The hidden world of Secret Service unit watches, from CAT’s “HAWKEYE” Tudor to Omega and legacy Rolex pieces
On Saturday night, a gunman rushed the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, where President Donald J. Trump and other senior-level officials were present. The United States Secret Service and other law enforcement agencies responded, ultimately detaining the individual. Amidst the chaos, photojournalist Andrew Harnik jumped into action and captured a photo of a Secret Service CAT member on the stage, the “HAWKEYE” Tudor Pelagos Unit watch clearly visible on his wrist.
While the internet and talking heads will litigate what went wrong and any mistakes that were made, we want to take a step back and look at some of the watches of the Secret Service, and specifically, unit watches. Note, there have no doubt been mistakes made by the US Secret Service in recent years, but we admire anyone who answers the call to serve, especially in this hyper-political environment.
Secret Service HAWKEYE Pelagos LHD unit watch. (Photo Credit: Andrew Harnik)
As always, watches are our prism to view current events and national security. The USSS has a deep history with watches and is arguably one of the leaders in unit watches. While in the grand scheme of things, a watch may seem like an insignificant detail, it does say a lot about the individual Special Agent and the culture of the broader agency. The United States Secret Service (USSS) is tasked with protecting national leadership, including the President and Vice President, and has a long-standing relationship with unit watches. Today, we will explore a few of them.
US Secret Service HAWKEYE Pelagos LHD unit watch.
To review, a “unit watch” is a timepiece customized by a manufacturer for members of a specific military, intelligence, or law enforcement unit, agency, or squadron. These watches are not paid for by the agency (or US taxpayers), but are organized and bought by the specific members, in this case, US Secret Service Agents and Uniformed Division Officers.
Tudor Pelagos LHD - HAWKEYE
Secret Service HAWKEYE Pelagos LHD unit watch. (Photo Credit: Andrew Harnik)
The Tudor on the wrist of the CAT assaulter was not just any watch; it was a custom LHD Pelagos produced specifically for the Counter Assault Team, or CAT. CAT is a specialized tactical element that delivers continuous worldwide support to the Presidential Protective Division and, when directed, assists with other protectees, secured locations, and National Special Security Events. HAWKEYE is the designation for CAT when assigned to the President.
In late 2022, the US Secret Service Counter Assault Team commissioned the custom Tudor Pelagos LHD unit watch with red HAWKEYE text on the dial. The watch also features the Team’s insignia, a cat's paw around a Secret Service Star on the caseback. The HAWKEYE Pelagos is unique in that it is an early example of a Tudor unit watch from before they exploded in popularity. Approximately 50 were produced in the initial run.
Secret Service HAWKEYE Pelagos LHD unit watch with a challenge coin, a patch, and a custom Half Face Blades knife.
The Tudor Pelagos LHD is a robust version of Tudor’s titanium dive watch with a 42 millimeter case, a helium escape valve, and 500 meters of water resistance. The “Left Hand Drive” Pelagos differs from the standard version in that the crown is located at the nine o'clock position. In addition to appealing to left-handed users, the left-side crown is considered by many right-handed users to be preferable when shooting, diving, or doing pushups because it prevents the crown from pressing into the wrist.
"The Shield Protects The Crown." We cannot think of a more poetic real-life representation of this saying.
Omega Seamaster Diver 300M
In recent years, Omega revived its unit watch program in the United States, primarily leaning into a special version of the Omega Seamaster Diver 300 with a matte case finish, a no-date display, and beige luminescent material on the indices and hands. The US Secret Service was one of the first organizations to receive this watch, which was made available to both Special Agents and Uniformed Division Officers. The watch first appeared in mainstream media when we noticed it on the wrist of a Special Agent during the July 2024 assassination attempt on President Trump (Read HERE).
