From Unit Watches To Counterintelligence Risks, The Content That Defined W.O.E. In 2025
With 2025 drawing to a close, let’s take a moment to recap some of the top Dispatch articles and YouTube videos from this past year. At W.O.E., our main focus is content, and to put it mildly, we are extremely proud of what we accomplished this year. From sharing a near definitive guide to Navy SEAL watches, continuing our discussion of Apple Watch counterintelligence risks, and our exploration of unit watches, we have documented some great stories for the community.
We have no plans to slow down in the new year, but for now, let’s see what resonated with our community in 2025.
10. 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 bombers took off from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri and set a course for Iran. Some eighteen hours later, three of the bombers struck two nuclear sites in Iran, utilizing a bomb called the GBU-57 A/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP), also known as a “bunker buster”, for its first operational strike.
9. 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” 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.
8. Taking A $15 Casio F91W 5,000 Meters Underwater
Pressure Testing An Affordable Watch & Understanding Deep-Sea Espionage
While the stories we tell typically explore the world of intelligence in the terrestrial sense, espionage and the deep sea have been closely linked for decades. Starting during the Cold War, a shadowy conflict has been waged on the ocean floor. From submarines and divers tapping (or cutting) cables to deep-sea acoustic listening stations and the clandestine recovery of sensitive materials, controlling and monitoring the deep ocean is an unfamiliar yet critical component of intelligence and modern warfare.
7. The Best Military & Intelligence Unit Watches
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. A unit watch is a timepiece that is customized by the manufacturer for members of a specific unit or organization. Customizations generally include the unit’s insignia on the dial and/or an engraving on the caseback. Unit watches are generally private purchases, paid for by the individual operator, and not issued or purchased by the government.
6. Dear Mr. Vice President, Please Take Off Your Apple Watch
An Open Letter To JD Vance From A Former CIA Officer On The Counterintelligence Risks Of Smartwatches
As Vice President, you are now a priority intelligence collection target for the world's most capable bad actors, and the Apple Watch is an effective vector for potential exploitation. We do not doubt that hostile intelligence services are working around the clock to exploit (“hack”) your devices and would be genuinely surprised if they haven't already.
5. What Should I Buy For My First Watch?
Seiko, Hamilton, Timex, & More - Our Top Picks For Starter Watches Of Espionage
One of the most common questions we are asked is: “What should I buy for my first watch?” For new watch buyers, we have several resources, including Advice For Buying A Watch, The Best Military Watches For Land, Sea, & Air, and community submissions for some of the Best Watches Under $5,000. While they are all helpful, we have yet to provide a comprehensive list of some of our top picks for budding watch enthusiasts looking to make their first real purchase within the context of our community.
4. Inside the FBI’s Watch Culture
From Sketchy Breitlings to Rolex, Vacheron, & Bremont, The FBI Has A Serious Relationship With Watches
Established in 1908, the Federal Bureau of Investigation has adapted over the years from its original charter to include a broader NatSec-focused mission set, focusing on counter-terrorism, counterintelligence, and cyber crimes. With over a century of history, thirteen thousand special agents, and a broader workforce of some thirty-seven thousand, the FBI has a strong sense of heritage, which is evident in the watches worn by special agents and other key figures within the Bureau.
3. The Watches Of The Terminal List: Dark Wolf
Carefully Selected Timepieces From Tudor, G-Shock, Seiko, Panerai, Citizen, & RESCO Add Depth To Jack Carr’s Characters
The Terminal List: Dark Wolf takes Jack Carr’s universe deeper into the shadows, with Taylor Kitsch returning as Ben Edwards in a prequel that explores his transition to shadowy CIA operative after a troubling exit from the SEAL Teams. Like the original series from 2022, Carr’s fingerprints are all over the details, and nowhere is that more evident than in the timepieces selected for each of the prominent characters.
2. The Watches Of The Trump Administration
Rolex, Omega, Timex, & Patek Philippe Worn By US Political Leaders
As Donald Trump is once again sworn in as the President of the United States, we offer an unbiased look at the watches worn by not only Trump but also members of his Cabinet and close advisors. The watches worn by US Presidents and political appointees are seldom accidental, and you can learn a lot about a person from their timepiece.
1. The Real Watches Of Navy SEALs
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. But, as a result of high-profile missions during the Global War on Terror, including Operation Neptune Spear that killed Osama Bin Laden, not to mention a slew of films, tell-all books, and podcasts, SEALs have become mainstream famous. One byproduct of this newfound fame has been the overuse of the SEAL Trident for marketing purposes. Watch brands are in on it, too, with many claiming to manufacture the SEAL watch, but which timepieces actually deserve the honor?
YouTube Videos Top 5:
In 2025, the W.O.E. YouTube Channel reached a far wider audience than ever before, with top videos focusing on Navy SEAL watches, the Casio F91W, "inside-wristing", the James Bond-Omega Seamaster connection, and Seiko and Toyota each drawing hundreds of thousands of views. Our philosophy remains simple: make the videos we want to watch, not content designed to chase clicks. Our videos have allowed W.O.E. to educate, entertain, and inspire at scale, often reaching many times the audience of our written Dispatch articles.
