Culture
Alex Honnold, Rolex, & the True Meaning of an Explorer
Last week, professional climber Alex Honnold free solo climbed Taipei 101, a 1,667-foot-tall tower in Taipei, Taiwan. The feat was streamed live to millions around...
Read OnLast week, professional climber Alex Honnold free solo climbed Taipei 101, a 1,667-foot-tall tower in Taipei, Taiwan. The feat was streamed live to millions around the globe and was quite the spectacle. Honnold is best known for his (even more impressive) June 2017 free solo ascent of El Capitan in Yosemite, which I would argue is one of the most significant athletic achievements of the modern era. I have never called myself a “fanboy” of anyone, but in an era where society rewards celebrities and influencers, it is refreshing to see a master of their craft be rewarded for their passion and efforts. I am a fan of Alex Honnold.
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The Watches I Wore Most in 2025 - Watches of Espionage
Despite owning more watches than any rational person should, I often find myself going back to the same watches, albeit for different reasons and use...
Read OnDespite owning more watches than any rational person should, I often find myself going back to the same watches, albeit for different reasons and use cases. Here are the top four (maybe five) watches I wore the most in 2025.
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A Venezuelan Oil Company's Tudor Submariners
How Venezuela’s National Oil Industry Quietly Issued Tudor Submariners to Working Divers - Over the weekend, as headlines filled with images of helicopters, explosions, and...
Read OnHow Venezuela’s National Oil Industry Quietly Issued Tudor Submariners to Working Divers - Over the weekend, as headlines filled with images of helicopters, explosions, and the arrest of Nicolás Maduro, Venezuela once again reminded the world that power often flows through oil. At Watches of Espionage, we often use watches as a lens to view history and current events. With that in mind, we want to take a look at a little-known story of horology history: the watches that supported the divers of Lagoven Sociedad Anónima, a state-owned Venezuelan oil company that operated from 1976 until the late 1990s.
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“There’ll Always Be A Christmas” - Rolex
We came across two remarkable advertisements from 1942 and 1943 in Rolex Magazine that transcend the watch industry. Whether they are altruistic or motivated by...
Read OnWe came across two remarkable advertisements from 1942 and 1943 in Rolex Magazine that transcend the watch industry. Whether they are altruistic or motivated by self-interest is open to interpretation, but they are inarguably profound given the historical context.
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W.O.E. 2025 Holiday Gift Guide - Top Picks From Other Brands
Our Favorite Tools & Accessories From The Community - In what has become one of our favorite holiday traditions, we are back with another list of...
Read OnOur Favorite Tools & Accessories From The Community - In what has become one of our favorite holiday traditions, we are back with another list of some of our favorite tools and accessories from a diverse array of brands with real ties to the W.O.E. Community.
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Is Breitling Still Sketchy?
“Sketchy dudes wear Breitling” has taken on a life of its own. What started as an inside joke between me and our 250k Instagram followers...
Read On“Sketchy dudes wear Breitling” has taken on a life of its own. What started as an inside joke between me and our 250k Instagram followers has been parroted throughout the internet and mainstream watch publications. If I’m being honest, I am kind of sick of hearing it myself. But is the Breitling of today still sketchy?
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Inside Dubai Watch Week & Dubai Airshow
Dubai is a contradiction. A booming metropolis in a lifeless and arid desert, which didn’t exist in its current form just decades ago. From Michelin-starred...
Read OnDubai is a contradiction. A booming metropolis in a lifeless and arid desert, which didn’t exist in its current form just decades ago. From Michelin-starred restaurants to vast malls and 6-star hotels, the overwhelming display of wealth and largesse is intoxicating. Emiratis maintain a conservative Arab culture, but Western practices (including alcohol consumption) are tolerated. Visitors from around the globe flock to Dubai to spend, make, and in many cases, store their wealth.
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Watch Industry SITREP - November 2025
This month has been a big one, with Swiss and US officials finally reaching a much-needed tariff agreement that sucks less than the former 39%...
Read OnThis month has been a big one, with Swiss and US officials finally reaching a much-needed tariff agreement that sucks less than the former 39% figure, a totally new Omega Planet Ocean that could end up on 007’s wrist, some intriguing watches in space, Oval Office clock drama that broke the internet, Keanu’s kindhearted letter to the FBI, a rare interview with the Rolex CEO, and more.
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What’s Your Grail Watch? W.O.E. Asks the Experts
If cost and scarcity didn’t matter, which watches would former intelligence officers, watch industry pros, firefighters, and Navy SEALs want for their personal collection?
Read OnIf cost and scarcity didn’t matter, which watches would former intelligence officers, watch industry pros, firefighters, and Navy SEALs want for their personal collection?
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W.O.E. Partner Profile: Leather Works Minnesota
One of our earliest partners, Leather Works Minnesota, has been making leather goods by hand in the United States since 1999.
Read OnOne of our earliest partners, Leather Works Minnesota, has been making leather goods by hand in the United States since 1999.
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Watch Industry SITREP - October 2025
From a high-profile heist targeting literal crown jewels in Paris to Vice President JD Vance returning to his Apple Watch-wearing ways to a French politician...
Read OnFrom a high-profile heist targeting literal crown jewels in Paris to Vice President JD Vance returning to his Apple Watch-wearing ways to a French politician accused of hiding his luxury watch, to a major slowdown in Swiss watch exports to the US, it’s been a big few weeks for the broader Watches of Espionage community.
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Designing a Dive Watch as a US Navy Diver
A US Navy Diver and EDC enthusiast customizes a niche French military dive watch to suit his underwater workplace. Brock Stevens is a US Navy...
