry Truman and his Gallet Flying Officer's Chronograph
When he took the oath of office on January 20, 1961, John F. Kennedy wore an Omega Ultra Thin (Reference OT3980) given to him by the Florida senator Grant Stockdale. The caseback bore the inscription "President of the United States John F. Kennedy from his friend Grant."
JFK's Omega Ultra Thin
Lyndon B. Johnson owned a Vulcain Cricket, as did both Truman and Eisenhower; Vulcain presented a Cricket to each of them. Johnson wore his in a 1964 photo on the cover of Newsweek. He wrote a note to Vulcain's president thanking him for the watch. "I value it highly and feel somewhat less than dressed without it," he said.
Lyndon B. Johnson and his Vulcain Cricket with his initials on the dial
Gerald Ford was in office during the digital-watch craze, which reached its full frenzy in the mid-1970s. Fittingly, he wore a digital: a Hamilton Pulsar (the Pulsar brand is now owned by Seiko). In a photo in the Washington Post, he is shown wearing the watch during the 1974 Congressional hearings on his pardon of Richard Nixon.
Gerald Ford with his Hamilton Pulsar and his wife, Betty
During his first presidential campaign, Barack Obama wore a TAG Heuer white-dial, quartz model from the Series 1500. (This is according to TAG Heuer aficionado Jeff Stein, who has examined many photos of Obama wearing the watch.) In the summer of 2007, Obama switched to a large Jorg Gray chronograph with a black dial given to him on his birthday (Aug. 4) by three members of his Secret Service detail. The watch bears the Secret Service seal.
Obama wearing his TAG Heuer
This article was originally published on October 27, 2012, and has been updated.
Tags: Black Watches, Digital Watches, Hamilton, Louis Moinet, Movado, Omega, Pocket Watches, Rectangular Watches, Seiko, Square Watches, TAG Heuer, Tiffany & Co., Time Zones, Watches, Watchmakers, White Watches
No Responses to "Presidential Watches: 9 Timepieces Owned by U.S. Presidents"
Pascal Naef February 22, 2015
For your information The President Harry Truman had an Universal tri-compax watch at the Potsdam conference
which took place between Staline, Churchill and after Attlee in July and August 1945.
The President Truman received also like other president a Vulcain Cricket.
For your information Harry Truman had an Universal Tri-Compax.
All présidents of USA received a Vulcain Cricket.
TicTacArea February 11, 2015
I feel excited after knowing about the watches which are used by the president.
Bert Kanne October 25, 2014
It would be nice to know the current owners of these watches.
If they don't want to divulge ownership, just indicate that they are in a
private collection.
Giorgio Osti October 25, 2014
Jack Kennedy also wore a Rolex Oyster, which he had received from Marylin Monroe.
Jim Doyle October 24, 2014
Didn't MM give JFK a gold Rolex on his birthday?
Bill July 5, 2014
Wasn't LBJ also a Rolex wearer?
And I read that Ron Reagan wore a "$20 gold piece" Corum.
Hector Soris July 11, 2016
LBJ was also the only pres to wear a Pateck Phillip
Ed July 4, 2014
President Obama also wears a Highgear Enduro digital sportswatch when he's not so formal.
Yves October 30, 2013
And what about Former President Bill Clinton who is a watch collector.
Among other things, you will see him wearing a Jaeger LeCoultre Master Compressor Navy Seal.
Tom October 28, 2013
Hey, what about the most famous presidential watch of them all ??
Dwight D. Eisenhower's Rolex Gold Datejust ???
anil kumar dube October 27, 2013
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