Looking ahead, we plan to expand into documentary-style films and on-site interviews with practitioners and their collections. We have already started filming and are really excited to get these out to the community.
Here are our top videos from 2025:
3 comments
If Seiko is considered the Toyota of watches, then the Unitas 6497-1 and 6498-1 is the Land Rover defender. These movements are widely regarded as the “Land Rover Defender” of watch movements due to their simple, robust, and reliable design.
Movement Characteristics and Analogy
-Robustness and Simplicity: The Unitas movements are known for their large size and straightforward construction, originally designed for pocket watches in the 1950s. This simplicity makes them incredibly durable and easy for any watchmaker to service, much like the Defender’s utilitarian and easily repairable engineering.
-Reliability and Longevity: They are considered dependable “workhorse” movements that, with proper maintenance, can last for decades. This parallels the legendary, long-lasting reliability of a well maintained Land Rover Defender, especially the classic models, which are often spotted in harsh conditions and conflict zones due to their enduring performance.
-Versatility: The base movement is used in a wide range of watches, from no-name brands to luxury timepieces like Panerai, because of its adaptable design and reputation. The Defender, too, is a versatile icon, used for everything from luxury transport to rugged exploration.
-Ease of Maintenance: It’s one of the most widely used teaching calibers in watchmaking schools precisely because it’s easy to understand and handle, making repairs straightforward. This is similar to the Defender’s mechanical components being relatively simple to fix in the field.
In his book Watchmaking, George Daniels extensively discusses lower frequencies (such as 18,000 vph) as the technical ideal for high-precision, long-term horology. He explains that while high frequency movements (like 28,800 vph or higher) are popular for their theoretical resistance to shock, they come with significant mechanical disadvantages that he sought to avoid.
Advantages of Low Beat Calibers according to Daniels:
-Reduced Friction and Wear: Daniels explains that every vibration of the balance wheel causes friction, particularly at the impulse surfaces of the escapement. A lower beat rate (like the 18,000 vph of a Unitas 6497-1) undergoes fewer mechanical interactions per hour than a high-beat movement, leading to significantly less wear on components over decades of use.
-Lubrication Longevity: One of Daniels’ primary obsessions was the “lubrication problem”. High-frequency movements require modern, high-grade oils that can dry out or be flung away by the rapid motion of the parts. Slow beat movements are more forgiving of lubrication state, contributing to the “Land Rover” reliability.
-Mechanical Stability: Daniels believed the most stable regulating organ, not necessarily the fastest, enabled the best timekeeping. In Watchmaking, he notes that a larger, slower beating balance wheel has more inertia (or momentum), which makes it less susceptible to minor variations in the power delivered by the mainspring.
-The “Ideal Escapement” Criteria: He defined the ideal escapement as one that interferes as little as possible with the “natural motion of the balance”. A slower beat allows for a longer “free” oscillation period, which he considered more elegant and mechanically superior for a precision chronometer.
The core reason for Seiko’s legendary durability.
By opting for 21,600 vph (3 Hz) in its workhorse movements, like the 7S26, 4R36, and 6R35, Seiko utilizes the same mechanical trade offs George Daniels championed for long-term reliability.
Why 21,600 vph contributes to Seiko’s “Toyota” Reliability:
-Reduced Wear and Tear: A higher beat rate (like the Swiss standard 28,800 vph) causes the pallet stones to strike the escape wheel 2,400 more times every hour than a Seiko movement. Over 10 years, this translates to millions of fewer impacts for the Seiko, significantly extending the life of critical components.
-Lubrication Tolerance: As Daniels noted, high-beat movements are sensitive to oil drying out or being “shaken off” by rapid motion. Seiko’s 21,600 vph frequency is much more forgiving of aging lubricants, which is why Seiko watches are famous for running 15–20 years without a service (even if not recommended).
-Lower Mainspring Tension: Slower beat rates require less power to drive the balance wheel. This allows Seiko to use “softer” mainsprings that put less stress on the entire gear train, reducing the risk of snapped springs or worn-out pivots.
-Balance of Power and Efficiency: The 21,600 vph frequency is considered a “sweet spot” that provides better accuracy than a slow 18,000 vph pocket watch movement while maintaining the efficiency and longevity lost at 28,800 vph.
The Seiko “Magic Lever” Synergy
Beyond the beat rate, Seiko combines this frequency with the Magic Lever winding system. This system is mechanically simple and robust, ensuring that the watch stays wound with minimal moving parts that could fail.
While Daniels sought the ultimate “ideal” at 18,000 vph for his handmade masterpieces, Seiko’s 21,600 vph represents the industrial application of those same principles: prioritizing mechanical survival over high frequency “smoothness.”
Hands down the best watch media today. Merry Christmas and Hapoy New Year WOE.
HK P7 and Rolex watches – the best there is.