Omega & Breitling to the Moon, Arnie’s Arnie Up for Auction, a New DHS Secretary with a Quartz Chronograph, CJCS Caine with a New Breitling Unit Watch, a “Dream Girl” Rolex Robbery, & More Watch Crime
By Benjamin Lowry
Our most eagle-eyed readers may have noticed the much-anticipated Watch Industry Situation Report (SITREP) for March 2026 is hot and ready, but a few days late. I humbly apologize, but our tardiness is for good reason. W.O.E. and I have been hard at work shooting new episodes for the Watches of Espionage YouTube Channel, and you are going to like them, probably a lot. Stay tuned.
With that being said, the news cycle waits for no man, and it’s past time for a fresh W.O.E. Situation Report. If you’re new here, welcome. The SITREP is a monthly download of watch and/or espionage-related current events, all paired with our razor-sharp commentary. We also love watch-related crime. The only rule is that we don’t do politics, using timepieces as a lens through which to view history and current events. If something you read here makes you feel agitated, uncomfortable, or sassy, we suggest expressing your ire in the comments.
The past few weeks have been action-packed. Some astronauts are going to the Moon and bringing cool watches. CJCS Dan Caine’s watch collection continues to grow, and a new DHS Secretary keeps it humble. The Seiko “Arnie” worn by the real Arnie in 1987’s Predator sold for big bucks. A drug dealer used a Rolex business as a front, a California burglar was arrested with $6M in stolen luxury goods and watches, and, after a long few months, we have a triumphant return to Rolex-thieving ladies of the night, this time with neck tattoos. Nice.
Buckle up, buttercup, it’s time for the SITREP.
Artemis II Astronauts Return to the Moon with Omega & Breitling Watches
(Photo Credit: NASA)
On 01 April, four astronauts blasted off from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The objective of their ten-day mission is to fly around the Moon and return to Earth, marking mankind’s first return trip to the Moon’s immediate vicinity since Apollo 17 in 1972. The link between astronauts and watches has always been strong, and several members of the Artemis II crew are keeping the tradition alive. Pre-launch, at least three of the four crew members wore notable timepieces, including a Breitling Cosmonaute on the wrist of Mission Commander Reid Wiseman, and Omega X-33 models on the wrists of astronauts Victor Glover and Christina Koch.
A pair of Omega X-33s and a Breitling Cosmonaute—probably not this Scott Carpenter Centenary model—are headed to the Moon. We love to see it.
Omega’s history with the space program is well-established, and the X-33 is the only standard-issue watch for US Astronauts in 2026, providing an analog-digital format in a titanium case. The Breitling Cosmonaute is also as legit as it comes, having been famously worn by Mercury-Atlas 7 Scott Carpenter. The specific blue-dialed reference worn by Wiseman does not appear to be in Breitling’s current catalog, and we have heard this is a new model to be announced shortly. In any case, we’ll be keeping our eyes peeled for watches as the crew takes a lap around the Moon on April 6th before returning to Earth on the 10th, if all goes to plan.
(Photo Credit: NASA)
Of note, Artemis II plans to splash down in the Pacific Ocean, meaning we also may see US Air Force Pararescuemen getting in on the recovery action. More on the role of watches in astronaut recovery operations can be found HERE.
Dan Caine Wears a Breitling Unit Watch
CJCS Dan Caine wearing a Bretiling B-1 unit watch. (Photo Credit: DVIDS)
At W.O.E., we are the type of dudes that keep an eye out for spicy photos of military members wearing watches. One subject that also seems to pay off is Dan “Razin” Caine, a former F-16 pilot and the current Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. It is well established at this point that Caine is one of us, with a Rolex GMT-Master II 116710LN, a Sky-Dweller, and a Tudor Pelagos in his collection, but until a few days ago, we were unaware of the depth of General Caine’s watch game.
