The Most Fascinating In-The-Wild Watch Photos From Watches Of Espionage - W.O.E. is about watches, and we love watches, but it's really about people, heritage, and culture. We view the world through the lens of timepieces and use them as a vector to the human element for history and current events.

What watches have historically kept this emerging bloc that’s challenging the Western order on time? President Trump recently met with Russian leader Vladimir Putin in Alaska, a land mass that was purchased from the Russian Empire in 1867 for a measly 7.2 million dollars. 

From Open-Water Swims To Dinner Out, Meaning Comes From Use, Not MSRP - Summertime generally means travel, time off at the beach or in the mountains, or, if you are lucky, a trip to Europe or another cultural destination. It is also a great time to build lasting memories. 

From 007 To Atomic Blonde To Mission: Impossible, Spy Gadget Watches Are A Key Aspect Of Hollywood’s Portrayal Of Intelligence Officers  Hollywood's depiction of spy gadgets embedded in a Rolex Submariner or Omega Seamaster is entertaining, but largely a fantasy of the screenwriter's imagination. In reality, there were very few times in my career as a CIA Case Officer that I used “spy gear” and instead largely relied on low-tech tradecraft to build relationships, recruit spies, and steal secrets. While the realities of intelligence work typically include more intel-writing and (unfortunately) fewer laser-firing Omega Seamasters, Hollywood has taken the idea of “spy gadget watches” and run with it. 007’s filmography is likely the catalyst, but the use of watches that do a lot more than tell the time has taken on a life of its own, becoming a key aspect of the overlap between popular culture and espionage.    Despite how far Hollywood has taken the concept, spy gadget watches were (and likely are) a real thing. An informed discussion on the role of timepieces in espionage must also include an analysis of spy gadget watches in television and movies.  As is so often the case, certain films do a better job than others, and in this Dispatch, we’ll share some of our favorite spy gadget watches in film, from the almost plausible to completely ridiculous and everywhere in between. Real-Life Spy Gadget Watches  (Photo Credit: James Rupley/W.O.E.) Typically associated with the Cold War, there are several historical examples of intelligence officers leveraging timepieces as tools for concealment, surveillance, and listening devices, all of which likely played a role in influencing Hollywood.  The German-made Hanhart Protona is one such example, which contained a microphone to surreptitiously record conversations on behalf of both East and West Germany during the Cold War. The case contained a microphone, with a cord running from its nine o’clock side up the wearer's arm to a tape recorder. The watch itself did not keep time, with the movement having been removed to make space for the microphone. There are numerous other real-life examples of watches integrating “gadget” functionality (READ HERE), but most are admittedly not as far-fetched (or fun) as Hollywood’s efforts. Let’s get to the movies.  Mission: Impossible 2 (2000)  A screen capture from Mission: Impossible 2 showing the modified G-Shock DW6900-1V. With a staggering eight films now in the franchise, we have to go back to the second installment of Mission: Impossible in 2000 for some spy gadget watch action. Following a more subtle G-Shock cameo by the DW290-1V in the first Mission: Impossible, IMF agent Ethan Hunt, portrayed by Tom Cruise, utilized yet another G-Shock in the second film. This time, the watch was more than just a watch.  It’s not as outlandish as a laser on Bond’s Seamaster, but in a tense scene where Hunt attempts to avoid detection by a hostile sentry, he activates a transponder built into his G-Shock to inform Luther, played by Ving Rhames, that he has safely infiltrated an installation and disconnected from an unlikely yet dramatic helicopter hoist.  What is interesting about this particular gadget function is that it feels plausible, and we have no doubt that CIA Technical Officers would be capable of creating something similar. It may have seemed like advanced technology in 2000, but today, real-time geolocation is a basic feature of any smartwatch. For members of the W.O.E. community, the DW6900-1V is an important tool, having been issued to and worn extensively by Naval Special Warfare during the Global War on Terror. Atomic Blonde (2017) Charlize wears a Carl F. Bucherer Manero AutoDate in Atomic Blonde. This photo does not contain a gadget watch, but here we are. In Atomic Blonde, top MI6 agent Lorraine Broughton, expertly portrayed by Charlize Theron, goes undercover in Cold War-era Berlin to solve the murder of a fellow agent and search for a list of double agents. The list happens to be contained on a microfilm concealed inside a special Carl F. Bucherer watch that also features prominently in the plot. This is another instance of a fictional spy gadget watch almost mimicking reality, as there were several examples of watches being used to conceal hidden messages utilized during the Cold War, including by the Soviet Union's KGB. The Carl F. Bucherer Manero CentralChrono plays a key role in the plot of Atomic Blonde. The role of Carl F. Bucherer in the film (Charlize also wears a ladies' model from the brand) is likely the work of paid product placement. Watches intended as concealment devices were typically nondescript and unassuming, which is in stark contrast to the Swiss luxury watches showcased in Atomic Blonde, but we still appreciate the semi-accurate integration of a gadget watch in this unrealistic yet thoroughly enjoyable Cold War espionage action thriller.  