Swiss Tariffs Reduced, Jonny Kim’s D.T.W. in Space, a Rare Interview with the Rolex CEO, a Heartfelt Letter from Keanu to the FBI, a Totally New Planet Ocean, and Plenty of Watch Crime
By Benjamin Lowry
It’s hard to believe, but Thanksgiving has come and gone. We sincerely hope you ate your fill surrounded by family and friends, but now it’s time to grab your yule log, put on your Santa suit, and swing from the mistletoe into this month’s holiday-themed W.O.E. SITREP or Situation Report.
If you’re new here, the SITREP is our monthly amalgamation of current events covering intelligence, national security, the military, and watches, all paired with our mildly informed commentary.
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% 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.
As always, we’ll also check in with a Christmas dinner-sized helping of watch crime. Likely in honor of the holiday season, it’s been all quiet on the prostitutes-stealing-Rolexes front, but there’s plenty of other ne'er-do-well activity to unpack. Sit back, put on some tunes (W.O.E. prefers aggressive hip hop), and get ready for the SITREP.
US & Switzerland Reach Trade Deal Lowering Tariffs to 15%
President Trump’s new trade deal reduces the strain on Swiss exports to the United States. (Photo Credit: Getty Images)
Since the implementation of the 39% duty affecting Swiss exports to the United States back in August, we’ve closely followed the news. For watch brands and collectors, the news was damning for a Swiss watchmaking industry that has long counted the United States as its number one market. Price hikes hit several major brands, including Rolex, the undisputed industry leader, and the watch world waited with bated breath for some kind of resolution.
In mid-November, the other shoe dropped, and US trade representatives announced a new deal that, along with a number of finer points, reduced the duty figure to 15%. To be clear, that is still a serious number that will have broad, lasting effects on the industry we love, but thanks to the Overton Window, it still feels like a major improvement. There’s plenty of hearsay and conjecture about how the deal was done, but it’s possible that a never-before-seen desk clock played a role.
The photos of Trump’s desk clock that went viral after we posted them. Humble brag.
On 09 November, after a highly publicized visit by top Swiss business executives to the White House, we noticed and wrote a Dispatch about a Datejust-themed desk clock given by Rolex CEO Jean-Frédéric Dufour to President Trump. Following our coverage, the story went viral, appearing on Hodinkee, Reuters, GQ, and many others, with many positing the clock was given in an effort to encourage a resolution in the tariff situation. We’ll never know whether the clock made the difference, but given the timing of the new deal, we can’t help but wonder.
SEAL-Turned-Astronaut Jonny Kim Swaps Rolex & Omega for an Intriguing Digital Tool Watch in Space
At W.O.E., we are unabashedly big fans of Jonny Kim, a former Navy SEAL, Harvard-trained medical doctor, and current astronaut we have called “Captain America” on several occasions. Since arriving on board the International Space Station back in April, Kim has worn a staggering four mechanical watches in space, including three Rolex models, a Daytona, a GMT-Master II, and a Submariner, as well as an Omega Seamaster Diver 300 SEAL unit watch.
Kim wearing a mysterious Digital Tool Watch. If anyone knows the specific reference, be sure to let us know in the comments. (Photo Credit: NASA)
More recently, Kim has been using a well-worn Digital Tool Watch (D.T.W.) while working on the ISS, which could be an older Casio Pro-Trek model paired with what appears to be a Suunto M-9 wrist compass somehow affixed to the strap.
Like many GWOT-era SEALs, Kim wore a Casio G-Shock during his combat deployments to Iraq, but it’s particularly interesting to see the astronaut reach back into his impressive watch bag for an inexpensive digital Casio over his Swiss luxury tool watches. We would imagine the reason is utility, as there are numerous timing tasks for experiments and other aspects of daily life on the ISS. Still, we’d love to ask him ourselves, so if anyone knows how to reach LCDR Kim, do us a solid and help us out.
Rolex CEO Grants Rare Interview During Dubai Watch Week
Rolex CEO Jean-Frédéric Dufour typically avoids interviews. (Photo Credit: Hodinkee)
At Dubai Watch Week, an event that provides rare access to some of watchmaking’s heads of state, Rolex CEO Jean-Frédéric Dufour again made the news with a rare interview where he discussed his views on the famously closed brand’s business strategies. Approaching topics such as AI and automation, how to make watchmaking “sexy” for younger consumers, the role of certified pre-owned in retail, and the Apple Watch, the interview is a rare look behind the curtain of one of luxury’s most secretive brands.
