All the Presidential Wristwear: World Leaders and their Watches
By:Matthew Lopez | Posted: May 26, 2022In most cases, you can learn the measure of someone by what they choose to wear. Because it’s usually a way to communicate who they are before they even speak. In our case, we take a peek at their watches instead, mostly for the same reason. And for this particular feature, we’re checking out what’s on the wrists of world leaders. We take a close look at some of the watches worn by presidents, prime ministers, sultans, and the like—both past and present—to get a glimpse at what they can tell us about their own personalities.
President Joe Biden and his Rolex Datejust 41 Ref. 126300
U.S. President Joe Biden (left) seen wearing his Rolex Datejust Ref. 126300 (right) during a press conference at The White House.
(Executive Office of the United States/© Montres Rolex S.A.)
The current President of the United States, Joe Biden has been in the public eye for nearly five decades, starting from his election to the United States Senate at the age of 29. Biden is a lifelong member of the Democratic Party and has represented the centrist faction supporting progressive ideas on social causes. Though he’s also fiscally conservative on economic matters. Similarly, we can see this dynamic in the range of wristwatches that he has worn throughout his political career.
Throughout his career, Biden has rotated his preferences from simple everyday workhorses like the Tissot T-Touch chronograph and the Seiko Alarm Chronograph Ref. 7T32-6M90, to high-caliber chronometers like the Omega Speedmaster Professional “Moonwatch” and the Vulcain “Cricket”. The Cricket was also famously worn by Biden’s personal hero: President Harry S. Truman.
But no other watch has been more associated with the American President than his Rolex Datejust 41—the watch he wore during his presidential inauguration in 2021. Encased in stainless steel with its distinctive jubilee bracelet, the Datejust is one of the most popular entry-level chronometers from Rolex.
There’s a long tradition of American presidents favoring watches from “the Crown”, both for their prestige and their simplicity. From Dwight Eisenhower to Barack Obama—Rolexes have been a staple in the presidential watch collections in the country. As for Biden, his choice of the Datejust is seen wearing a watch that is both elegant yet practical represents the nature of a president who seeks to unify both sides of the political aisle.
President Emmanuel Macron and his Merci LMM-001 Mechanique
French President Emmanuel Macron (left) seen wearing his Merci LMM-001 Mechanique (right) during a press conference in Beijing in 2018. (© SIPA Press/© Merci Paris)
After coming onto the political stage at the age of 39, French President Emmanuel Macron has become a force of nature to be reckoned with in modern world affairs. Macron is a former investment banker and Economy Minister and has cultivated a persona of being a “non-politician.” He presents ideas unburdened by traditional mainstream conservatism or socialism, while also espousing the ideals of progressivism and a deeper European integration.
Macron is styled by First Lady Brigitte Trogneux, and has used fashion as a means to best represent his political agenda. This is especially evident on the wristwatches he has chosen to wear. Since 2017, Macron has transitioned from wearing the classical Longines Dolce Vita, with its quartz-powered movement, to the retro-inspired timepieces created by French watchmaker March LA.B.
But there is one particular timepiece that caught our attention: the LMM-001 Mechanique made by the Parisian lifestyle store, Merci.
Founded in 2009, Merci offers modern and urban products—clothes, furniture, and other accessories—to promote a minimalist aesthetic. The LMM-001 spotted on the wrist of Macron features a solid white dial with clear and legible Helvetica Arabic numerals, and powered by the workhouse automatic Selita SW210-1 movement.
It seems that the president chose this particular timepiece to fit his progressive persona: a stylish and affordable one that most French nationals can conceivably emulate.
Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his Minase Divido
Former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe converses with former President Donald Trump (right) seen wearing his Minase Divido Ref. VM04-R01SD (left) during the 2019 G20 Leaders Summit held in Osaka. (© Minase/© Associated Press)
No Japanese leader has perhaps been as enduring as Shinzo Abe, who’s known as the architect of Japan’s modern economic reforms. These reforms have even been named after him, colloquially known as “Abenomics.”
Despite being its longest-serving Prime Minister, Abe remains a polarizing figure in modern Japanese politics due to his strong right-wing political leanings: particularly in his stance on Japan’s role during the Second World War. Compared to other world leaders, the former Prime Minister is rarely without a fine wristwatch.
Throughout his eight years in office, Abe has been spotted wearing a wide range of timepieces: from a vintage Omega Constellation to the ever-practical Seiko Astron GPS Solar. Hence, it was something of a surprise when he was seen with the Japanese-made Minase Divido while hosting the 2019 G20 Leaders Summit in Osaka.
The watch on Abe’s wrist was the stainless steel Ref. VM04-R01SD, featuring a blue dial with a striking dimple pattern that shifts its hues against the light. What also makes Abe’s timepiece fascinating is the fine zaratsu (mirror-blade) finish on the watch case and the bracelet.