Bond, James Bond A magnetic Rolex Submariner that also integrated a buzzsaw bezel from 1973’s Live and Let Die.  No discussion of spy gadget watches is complete without 007. We have touched on Bond’s indelible connection to the Omega Seamaster in a dedicated episode of W.O.E. TV (WATCH HERE), where we also explored many of the specific instances of Seamasters being used as gadgets by Bond.  Beyond Omega, Bond wears a unique Breitling Top Time in 1965’s Thunderball that serves double duty as a Geiger counter, with Roger Moore’s Bond leaning into a Seiko capable of printing ticker-tape messages in The Spy Who Loved Me and another Seiko in For Your Eyes Only serving as an old-school text messaging device. For more on the non-Omega watches worn by Bond over the years, click HERE.  007 wearing a Breitling Top Time outfitted with a Geiger counter in 1965’s Thunderball. More than any other fictional character, Bond is directly responsible for the rise of the spy gadget watch as a concept, with countless other onscreen intelligence officers having been inspired by Bond’s laser-firing Seamasters and buzzsaw bezel Rolex Submariners.  Kingsman: The Secret Service (2015)  Kingsman: The Secret Service is the unserious story of a secretive British spy organization starring the sharply dressed Taron Egerton and Colin Firth. Another clear example of product placement, Bremont, a British watchmaking brand founded in 2002, adorns almost every wrist in the movie. The agents wear special versions of the ALT1-World Time, with one being used by Colin Firth’s character to fire amnesia and taser darts in a pair of ridiculous fight scenes.  While the spy gadget Bremonts are works of fiction, the brand does have real ties to the W.O.E. community, having produced over 500 custom unit watches, including for several UK intelligence services. Despite the product placement in this instance, the connection between Bremont and the world of espionage makes sense and is a perfect “if you know, you know” reference.   Archer (2009 to 2023)  People often ask W.O.E.: What is the most accurate portrayal of espionage in Hollywood? Films like Argo, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, and Spy Game come close, but Archer is the one that takes the cake. There are rumors that this series is a semi-documentary of the life of W.O.E., something that we will neither confirm nor deny. The cartoon series showcases secret agent Sterling Malory Archer’s adventures working for the International Secret Intelligence Service. Of course, Archer wears an interesting watch, which haters will say is fake: the Omicron Spymaster. A gift from his mother, Archer’s Omicron offers not only basic timekeeping functions but also crucial tools for any intelligence officer, including knockout gas, a garrote, and the occasional laser. Given that Archer’s watch has also enjoyed several onscreen closeups, we can’t help but wonder if someone involved in the show is a dedicated watch nerd. In any case, the number of intelligence professionals who enjoy an episode or two of Archer after a long day is surprising, and we believe there is a market for a real-life version of the Omicron Spymaster.  Get Smart (2008) In 2008’s Get Smart, starring Steve Carell and Anne Hathaway, Maxwell Smart wears a nondescript watch issued by CONTROL, the fictional intelligence agency, equipped with yet another Geiger counter. Based on the 1960s television series of the same name, Get Smart is an on-the-nose parody of James Bond, with Smart’s use of a radiation-detecting watch as well as other more ridiculous gadgets, including the infamous shoe phone, playing into the film’s humorous approach.  As is so often the case in Bond films, the Geiger counter watch also serves as a plot device in Get Smart, being used by Smart to detect traces of radiation on Agent 23, played by The Rock, providing proof that Dwayne Johnson’s character is, in fact, a double agent. Luckily, espionage on the big screen doesn’t have to be realistic.  Final Thoughts A real-life digital “watch” produced by the KGB, capable of sending signals. (Photo Credit: James Rupley/W.O.E.) Hollywood’s portrayal of spy gadget watches may trade plausibility for entertainment value, but they tap into something real: the enduring idea that a watch can do so much more than just tell time. The reality is that many historical examples of watches with cameras, microphones, or secret compartments are less than sexy, and many of the most successful intelligence operations will never see the light of day. Still, from Bond’s laser-firing Omega to Archer’s garrote-equipped Omicron, these fictional timepieces are fun and capture the imagination, shining a light on the often unheralded work of intelligence professionals.   The spy gadget watches of film are part fantasy, part homage to genuine tradecraft, and a reminder that even in an age of high-speed satellites and cyber operations dominating surveillance work, the wrist remains prime real estate for an intelligence officer’s most trusted tools, whether they’re real or just real fun to watch. If you enjoyed this article, please consider signing up for our weekly free newsletter for further updates HERE. Read Next: The Real Spy Gadget Watches of the CIA, KGB, MIT, and German Intelligence