W.O.E. also attended the show, and he’s already hard at work on a Dispatch discussing his takeaways not only from Dubai Watch Week but also the Dubai Airshow, which showcased a surprising amount of next-gen military aviation tech. Look out for that next week.
A New Omega Planet Ocean & What It Means for 007
Did Omega just unveil the new Bond watch on the dreamy ATJ? (Photo Credit: Omega)
We are not the platform for bombarding your notifications with new releases, but certain novelties encroach upon the purview of W.O.E. Last week, Omega unveiled a massively revamped Planet Ocean collection that killed the polarizing helium escape valve while adding angular case architecture that has divided the watch nerd community. From a W.O.E. perspective, who cares, you may ask? Well, press images show Omega ambassador Aaron Taylor-Johnson, who many believe will be the new James Bond, wearing the watch, which begs the question: Could some version of the new Planet Ocean be the next Bond watch?
Keanu Reeves Writes a Letter to Law Enforcement
The recovery of Keanu Reeves’ personalized Sub is a testament to the global nature of organized crime. (Photo Credit: Starz Entertainment/PDI Chile)
Moving into watch crime on a surprisingly positive note, we have covered the international tale of Keanu Reeves’ $125k luxury watch collection, which was stolen from his California home in 2023 before being recovered in Chile and ultimately returned to the actor earlier this year. Among the stolen watches was a Rolex Submariner engraved with the actor’s name and “2021, JW4, Thank You, The John Wick Five”. The watch is from a set gifted by the actor to his stunt team after filming 2023’s John Wick: Chapter Four.
Keanu’s letter to the FBI in its entirety. (Photo Credit: FBI)
Recently, Keanu penned a letter thanking law enforcement for their efforts in recovering the watches, specifically naming the US and Chilean units involved. Social media has led us to believe Keanu Reeves is an old-school good guy, and this development has us believing it, too. The letter concludes with:
“It is with profound gratitude and appreciation that I am writing this letter. Thank you so much for all your effort, dedication, professionalism, and cross-border cooperation. My warmest regards, Keanu."
If you’ll excuse us, it’s time to watch all of the John Wick movies again…
Malaysian Billionaire Robbed of Luxury Watch In London
Malaysian tycoon Vinod Sekhar is the chairman and CEO of the Petra Group.
In Southwest London, a 57-year-old Malaysian billionaire named Vinod Sekhar was violently robbed of his Richard Mille after being accosted by two men riding e-bikes. Still in treatment for a recent transplant, Sekhar reported he didn’t put up much of a fight, crediting his wife for acting like “a lioness” in repelling her husband’s attackers. According to authorities, 5,000 high-end timepieces worth over £3,000 ($4,000) have been stolen in London since 2022.
The incident is further proof that it doesn’t matter who you are when it comes to organized luxury watch theft. If a billionaire traveling with his entourage can be a target, so can you. And, if you’re traveling to London anytime soon, we’d recommend following our advice and leaving the Rolex at home. No one is going to roundhouse kick you for an F91W, probably.
Florida Man Caught Burgling with Drugs & a $30k Rolex in his Sock
Raymond O’Brien has been arrested for a burglary in Delray Beach, FL. (Photo Credit: Palm Beach County Jail)
Why is it always Florida? On 22 November, a man was caught mid-burglary at the luxurious home in Delray Beach, Florida. Unfortunately for the burglar, the homeowner was present, and police quickly responded, conducted a sweep of the home, and located the perpetrator in an upstairs bedroom, where he was quickly placed under arrest. This being Florida, the man was discovered with “...a key fob, a brown belt, a bottle of Oxycodone, $1,000 in Canadian cash, $50 U.S. dollars, and the victim’s $30,000 Rolex”, which was allegedly stashed in his sock.
The perp, Raymond O’Brien, has been charged with several counts and is currently being held without bond. Keeping your luxury watches safe while traveling or on the street is one thing, but safeguarding valuables at home has its own set of considerations, including something as simple as a safe. As we like to say, don’t be a soft target, and always watch out for “Florida Man”.
Final Thoughts
As we close out this month’s SITREP and shift fully into the chaos and charm of the holiday season, remember that the watch world rarely slows down, even when the rest of us are busy burning pies, dodging in-laws, and pretending eggnog is a real beverage. From SEAL space explorers to Swiss trade diplomacy, from Bond speculation to Rolex-related shenanigans across multiple continents, the gales of November blew in with plenty of stories reminding us why this strange intersection of watches, geopolitics, and human behavior (a man with a Rolex in his sock, for F’s sake) is endlessly entertaining.
As always, stay vigilant, stay curious, and stay tuned. December’s SITREP is already shaping up to be a wild one.
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