Joe Biden, Watch Geek in Chief
Recent presidents not named Trump have tended to wear Everyman timepieces such as Timex and Shinola.
Fancy or not? President Biden wore a Rolex Datejust watch, which retails for more than $7,000, to his inauguration.Credit.Alex Wong/Getty Images
By Alex Williams
President Biden may cast his arrival in the White House as a return to business as usual at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, but there’s at least one way he’s breaking from prevailing presidential tradition: he wears a Rolex.
At his inauguration, Mr. Biden laid his hand on the family Bible wearing a stainless steel Rolex Datejust watch with a blue dial, a model that retails for more than $7,000 and is a far cry from the Everyman timepieces that every president not named Trump has worn conspicuously in recent decades.
In this Article
With the swearing-in of Joe Biden as the 46th President of the United States of America, many watch enthusiasts couldn’t help but be curious as to what was on his wrist. A closer look revealed that the Royal-Blue dial belonged to Rolex‘s current Datejust model with a comfortable Jubilee bracelet surprisingly with a smooth bezel rather than the usual fluted version.
While the old adage says “you can tell a lot about a person by their shoes,” we believe the same can be said about their choice of watch. We take a trip down memory lane to examine some of the wristwatches on the more prominent presidents that have their names closely tied to more luxurious timepieces. Starting from the current president, Joseph Biden, we’re taking it back to 1961 to revisit some of the low-key watch collectors that have graced the Oval Office.
From Roosevelt to Biden: the secrets of the Presidents watches
Joe Biden opted for a Rolex on inauguration day, but what are the other watches that have kept the White House ticking over the years?
21 January 2021 • 1:41pm
President Joe Biden prepares to sign a series of executive orders at the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office. His Rolex Datejust can be seen on his left wrist
Credit: Getty Images
When Joe Biden was sworn in as the 46th President of the United States on 20 January, his left wrist was sporting an Oystersteel Rolex Datejust with blue dial on a jubilee bracelet – classic, understated and as tasteful as they come. With the US election dominating the world’s news headlines, it seems the perfect moment to look back on the standout watches that have seen some of America’s Presidents through their time in office.