How An Unusual Japanese Dive Watch Became A Preferred Tool For Special Operations & The Military - As Tony, a British Special Boat Service (SBS) operator, took a break from the heated battle, he picked up a satellite phone, presumably to contact higher headquarters.

Elliot Ackerman’s Journey From MARSOC To CIA To Bestselling Author, and The Rolex Explorer II On His Wrist  - I first met Elliot Ackerman at a discreet dinner in Northern Virginia for current and former members of CIA’s Special Activities Center (SAC).

A Larger-Than-Life Criminal Syndicate Executing Hollywood-Style Heists - The high-profile heists of Ocean’s Eleven and The Italian Job are typically the stuff of Hollywood, but one notable real-world example exists: the Pink Panthers, a transnational network of Balkan jewel thieves that operated with near impunity in the early 2000s. 

Welcome back to the W.O.E. SITREP, or Situation Report, a monthly download of current events related to watches, espionage, the military, and national security, all coupled with our semi-informed commentary. 

What Can A Tragic Accident Teach Us About The Watch Industry & The Risks Of Exploration? Earlier this month, Baumgartner, aged 56, tragically died instantly when he reportedly fell unconscious in midair and flew a motorized paraglider into the side of a pool near the Italian coast. 

A Modern Folding Knife Honoring The Origins Of The Intelligence Community - The Birdwatcher is a low-profile folding knife collaboratively designed with PDW, featuring a premium MagnaCut blade with a titanium frame lock. Most importantly, it contains dive watch-inspired details and a laser-etched topo map of Camp X, a WWII paramilitary installation used for training the British SOE and United States OSS.

A Behind-The-Scenes Look At Tudor’s New Documentary, W.O.E. On The Set - In a conference room deep in the bowels of a storied aircraft carrier that now serves as a museum, I remove my Tudor Submariner 7928 from my wrist.

As Amazon takes the wheel and a new actor steps into the tuxedo, we explore what’s next for James Bond, his timepiece, and why this fictional spy still matters for W.O.E.

From Terrorists to SpecOps - This $15 Digital Watch Is an Icon of Modern Warfare - Coming in at around $15, the Casio F91W has become legendary for its associations with terrorists, including Usama bin Laden, as well as SpecOps.

Customized Timepieces From Rolex, Breitling, Tudor, Bremont, & Omega - In the W.O.E. community, military “unit watches” are at the heart of modern watch culture.

How Fitness Apps & Smartwatches Are Quietly Undermining National Security - Bottom line up front: If you are in a sensitive NatSec position, do NOT/NOT use a smartwatch. Even if you are an average Joe, at least understand the risks.

The One-Stop Shop For “Hey W.O.E., Which Timepiece Is Right For Me?”  Every day, we field questions from the community about which watch to buy. It’s easy enough to answer: “Pick the watch you like the best that you can also afford most easily.” It’s sound advice, but in many cases, there’s simply more to it. The watch world has not only grown by leaps and bounds in recent years but also fundamentally changed. Legacy luxury brands from Rolex to Omega are still there, as are value leaders like Seiko and Citizen, but now, there is a brave new world of “microbrands” to explore as well. So, where do you fit in?  For the aspiring watch dork simply trying to make an informed buying decision they can feel good about, we set out to create a comprehensive resource with everything you need to select the right watch the first time around. Keep in mind that everything you see here is tailored for the W.O.E. community and those who subscribe to the Use Your Tools ethos. If you clicked through for a list of 36mm dress watches to suit your Old Money mood board, this ain’t it. If you’re looking for useful advice and some of our picks for great tool watches at different price points and from a wide range of brands, you’re right where you belong.  Advice For Buying A Watch (Photo Credit: James Rupley/W.O.E.) Starting with the 10,000-foot overview, Advice For Buying A Watch is our general guide that answers some of the most common questions we receive across our social channels. If the last new watch you remember was that Fossil you got from your parents for eighth-grade graduation, this is where you start: a step-by-step rundown for newbies presented in an easily digestible format. If you’ve ever wondered about what kinds of brands to look into first, buying watches as investments, or the types of watches to consider, we have the answers.  