The Secret Service Star is engraved on the caseback, along with “Worthy of Trust and Confidence”. In 1875, Secret Service Chief Hiram C. Whitley asked the United States Bureau of Engraving and Printing to design a new badge for the USSS, resulting in the first “Service Star”, which is still in use today. The five points of the star symbolize the agency’s core values: justice, duty, courage, honesty, and loyalty. In 1890, the Bureau modified the design, reducing its size to make the badge more practical for agents to carry. The caseback on this unit Seamaster displays the redesigned version.
On the bottom of the case, agents can add their commission book number or another unique identifier in subtle text.
Breitling Colt GMT
Acting Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe wearing a custom Breitling Colt GMT, with the USSS star at 6 o’clock in 2024. (Photo Credit: Graeme Jennings)
Once a leader in unit watches, Breitling produced a unit watch for the USSS, a seldom-seen older Colt GMT with the Service Star on the dial. We have seen this watch in the wild on several occasions, including on the wrist of former Secret Service Agent Dan Bongino and Acting Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe. The specifics of this watch are murky, but it was likely produced in the mid to late 2000s, quantity unknown.
Rolex Submariner
A Rolex Submariner customized in honor of the Secret Service's 150th anniversary. (Photo Credit: The Keystone)
While Tudor is now the leader of unit watches among Hans Wilsdorf’s brands, that wasn’t always the case. Prior to the arrival of current Rolex CEO Jean Frédéric Dufour in 2014, Rolex produced several customized unit watches for various organizations in Europe and the United States, a program Dufour ended shortly after taking the leadership position.
This 2015 Rolex Submariner 116610 was likely one of the last Rolex unit watches produced, potentially ordered before Dufour closed the program and handed it off to Tudor. An estimated 15 were produced to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the United States Secret Service. The watch was reportedly organized through the New York Field Office and sold through the USSS Employee Recreation Association (ERA). The watches were commissioned through the corporate program at Tourneau in New York. (Note, it is possible these watches were engraved locally and not officially a part of Rolex’s official unit watch program.)
Secret Service Director Sean Curran
(Photo Credit: White House)
In any agency, leadership and culture start at the top. Current USSS Director and career Secret Service Agent Sean Curran appears to be somewhat of a watch guy himself. Sworn in on 10 March 2025 in the Oval Office, Director Curran proudly displayed his Rolex Submariner reference 126610LV, known affectionately by watch nerds as the “Starbucks” due to its green bezel.
We love to see this, but it would be cool to see him wear one of the USSS unit watches, especially since he rose through the ranks of the service.
Oak and Oscar - Humboldt GMT
Where most of the brands producing unit watches represent the heights of Swiss luxury, at least one modest microbrand is on the wrists of Secret Service Agents. This custom Oak & Oscar Humboldt GMT was produced for the USSS starting in 2023 and has the service insignia on the dial. Coming in just over $2,000, this is a more affordable option in comparison to Tudor, Omega, and Breitling.
You may recognize Oak and Oscar, which was included in a previous Dispatch on American watch brands (Read HERE). Founded in 2015 by Chase Fancher and based in Chicago, the brand employs a full-time watchmaker to assemble each piece and focuses on producing versatile, “one-watch collection” designs with practical complications. Leaning into its Chicago roots, it also partners with the Horween Leather Company for straps, pairing US-based assembly with Swiss mechanical movements.
Secret Service Counter Assault Team Agent aboard a V-22 Osprey in New York City, 2024, with a custom Omega Seamaster 300M unit watch on his wrist.
Final Thoughts
In an era where nearly everything is filtered through a political lens, the United States Secret Service operates in a different space entirely. Regardless of administration, party, or public opinion, its mission remains constant: to protect the office. Today is arguably the most difficult time for those sworn to protect elected and appointed officials, and it has been a rough few years for the USSS with several notable and high-profile assassination attempts and failures.
Secret Service HAWKEYE Pelagos LHD unit watch. (Photo Credit: Andrew Harnik)
The watches on their wrists, whether a customized Tudor, Omega, or something more modest, reflect that quiet professionalism. They are not statements of status or ideology, but tools carried by individuals who have accepted a singular responsibility. Strip away the noise, and what remains is a culture built on duty, continuity, and an unwavering commitment to the mission.
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