Read OnA US Navy Diver and EDC enthusiast customizes a niche French military dive watch to suit his underwater workplace. Brock Stevens is a US Navy Diver and part of the photography team at W.O.E. He’s also an EDC nerd who has helped in the development of several of our custom tools, including the Birdwatcher and the Submersible Wrist Compass. When we heard Brock was leaning into his diving experience and design ethos to develop a dive watch, we asked him to tell the story of the design process and how the watch was informed by his experience in the Navy as well as his deep appreciation for the utility of mechanical watches.
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Affordable Watches For The W.O.E. Community
The Use Your Tools Ethos Is About Utility, Heritage, & Shared Experience, Not MSRP - The watch media landscape is replete with lists of “affordable”...
Read OnThe Use Your Tools Ethos Is About Utility, Heritage, & Shared Experience, Not MSRP - The watch media landscape is replete with lists of “affordable” watches, many of which are constructed based on brand input or marketing dollars, SEO optimization, or integrating affiliate links. The adage that you should not believe everything you read rings true, but for many, these lists are helpful, providing a useful starting point for further research for anyone who does not live among the weeds. With that in mind, we created a list of relatively affordable watches specifically tailored to the needs of our community.
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NASA Astronaut Candidate Wears An Omega Speedmaster
For Astronauts, Watches Are Tools & A Key Aspect Of Culture - In 2024, more than 8,000 individuals representing a diverse array of backgrounds and...
Read OnFor Astronauts, Watches Are Tools & A Key Aspect Of Culture - In 2024, more than 8,000 individuals representing a diverse array of backgrounds and fields of expertise applied to be part of NASA’s 2025 astronaut class.
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Watches in Space Exploration & Space Security
Humankind’s quest to explore the final frontier has always relied on the most cutting-edge technology, including mechanical and digital watches. After the successful launch of...
Read OnHumankind’s quest to explore the final frontier has always relied on the most cutting-edge technology, including mechanical and digital watches. After the successful launch of the Soviet Union’s Sputnik 1 satellite on 04 October 1957, a sense of fear and panic spread across the Western world.
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Watch Industry SITREP - September 2025
Trump Hangs With The Rolex CEO, A Taliban Casio On Display, Honoring Robert Redford, The Syrian President’s Patek Philippe, & Plenty Of Watch Crime.
Read OnTrump Hangs With The Rolex CEO, A Taliban Casio On Display, Honoring Robert Redford, The Syrian President’s Patek Philippe, & Plenty Of Watch Crime.
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Watches Of The White House & Oval Office
For Some Of The World’s Most Powerful & Influential People, A Watch Is Never Just A Watch - At Watches of Espionage, we view timepieces...
Read OnFor Some Of The World’s Most Powerful & Influential People, A Watch Is Never Just A Watch - At Watches of Espionage, we view timepieces as tools, serving dual duty as timing instruments and cultural symbols.
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In Watch Collecting, There Are No Rules
Forget The Insiders: The Only Rule Is To Wear What Matters To You - Over the weekend, The Wall Street Journal published an article, “Do...
Read OnForget The Insiders: The Only Rule Is To Wear What Matters To You - Over the weekend, The Wall Street Journal published an article, “Do Not Wear This Watch With a Suit! And Other Men’s Watch Rules to Know in 2025.” The article garnered significant attention, with many sending it in for our thoughts.
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Watch Industry SITREP - August 2025
Tudor In The Terminal List: Dark Wolf, Tariff Drama Heats Up, Keanu’s Stolen Watches Coming Home, Hans Wilsdorf Revelations, Fake Cartiers, & Facebook Marketplace Watch...
Read OnTudor In The Terminal List: Dark Wolf, Tariff Drama Heats Up, Keanu’s Stolen Watches Coming Home, Hans Wilsdorf Revelations, Fake Cartiers, & Facebook Marketplace Watch Crime - It is once again time for the W.O.E. SITREP, or Situation Report, our monthly amalgamation of news and events related to watches, intelligence, national security, and the military.
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Military & Intelligence Watch Spotting
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,...
Read OnThe 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.
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Three Affordable Watches I Used This Summer
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...
Read OnFrom 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.
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Watch Industry SITREP - July 2025
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...
Read OnWelcome 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.
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Felix Baumgartner, Zenith, & The Death Of Risk In Marketing
What Can A Tragic Accident Teach Us About The Watch Industry & The Risks Of Exploration? Earlier this month, Baumgartner, aged 56, tragically died instantly...
Read OnWhat 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.
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Ultimate Watch Buying Guide - Watches of Espionage
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....
Read OnThe 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.
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How To Safely Store Your Watches At Home
Your Friends & Neighbors - Lessons In Watch Security From A Suburban Heist Show - I rarely watch TV shows these days. Not because I’m...
Read OnYour 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.
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Watch Industry SITREP - June 2025
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...
Read OnA 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.
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The Watches Of B-2 Stealth Bomber Pilots
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...
Read OnIranian 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.
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The Rolex Killer - True Crime
A Rolex Unraveled A Bizarre Murder Mystery & Exposed A Conman - It's Never Just A Watch
Read OnA Rolex Unraveled A Bizarre Murder Mystery & Exposed A Conman - It's Never Just A Watch
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Watch Industry SITREP - May 2025
More Tariffs, Al Capone’s Patek, CIA Recruiting Ads, The Pope’s Apple Watch, Rolex Rippers Getting Busted, & More
Read OnMore Tariffs, Al Capone’s Patek, CIA Recruiting Ads, The Pope’s Apple Watch, Rolex Rippers Getting Busted, & More
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The Watches Of Jonny Kim
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...
Read OnThe 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
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