What Should I Buy For My First Watch? OK, you’ve done your research, noted our advice for buying a watch, and you’re ready to pull the proverbial trigger. In What Should I Buy For My First Watch, we share some of our top picks in the most popular tool watch categories while also addressing price points from $50 to $10,000, meaning everything from the legendary Casio Duro to attainable Seiko models to Tudor and even Rolex and Omega. It might seem crazy to buy a luxury watch right out of the gate, but it happens more often than you might imagine. If you’ve ever considered buying a vintage watch as your first serious timepiece, we also share some of our thoughts on that process. The Best Military Watches For Land, Sea, & Air Assuming you’re a dedicated student of the Use Your Tools ethos, it would be fair to say that military watches are another great place to look when buying a watch. For The Best Military Watches For Land, Sea, & Air, we compiled a comprehensive list of true military watches as well as watches well-suited to military or other hard use in the most common operational environments. Sure, a solid Digital Tool Watch (D.T.W.) like a G-Shock can do pretty much anything any of these watches can do, but a growing subset of the military and the Intelligence Community value the combination of utility, heritage, and mechanical intrigue presented by analog timepieces, so we stick to analog options.  Best Watches Under $1,000 - Ask The Experts  (Photo Credit: Brock Stevens) If you’re looking for even more options from people who know as much as anyone about the Use Your Tools lifestyle, Best Watches Under $1,000 - Ask The Experts is your guide to some great choices under $1,000, with all of the picks coming from members of the W.O.E. community. Our pool of experts is diverse, including former Navy SEALs, watch industry pros, W.O.E. himself, and a US Navy Diver. If you’re newer to watches, it makes a ton of sense to toe the waters with a less expensive watch, and today there are tons of great options under $1k to consider from brands like Marathon, Sangin, Seiko, Tornek-Rayville, and more.  Best Watches Under $5,000 (Photo Credit: Jason Heaton) Looking to the community once again, Best Watches Under $5,000 is packed with more expensive picks from Jason Heaton, former Navy SEAL Rob Huberty, former SAS operator Chris Craighead, fire captain Asha Wagner, and more. If you’re newer to watches, ponying up for a watch costing $5,000 might seem crazy, but every one of the watches recommended in this article is backed by someone deeply familiar with using watches for their intended purposes. The higher price point also brings in names like Tudor, a brand we’ve often called the modern tool watch leader, thanks to models like the Pelagos FXD.  Knowledge Is (Watch-Buying) Power  While it’s not always a core aspect of buying a new watch, the more you understand about watches in general, the better off you’re going to be when it’s time to make a purchase. Here are a couple of helpful guides to increase your baseline horological knowledge, especially as it relates to tool watches. The Dive Watch - Everything You Need To Know You will notice that many of the watches we cover are dive watches, and this is not an accident. We are fond of any watch built and used for a specific purpose, but the influence and utility of the dive watch is difficult to overstate, having been used by countless military members, SpecOps, Intelligence Officers, and regular civilians. In The Dive Watch - Everything You Need To Know, our dive expert Ben provides a primer on the basics of what constitutes a dive watch, how water resistance works, the best straps and bracelets for diving, and how watches have been used both historically and today by military and commercial divers. If your journey into watchmaking has you considering a watch meant for undersea use, this is a must-read.  Get The Most Out Of Your Watches This Summer Use Your Tools is our ethos year-round, but the warmer months are when most watches encounter the types of risks that could see them irreversibly damaged. In Get The Most Out Of Your Watches This Summer, we share our recommendations and best practices for keeping your watch in working order for the beach, swimming, hiking, irresponsible firework usage, outdoor sports, and—for a select few—diving. Because it doesn’t matter whether it’s a Rolex Sea-Dweller or a Casio Duro if the crown is unscrewed as you scream “watch this” and drunkenly cannonball into your local swimming hole. An Overview Of The Watches Of Espionage Strap Collection Along with a passion for watches, many nerds also develop an interest in straps, which are the easiest and least expensive way to change up the look and feel of your favorite watches. In An Overview Of The Watches Of Espionage Strap Collection, we provide our general thoughts on the most popular strap types while also discussing the W.O.E. strap collection in great detail. Whether you’re looking for the ideal hook-and-loop strap to pair with your tool dive watch or want a refined French-made suede strap for your vintage Rolex GMT-Master 1675, anyone who loves watches should know their straps.  Final Thoughts - Buy What You Want  Buying a watch is a deeply personal experience. We are dedicated to helping you make sense of the watch landscape, but all we can do is provide our advice, personal experiences, and the recommendations of others who know what it means to use a tool watch. At the end of the day, this is on you. If you’ve absorbed everything here and still want to pick up an Invicta on Amazon Prime Day, do your thing. Remember, we don’t make the rules, and our community is for anyone who understands how to Use Your Tools. 