While it isn’t uncommon for world leaders to sport timepieces that represent their country, it’s very rare to see a high-end timepiece crafted by a local independent watchmaker on their wrist. Hopefully, the current Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will follow Abe’s footsteps by proudly sporting the work of a fine Japanese independent watchmaker.
Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah and his Richard Mille RM67-01 Extra Flat
His Majesty Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei (left) photographed wearing the ultra-slim Richard Mille RM67-01 “Extra Flat” (right) during the 2018 APEC Leaders Summit in Port Moresby. (© Information Department of Brunei Darussalam/© Richard Mille)
When one is asked about Brunei, one of the first images that comes to mind is its longest-serving monarch: His Majesty Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah. The Sultan is one of the world’s last remaining absolute monarchs, and has since become the international face of the oil-rich kingdom after his ascension in 1967.
Consistently ranked as one of the wealthiest individuals in the world, the monarch is known around the world as an avid collector of Impressionist art, sports cars, private jets, and of course, watches.
Throughout his reign, the Sultan has purchased or commissioned a number of excellent timepieces: from emblematic sports watches like the Patek Philippe Nautilus and the Rolex Submariner, to horological marvels crafted by Audemars Piguet and Gérald Genta. One particular timepiece from the Sultan’s collection—a Grande et Petit Sonnerie created by Philippe Dufour—sold at a Phillips auction in 2021 for a world record price of CHF4.789 million (US$5.210 million). This makes it the most expensive timepiece made by an independent brand at auction.
The Sultan has also developed a serious taste for complications crafted from another independent watchmaker, Richard Mille. And while he’s been spotted wearing other rare timepieces from the brand, this photograph taken during the 2018 APEC Leaders Summit in Port Moresby has been widely verified by the watch community.
On the Sultan’s wrist is a Richard Mille RM67-01 Extra Flat, named for its ultra-slim automatic caliber CRMA6 that measures only 3.6mm in height. The movement has been rated to have at least 28,800 vibrations per hour (VpH), and boasts an impressive 50 hours of power reserve. This particular execution of the RM67-01 is encased in a solid white gold case and tastefully paired with a white crocodile strap.
Based on the watches in his personal collection, the Sultan has shown that he strictly prefers the finest objects that best exemplifies his enormous wealth and power. No doubt, we will see even more horological marvels on the wrist of this absolute monarch in the subsequent years.
Queen Elizabeth II and her unique Patek Philippe Ref. 4975/1G
H.R.H. Queen Elizabeth II (left) photographed wearing her piece unique Patek Philippe Ref. 4975/1G (right) during the State Opening of Parliament in 2006.
(© Patek Philippe/© Royal Collection Trust and Anwar Hussein)
Last February marked an important milestone in the history of the British monarchy. Her Royal Highness Queen Elizabeth II celebrated her platinum jubilee, commemorating the 70 years since her ascension to the throne in 1952. Being the world’s longest reigning monarch, the Queen always presented herself as a regal personality by always sporting a gem-set brooch on her blouse and a fine wristwatch on her wrist.
In 1987, the Royal Collection Trust published an inventory of the monarch’s private jewelry collection, listing at least 14 timepieces in its holdings. Among the collection was a Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 101—a watch that she famously wore during her coronation in 1953—as well as an early Omega Ladymatic.
Still, the Patek Philippe Ref. 4975/1G remains her most enduring timepiece—a watch that she personally commissioned from the Geneva manufacturer. The watch bears a white-toned dial, kept inside a solid white gold case that’s encrusted with baguette-cut diamonds. It’s also fitted on a distinctive pearl stranded bracelet.
As with many of her timepieces in her collection, there is a royal flare with the choice of watches on the Queen’s wrist. Coincidentally, the design of the Ref. 4975/1G was patterned after the emblem of the Prince of Wales’ feathers that is nominally placed on the establishments personally favored by the monarchy.
In 2015, the timepiece was publicly exhibited for the very first time at the Patek Philippe Watch Art Grand Exhibition—an event held at the Saatchi Gallery London as part of a special loan agreement from the Royal Collection Trust. The timepiece will likely be part of the royal inheritance that will be bestowed upon her heir, the Prince of Wales.
Truly, the Queen has always placed a high premium on her image as the reigning head of state as seen with the bejeweled watch. Yet in a larger context, we can see that she has commissioned this timepiece as a tribute to the British monarchy that her successor must uphold in the subsequent future.
Time is Power
World leaders, both past and present, have sought to build and cultivate their own respective personas as a way to reflect how they govern. And as seen in these examples, the right timepiece plays a role in building that persona, especially when the job means handling the problems of an entire nation.
Indeed, world leaders seem to be drawn to a famous maxim on the importance of time: “Time is money, money is power, hence time is power.” And in their case, the way they display time is just as powerful as the way they handle it.
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