In the Air Force, being a “Patch Wearer”, one of many titles General Caine has earned, is a thing. (Photo Credit: US Air Force)
In a photo dated 01 April, Caine wore a Breitling B-1 unit watch with the US Air Force Weapon School crest at nine o’clock while speaking to reporters about the ongoing Iran War. The B-1 is, along with the Aerospace, one of the most common platforms for Breitling’s once-proud unit watch program. Graduates of the US Air Force Weapons School (USAFWS) are known as “Patch Wearers” and considered among the USAF elite.
Where the plot thickens is that shortly after downloading said image showing said Breitling, it was removed from public government databases and the internet at large. While we can’t be sure why the image was scrubbed, it’s still sketchy.
Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Screen-Worn Seiko “Arnie” Sells at Auction for Almost $50k
If you really wanted Arnie’s actual Seiko H558-5009, which you should, it would have set you back $50k.
For members of the W.O.E. Community, the importance and influence of 1987’s Predator is difficult to overstate. From showcasing realistic special operations small unit vs. predatory alien tactics to an Arnold physique that the legendary actor and bodybuilder had to lose weight to achieve, an entire generation of practitioners was undeniably impacted by the film. For watch nerds, the movie also showcases the Seiko H558-5009, an analog-digital diver unveiled in 1982 and known today as the “Arnie”. Worn by Schwarzenegger in Predator as well as 1985’s Commando, the watch’s whereabouts were unknown until recently, when the film-worn watch was sold at a recent Propstore auction. According to its serial number, the watch was produced in 1983.
Other than needing a battery, the Seiko H558 worn by Arnie in Predator looks pretty good. (Watch Photo Credit: Propstore Auctions)
Where solid vintage examples of this reference typically go for $1,000 or less, the Predator prop watch hammered for $47,250. This is big money for a vintage Seiko, but also a relative bargain compared to screen-worn examples of Bond watches, Marlon Brando’s bezel-less GMT-Master, and many other notable timepieces of film. In any case, we are big fans of Seiko, a brand we have called the Toyota of watches, and seeing Arnie’s watch get at least some of the attention it deserves is what we like to call the good stuff. What is sure is that the watch’s appearance on Arnie’s substantial wrist inspired countless Special Forces men, Navy SEALs, and numerous other practitioners to select the H558 for operational use.
New DHS Secretary Wears a Humble Citizen
Secretary Markwayne Mullin appears to wear a straightforward Citizen chronograph.
Markwayne Mullin is the new Secretary of Homeland Security, having been sworn into office on 24 March. Mullin’s background is diverse, with his DHS website profile describing the incoming secretary as a successful business owner, working cow-calf rancher, and member of the Cherokee Nation, in addition to highlighting his undefeated former career as a professional MMA fighter. Where his predecessor, Kristi Noem, wore a solid gold Rolex Daytona reference 126508 that would have set her back $47,000 (at retail), Mullin takes a more humble approach with what appears to be a straightforward quartz chronograph.
Any guesses on the new DHS Secretary’s watch?
At first, I thought this could be the very same Citizen Eco-Drive CA0131-55L worn by former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, which would have been an eyebrow-raising coincidence. However, closer inspection leads me to believe the watch is more likely still a Citizen, but some other model, or even a fashion watch from another brand. In any case, for high-level political figures, nothing is an accident, and an inexpensive quartz chronograph on the new DHS Secretary sends a very different message compared to Noem’s gold Daytona. If any of you eagle-eyed nerds think you know what this watch is, be sure to leave a comment.
Watch Crime Blotter
It’s hard to believe, but we’ve been cranking out the Watch Industry SITREP for well over a year at this point, and one of the creamy themes that has risen to the top is our appreciation of watch-related crime. Whether presented as cautionary tales or simply as an exploration of the nether regions of the timepiece world, we can all learn a thing or two from the nefarious watch-related misadventures of others. This month’s blotter has a little bit of everything, from money laundering to good old-fashioned burglary to an unwelcome but entertaining return to “bad date” robberies.