Why SpecOps, Generals, & Dictators Wear Two Watches At The Same Time - Double-wristing—wearing two watches at the same time—has been adopted by generals, dictators, and special operators.

Your Friends & Neighbors - Lessons In Watch Security From A Suburban Heist Show - I rarely watch TV shows these days. Not because I’m off doing cool covert CIA operations in far-flung countries (anymore), but because I have little kids who generally control the remote.   

A New 007 Seamaster Chrono, A SEAL’s “Secret” Tudor, BW Breitling Emergency In Haiti, Rolex-Thieving Ladies Of The Night, & Some Dubious Watch-Related Iran-Pakistan Espionage - Welcome back to the W.O.E. SITREP, or Situation Report, our monthly digest of news and events related to watches, espionage, the military, and national security, all coupled with our commentary. 

Iranian Nuclear Airstrike: Exploring The Custom Breitling, Omega, & Bremont Unit Watches Of The B-2 Community - On 21 June, seven B-2 Spirit heavy strategic bombers took off from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri and set a course for Iran.

The Tudor, G-Shock, Seiko, & Omega Watches Actually Used By Naval Special Warfare - For decades, Navy SEALs lived in the shadows as quiet professionals, an often unheralded weapon in the US Military arsenal.

Four Watches, Four Stories - Something Old, Something New, Something Unworn, & Something Special - I’m not a watch collector.

Materials, History, Fit, & Which Strap Is Right For You - One of the most common ways to customize your watch is with a new strap that is more appropriate for austere conditions, either in material or design.

The US Coast Guard, Underwater Construction, & Tool Dive Watches - In maritime search and rescue, seconds count, a lesson reiterated many times during my service in the US Coast Guard.

A Look At The Watches That Served Our Soldiers  On Tuesday, 06 June 1944, nearly 160,000 Allied troops crossed the English Channel and stormed the beaches of northwestern France, initiating a carefully coordinated plan that would ultimately lead to Allied victory in Europe. Long before the digital age, what tool helped orchestrate an invasion that shifted the outcome of the war? The humble wristwatch. In our new video on the W.O.E. YouTube Channel, we discuss the watches used by service members on D-Day and throughout World War II, including the A-11, the US Army’s ORD DEPT watches, the iconic Dirty Dozen references, and more. Because in war, time matters.  Enjoy episode twenty-one of W.O.E. TV.  Happy Hunting,  -W.O.E.

A Rolex Unraveled A Bizarre Murder Mystery & Exposed A Conman - It's Never Just A Watch 

More Tariffs, Al Capone’s Patek, CIA Recruiting Ads, The Pope’s Apple Watch, Rolex Rippers Getting Busted, & More 

Maybe Smartwatches Aren't That Bad? While body surfing off Byron Bay, Australia, 49-year-old Rick Shearman was unexpectedly swept over a kilometer out to sea by a powerful rip current. Despite his apparent swimming prowess, the relentless waves and currents rendered his efforts to return futile. Treading water and becoming more fatigued with each passing moment, Shearman understood he was in a life-and-death situation.

The Navy SEAL, Medical Doctor, & Astronaut’s G-Shock, Omega, & Rolex Watches Last month, SEAL turned NASA astronaut Jonny Kim blasted off into space aboard a Russian-made Soyuz MS-27 spacecraft. Soon after, Kim floated through a hatch into the International Space Station. These crew changeouts are relatively straightforward, taking place two to three times a year. But Jonny Kim is not a normal astronaut, and the watch on his wrist for his first space flight wasn’t just any old Casio; it was a steel Rolex Daytona, only one of the serious timepieces worn by the former Navy SEAL, Harvard-trained medical doctor, and astronaut. Kim wearing a steel Rolex Daytona onboard the International Space Station. (Photo Credit: NASA) In this Dispatch, we’ll discuss Jonny Kim’s impressive background as well as his watch collection, because even for a real-life Captain America, a watch is never just a watch. From G-Shock to Omega to Rolex and even an obscure Russian-made watch, Kim’s watch history parallels his incredible resume, with each new watch representing a different chapter in the astronaut’s history. What is even more impressive is that, despite his success, Kim’s upbringing was anything but easy. Hard Times Make For Hard Men Jonny Kim was born in Los Angeles in 1984 to South Korean immigrant parents who opened a liquor store in South Central. Kim’s father worked six days a week while his mother served as a part-time substitute teacher. In an interview with Jocko Willink, with whom Kim served in the SEAL Teams, the astronaut describes his father as an abusive alcoholic. Saying Jonny had a difficult upbringing is an understatement. Things came to a head when his father was killed by police after threatening his family with a gun. Jonny, who was 16 years old at the time, set his sights on the US Navy and becoming a SEAL, kicking off an incredible career trajectory that is mirrored by his evolution of watches. The SEAL Teams & G-Shock Jonny Kim wearing a G-Shock DW6600-1V while serving with SEAL Team 3 in Iraq. Arguably, the most iconic modern-day SEAL watch isn’t a fancy Rolex or Tudor Submariner, but the humble Casio G-Shock. When Kim graduated with BUD/S Class 247 in 2004, he would have been issued a DW6600-1V, one of the most commonly issued Naval Special Warfare (NSW) watches at the time, and one of only four G-Shock references to have received an NSN or Nato Stock Number. Two decades prior, NSW had transitioned from Seiko dive watches to the newly introduced G-Shock that offered a host of digital timekeeping functions in addition to being more durable and affordable than the analog divers of the time.   Quickly qualifying as a special operations medic and sniper, Kim conducted over 100 combat missions over two deployments to the Middle East. In addition to the Bronze Star with V device and numerous other awards, Kim received the Silver Star, the United States’ third-highest decoration for valor, for repeatedly exposing himself to enemy gunfire while rescuing injured members of an Iraqi partner force. As a young SEAL, Kim used the G-Shock DW6600, a watch made famous by the 2014 film American Sniper. In the film, SEAL sniper Chris Kyle, with whom Kim served in Iraq, is portrayed by Bradley Cooper, and the humble but effective G-Shock makes several prominent onscreen appearances. Like most SEALs, Kim likely viewed the watch as nothing more than a tool, no different from his weapon or NVGs, but the future astronaut’s use of a G-Shock as a tool of warfare appears to have launched a lifelong appreciation for the utility of watches that would follow him throughout his incredible career. Becoming A Medical Doctor & Applying To NASA Being a decorated SEAL wasn’t enough, so Kim became an MD after studying at Harvard. Stepping away from his time in the Teams, Kim was accepted into the Seaman to Admiral program in 2009, completing his undergraduate studies at the University of San Diego in only three years before returning to the Navy as a commissioned officer. Inspired by his time working as a combat medic, Kim then entered Harvard Medical School, where he qualified as a medical doctor. Inspired by Scott Parazynski, another M-D who later became an astronaut (and wore an Omega X-33 in space), Jonny Kim applied to NASA and was selected from a pool of over 18,000 applicants in 2017, electing to delay his emergency medicine residency to become an astronaut. Kim training at NASA while wearing a Rolex GMT-Master II. (Photo Credit: NASA) He kept busy, adding Naval Aviator and Flight Surgeon to his already-stacked resume while working on his qualifications as an astronaut. Kim came into the limelight when he was announced as a member of the Expedition 72/73 crew to the International Space Station. It is during this period that Kim seems to have become more invested in watches, wearing several Rolex models as well as the Omega unit watch produced for the SEAL Teams. An Omega Seamaster Unit Watch For Navy SEALs Kim wearing the SEAL Seamaster on the ISS. (Photo Credit: NASA) As we have discussed in a previous Dispatch (HERE), in 2024, Omega produced a unique version of its Seamaster Unit Watch for current and former SEALs, complete with the Trident on the caseback. Of course, Kim couldn’t resist, and he wore the watch throughout much of the pre-space travel training pipeline, opting for the metal bracelet. The SEAL Trident on the Omega Seamaster caseback. (Photo Credit: Wolf Forty Designs) Kim’s SEAL Seamaster is also among the first we’ve seen in the wild, meaning the former sniper must have had his finger on the trigger when the announcement went out within the community, the kind of forethought that shows he’s a real watch guy. True to the Use Your Tools ethos, Jonny’s Seamaster isn’t relegated to formal occasions or his Navy dress uniform, instead seeing action during NASA’s nonstop training operations in the leadup to Kim’s first space flight in 2025. Update: After spending his first couple of weeks onboard the ISS wearing Rolex models, Kim also debuted the SEAL Seamaster in space on 20 May 2025, likely marking the first time one of these unit Seamasters has left the Earth’s atmosphere. The SEAL Seamaster is non-date and has