UK Drug Dealer uses Rolex Business to Launder Money, Traffic Narcotics
Convicted drug dealer Bertie Payne used a Rolex business as a front for his nefarious dealings. (Photo Credit: Kent Police)
A convicted drug dealer who used a second-hand Rolex dealer business as a front for his criminal activities has been sentenced to 15 years in jail. According to Kent police, “Bertie Payne, aged 30, led a group of seven men who supplied and distributed 24kg of cocaine, 10kg of ketamine, and 5,000 ecstasy tablets across east Kent between August 2024 and January 2025”. To cover his tracks and launder his ill-gotten gains, Payne ran a secondhand Rolex business called About Bezels Ltd. and was arrested with an inventory of 38 watches, mostly from Rolex, valued at over $500k.
We have covered the role played by timepieces in espionage operations as well as money laundering, and this is yet another example of the power of timepieces as transferable stores of value. Our ethos will always be to Use Your Tools, but it’s important to remember that not all of the ways a watch can be utilized are above board. I’m not sure how it works in the UK, but it might be a good idea to keep an eye out for a future police auction in the greater Kent area. Those 38 watches have to end up somewhere…
Accused Burglars Arrested with $6M in Luxury Goods, Rolex Watches
Some of the haul from a Southern California house belonging to a pair of accused burglars. (Photo Credit: El Segundo Police Department)
In Temecula, California, two accused burglars were arrested in connection with a January burglary and found with no less than $6M in luxury goods in their residence. Upon their arrest, police reported finding over 100 handbags, 22 high-end watches from Rolex, Audemars Piguet, and Patek Philippe, 20 firearms, gold coins, and cash. According to authorities, the suspects are believed to have been at the center of a residential burglary crew operating across Southern California. As we discussed in our Dispatch article about safeguarding watches within the home, burglary is a constant source of risk for anyone with a luxury watch collection, and you can never be too prepared or aware.
“Dream Girl” Jailed After Allegedly Stealing $35k Rolex in Miami Beach
Deonasia Walker has an arguably misleading tattoo that reads “Dream Girl”. (Photo Credit: Local 10 News)
A 21-year-old Austin, Texas woman named Deonasia Walker has been jailed in connection with a so-called “bad date” robbery that allegedly took place after meeting her victim at Fontainebleau Miami Beach back in January. After agreeing to an all-in price of $1,000 for sexual services, authorities say Walker accompanied her victim to his hotel room, where, after rendering said services, the victim fell asleep. That’s when Walker allegedly absconded with the victim’s $35k Rolex, which she later pawned for $13k across town. The best part? Walker has a neck tattoo that reads “Dream Girl”, a description her victim may find less than accurate.
This isn’t the first time we’ve covered ladies of the night doing some impromptu Rolex borrowing, so here are a few takeaways we’re going to share once again. If you’re a tourist in Miami Beach, consider not wearing a $35k watch. If you’re a tourist in Miami Beach heading to the Fontainebleau and looking for paid company for the evening, really strongly consider not wearing a $35k watch. And if you’re a tourist in Miami Beach, heading to the Fontainebleau, looking for paid company for the evening, and hoping to grab some shuteye after doing the deed, with said “Dream Girl”-tattooed sex worker still in the room, then really, truly, please don’t wear your $35k watch. Enough said.
Final Thoughts
And that’s the SITREP for March; late to the wire, but heavy on the hits. From lunar orbits to the pawn shop counters of Miami, from the wrists of astronauts and four-star generals to the evidence lockers of local police departments, the humble wristwatch continues to punch far above its weight. These aren’t just tools for telling time; they’re signals, currency, trophies, and, occasionally, accomplices. Whether strapped over a flight suit, paired with a tailored uniform, or slipped off in the wrong hotel room at the wrong time, a watch always tells a story. The trick, as always, is knowing how to read it. That’s where we come in.
As we roll into April, we’ll be watching closely, both for what’s happening and what’s being quietly removed, edited, or left unsaid. Because in this world, the details matter, and the smallest detail is often sitting right there on someone’s wrist. Stay sharp, keep your head on a swivel, and, for the love of all things horological, remember to exercise common sense as you Use Your Tools.
If you enjoyed this article, please consider signing up for our weekly free newsletter for further updates HERE.
Read Next: Watch Industry SITREP - February 2026