a matte-finished case and bracelet. Rolex & The International Space Station At some point during the lead-up to Jonny’s first space flight in early April, we noticed a shift from the aforementioned Omega SEAL Seamaster to Rolex, with several different Rolex models eventually making their way onto Kim’s wrist. In the arena of space flight, Omega rightfully receives much of the attention and marketing benefit, but Rolex is another brand that has been historically favored by astronauts going back to the Apollo days. Whether Kim’s jump to Rolex was motivated by the Crown’s space travel history or not, his first Rolex was a good one, with the SEAL-turned astronaut first opting for a Pepsi GMT. Rolex GMT-Master II 126710 Kim wearing a GMT-Master II on an Oyster bracelet. (Photo Credit: NASA) The first Rolex on Kim’s wrist was a GMT-Master II “Pepsi” on an Oyster bracelet. As a model family, the GMT-Master, which dates back to 1959, is the Rolex most closely associated with astronauts, with at least one example having been worn on the Moon by Edgar Mitchell during Apollo 14 in 1971. The GMT’s complication also makes a lot of sense for an astronaut working in space. The ISS subscribes to UTC/GMT for its timing needs, but it’s reasonable to assume an American astronaut like Jonny might like to know his family’s home timezone or the time of day at NASA’s Houston headquarters. The GMT-Master II is capable of tracking three time zones and would, for someone interested in using a mechanical watch in space, serve as a useful tool. Kim’s Rolex GMT-Master II is likely the 126710. The W.O.E. community was quick to catch on when NASA photos showed Kim wearing the GMT during training, and we wondered whether the SEAL-turned astronaut might be bringing the Rolex Pepsi with him to outer space. Rolex Daytona 126500 Kim wearing his Daytona in the final days before he blasted off for the ISS. (Photo Credit: NASA) Despite initially appearing dedicated to his GMT-Master II, in the final days leading up to Kim’s space flight in early April, he was photographed wearing yet another Rolex, this time the legendary and much sought-after Daytona chronograph. It’s not as prolific a watch in space travel history, previously worn in space on two documented occasions, but the appearance of a second Rolex in Kim’s arsenal was a surprise and a powerful indicator of the astronaut’s inclusion in the watch community. Jonny Kim’s Rolex Daytona could be the reference 126500 that comes in at $16,000 retail. Like the GMT, the Daytona provides a utilitarian argument because of its mechanical analog chronograph, theoretically offering a backup stopwatch that could prove useful for certain critical functions in space travel. Again referencing the Omega Speedmaster, which was used to famously time a critical 14-second engine burn during Apollo 13’s daring return to Earth, a capable chronograph can still be a useful tool even when it is housed within a $16k watch. When Kim arrived on the International Space Station on 08 April 2025, it was the Daytona on his left wrist, leaving us to wonder whether the GMT-Master II was tucked away in a W.O.E. Travel Pouch somewhere else onboard. Rolex Submariner 126610 Kim wearing a remarkable second Rolex in space, this time the Submariner Date. (Photo Credit: NASA) Days after arriving at the ISS, Kim did indeed debut another Rolex model beyond his Daytona, but rather than the expected GMT-Master II, it was a remarkable third Rolex, a Submariner Date. Astronauts working on the ISS are allotted a tiny amount of personal items, allegedly as little as 3.3 lbs. Using a significant portion of that allotment to carry not one but two Rolex models into space is further evidence that Kim isn’t just a guy wearing a Rolex to show off on the golf course but rather a dedicated student of the Use Your Tools ethos. Kim’s Submariner is likely a reference 126610. Perhaps even more than his GMT or Daytona, the Submariner makes a lot of sense for Jonny Kim, as the Submariner occupies a position of cultural importance for current and former SEALs, with many frogmen over the years saving up for a Rolex Submariner to commemorate a reenlistment, significant deployment, or promotion. Shturm (Штурм) 75967452 Kim and his Russian crewmates wearing an obscure Shturm unit watch. As Kim began final preparations for his launch to the International Space Station in Kazakhstan, he wore another, more obscure watch on the outside of his spacesuit. We suspected it was Russian-made, given that Kim was riding to the ISS on a Soyuz spacecraft and wearing a cosmonaut's suit, but we couldn’t initially identify the watch as being from any of the more prominent Russian watchmakers. The watch itself was also intriguing, with a vaguely Submariner-style case with a ceramic bezel and what appeared to be the Soyuz MS-27 mission insignia at twelve o’clock. A special version of the Shturm (Штурм) 75967452 was worn by Kim on his way to the ISS. After posting the watch, an eagle-eyed member of the community on the W.O.E. LinkedIn page correctly identified it as a Shturm, apparently a unit-specific version of reference number 75967452. According to a hasty Google translation of the product page, the watch is 43mm, housed within a titanium case, and powered by a mechanical Seiko caliber. We’re guessing wearing this particular watch wasn’t up to Kim, but it’s still interesting to see Roscosmos investing in a custom watch and even supplying it to American astronauts. Jonny Kim For President Is Jonny wearing a Rolex Datejust in this image, a staggering fourth Rolex? Given that Kim has already worn two of his Rolex models and his Omega Seamaster in space, will we see the GMT-Master II appear on the ISS on Kim’s wrist at some point, marking a likely unprecedented four mechanical watches taken into space by a single astronaut in a single space flight? In addition, we’ve seen Kim wearing what appears to be a Rolex Datejust with his NASA flight suit, meaning the astronaut could be the owner of four Rolex models. Viewed by any measure, Jonny Kim is an impressive human being, having served with distinction in the SEAL Teams before attending medical school and ultimately becoming a NASA astronaut. At W.O.E., we believe that watches are tools and talismans, useful objects capable of serving as a home for shared experiences that can and should accompany you through all of life’s adventures, a point of view Jonny Kim, the former SEAL, medical doctor, and astronaut, can clearly get behind. While we don’t know anything about Kim’s politics, we are already casting our vote for Jonny as the President of the United States in 2028. If you enjoyed this article, please consider signing up for our weekly free newsletter for further updates HERE. Read Next: A Navy SEAL Turned Mercenary & A Rolex Submariner

Water Resistance, Spring Bars, & Straps For The Use Your Tools Lifestyle By Benjamin Lowry Last week, W.O.E. wrote about the importance of integrating watches into our daily lives. Watches are a talisman of a life well-lived, and this can only be true if you wear them, not keep them in a safe. Summer is an opportunity to build lasting memories, and whether spear fishing off the coast of Kailua-Kona or (more realistically) splashing in the kiddie pool with your three-year-old, there are certain considerations and precautions you should take with your watches. Risk mitigation is about preparation, not risk elimination. Use Your Tools - Summertime Edition Use Your Tools is our ethos year-round, but the warmer months are when most watches encounter the types of risks that could see them irreversibly damaged. The beach, swimming, hiking, irresponsible firework usage, outdoor sports, and—for a select few—diving all pose existential threats to the welfare of our beloved watches. With that in mind, we’ve compiled a list of recommendations and best practices for how to keep your watches dry, safe, and in action this summer. Because it doesn’t matter whether it’s a Rolex Sea-Dweller or a Casio Duro if the crown is unscrewed as you scream “watch this” and drunkenly cannonball into your local swimming hole. If you came here for brightly-colored dials, you’re in the wrong place. This is about Use Your Tools. If you came here looking for a hastily-constructed list of watches with orange, pink, or turquoise dials that complement your vintage Hawaiian shirt collection, this isn’t that. For buying advice, check out: What Should I Buy For My First Watch? and Best Military Watches. If you’re looking to Use Your Tools all summer long without an expensive trip to your preferred watchmaker, you’re in the right place. Water Resistance - Myth vs. Reality Whether you’re a “real” diver or not, understanding water resistance is important. (Photo Credit: Geoff Gerrits) One of the most misunderstood aspects of watches is “water resistance”, which is typically spelled out on the dial or caseback as an amount of meters (or atmospheres) of water pressure your watch can theoretically withstand. You’ll commonly see 30m, 50m, 100m, 200m, or sometimes even higher ratings for “professional” dive watches. But does this mean you’re all good to take a 30-meter-rated watch almost 100 feet underwater? Not exactly. A modern dive watch with 200 meters of water resistance, like W.O.E.’s black Tudor Pelagos FXD, should have no issues with even the most aquatic summertime activities. (Photo Credit: James Rupley/W.O.E.) According to the International Standards Organization (ISO), a 30-meter-rated watch is “suitable for everyday use” and “splash/rain resistant,” but “not suitable for showering, bathing, swimming, snorkeling, water-related work, fishing, and diving.” Ouch. Though you’d probably be fine with a 100-meter rating, it is not until the 200-meter mark that ISO says you’re more universally good to go diving. There is also a separate standard, ISO 6425, that defines the minimum standards for a professional diving watch. If your watch conforms to ISO 6425, you’re more than likely good to go. Learn a lot more about what constitutes a dive watch HERE Not every watch is a dive watch. (Photo Credit: James Rupley/W.O.E.) This is also all assuming your watch is in good working order and has been pressure tested recently by a competent watchmaker who understands you intend to take the watch underwater. When it comes to water resistance, to quote De Niro in Ronin, “Whenever there is any doubt, there is no doubt.” Bringing a flooded watch back to life is an expensive and time-consuming ordeal, and it’s better to err on the side of caution. Crown Check Even the most water resistant watch still needs its crown screwed down to do the job. Always check. (Photo Credit: Benjamin Lowry) Ask any watchmaker or brand customer service representative, and they’ll tell you that, beyond misunderstanding water resistance, the most common reason watches flood is human error. The modern screw-down watch crown was designed to keep water out, but it can’t perform its purpose if its not screwed in. Virtually all modern dive watches have screw-down crowns, but that doesn’t do you any good if you don’t bother to check before entering an aquatic environment. If your screw-down crown looks like this, you are not ready to enter the water. This straightforward operation, coined by friend of W.O.E. James Stacey as the “crown check”, is exactly as it sounds, giving a screw down crown that little bit of a clockwise twist just to be sure. If you’re taking a 100-meter-rated watch with a non-screw-down crown into the water, the risk is inherently greater, and you’re definitely still going to want to check that the crown is in its innermost pushed-in position. Straps & Spring Bars A pull-through nylon strap is one of the best options for aquatic use. (Photo Credit: Brock Stevens) Another important consideration for being active in or around the water is the strap or bracelet, as even the very best watches aren’t very good if they fall off at an inopportune moment. To start, the idea that any tool watch not secured by a pull-through strap is destined for total loss following spring bar failure is overblown, but straightforward nylon straps do provide an additional measure of security while also being inexpensive and convenient. When I was working as a diver, I wore a pull-through nylon strap most of the time. For more on the W.O.E. strap collection, click HERE. After pull-through straps, I would argue a bracelet with solid end links is the next most secure method of attachment. However, bracelets are not necessarily the best move in the summer, when sweaty, swollen wrists might make a bracelet less comfortable than a more flexible rubber or nylon option. If you have a slick micro-adjustment system like Rolex’s Glidelock or Tudor’s T-Fit, a bracelet is likely to work well all summer long with some adjustment while also being impervious to water. A CWC SBS Diver (with fixed lug bars) paired with a Glomar Explorer strap, a secure summer combination. (Photo Credit: James Rupley/W.O.E.) But just as any watch is only as good as its ability to stay on your wrist, any strap or bracelet is only as good as the spring bars that secure it to the watch case. Different types of spring bars and lug formats also make a difference where security is concerned. Watches like the Tudor Pelagos FXD or CWC’s collection of military watches utilize fixed lug bars that add a heightened level of peace of mind. If your watch has drilled lugs, you can use shoulderless spring bars that also decrease the likelihood of an unfortunate “oh shit” moment no matter what type of strap is being used. Three Watches For A Use Your Tools Lifestyle As promised, we’re not here to argue that your entire watch collection needs to shift to brightly-colored dials on 01 May, but certain watches do lend themselves to use during the warmer months for one reason or another. Dive watches are the easy answer, but we will include another option that also gets the job done while being easier to wear in more refined settings. We’ll also keep this brief list on the more attainable side, as the primary watch of your summertime Use Your Tools adventures might take a beating. Citizen “Fugu” Promaster Dive Automatic - $595 Sometimes overshadowed by Seiko, the Toyota of watches, Citizen is another Japanese brand that has been reliably producing inexpensive yet great tool watches for decades. For summer use up to and including professional diving, the “Fugu” Promaster Dive Automatic is Citizen’s entry-level mechanical dive watch conforming to the ISO 6425 standard. If you’re still interested in getting a silly color, the Fugu collection includes dozens of variants while offering a hacking and hand-winding Miyota caliber, 200 meters of water resistance, and a surprisingly solid bracelet with solid end links to alleviate any spring bar failure fears. Hamilton Khaki Field Titanium Auto 38mm - $995 Hamilton is a formerly American brand that has been supplying the US Military since the First World War with watches that have inspired virtually all modern field watches. For summer use, we’d recommend the Khaki Field Titanium Auto, a newer introduction to Hamilton’s collection that feels more versatile than the OG Khaki Field Mechanical with 100 meters of water resistance, a Swiss automatic caliber with 80 hours of power reserve, and a lightweight titanium case. Available in either 38mm or 42mm, all the titanium Khaki Field Auto needs to be the field watch of summer is a Five Eyes Nylon Strap. CWC Ti300 Quartz Divers - $1,350 CWC is another brand with deep military roots, having been founded for no reason other than supplying the British Ministry of Defense (MOD). In 1980, CWC introduced its Royal Navy Diver, a dive watch designed to replace the legendary Rolex Military Submariner or Mil-Sub. Since then, there have been several iterations of the design, including the PVD-coated SBS introduced in 1987 and the more recently released titanium Ti300, which takes the core RN Diver design and adds a grade five titanium case with integrated lugs similar to the Tudor Pelagos FXD. With 300 meters of water resistance and fixed lugs that mean the watch isn’t going anywhere, CWC’s new titanium diver is another great option for summer use. Final Thoughts No matter which watch you choose for the warmer months, keeping a careful eye on the water resistance, strap options, spring bars, and completing the obligatory crown check will help keep your watch in place and running its best. With that being said, this is your reminder to spend the summer with a watch on your wrist, whether you’re hiking, swimming, scuba diving, or deploying overseas. Use Your Tools is our ethos year-round, but summertime allows even more opportunities to get out there and create some memories with your watches. For a lot of us, winter is always waiting around the corner, making summer days a precious resource. Don’t waste them. If you enjoyed this article, please consider signing up for our weekly free newsletter for further updates HERE. Read Next: Best Watches Under $1,000 - Ask the Experts