WOE Dispatch

SOG Seikos - Vietnam MACV-SOG Watches, Part II

SOG Seikos - Vietnam MACV-SOG Watches, Part II

Detailing the Lesser Known Fourth CISO-Issued “SOG Seiko” By Nick Ferrell - Watches of Espionage previously covered a trio of vintage Seiko dive watches worn by the U.S. Military’s ultra-secretive...

11 comments

SOG Seikos - Vietnam MACV-SOG Watches, Part II

Detailing the Lesser Known Fourth CISO-Issued “SOG Seiko” By Nick Ferrell - Watches of Espionage previously covered a trio of vintage Seiko dive watches worn by the U.S. Military’s ultra-secretive Military Assistance Command, Vietnam – Studies and Observat

Read More
11 comments
U.S. Presidents and Timepieces, The Last 40 Years

U.S. Presidents and Timepieces, The Last 40 Years

The watches of the most powerful men in the world, the Commander in Chief

14 comments

U.S. Presidents and Timepieces, The Last 40 Years

The watches of the most powerful men in the world, the Commander in Chief

Read More
14 comments
"Let's Roll" - A Hero's Rolex Frozen In Time - September 11, 2001

"Let's Roll" - A Hero's Rolex Frozen In Time - ...

Todd Beamer’s gold and steel Rolex was found among the debris from Flight 93. While the hands are disfigured and the sapphire crystal is gone, the date window–frozen in time–...

15 comments

"Let's Roll" - A Hero's Rolex Frozen In Time - September 11, 2001

Todd Beamer’s gold and steel Rolex was found among the debris from Flight 93. While the hands are disfigured and the sapphire crystal is gone, the date window–frozen in time– still reads “11.” Remembering the heroes of September 11th Attacks: On the morning of September 11th, 2001, Todd Beamer, a...

Read More
15 comments
Covert Influence in Watch Media

Covert Influence in Watch Media

A CIA Case Officer’s job is to steal secrets by recruiting and running assets - penetrations of a foreign government or hostile non-state actor. At the core of this trade...

24 comments

Covert Influence in Watch Media

A CIA Case Officer’s job is to steal secrets by recruiting and running assets - penetrations of a foreign government or hostile non-state actor. At the core of this trade is manipulating an individual to report on his or her organization and spy on behalf of the US Government.  A...

Read More
24 comments
Does Rolex Make Mistakes? The Motley 8 - Error Batman Bezel

Does Rolex Make Mistakes? The Motley 8 - Error ...

In Watch and Firearm Collecting, Details Matter I purchased a new Rolex GMT Master II “Batman” directly from an authorized Rolex dealer (“AD”). After photographing the watch in my studio,...

16 comments

Does Rolex Make Mistakes? The Motley 8 - Error Batman Bezel

In Watch and Firearm Collecting, Details Matter I purchased a new Rolex GMT Master II “Batman” directly from an authorized Rolex dealer (“AD”). After photographing the watch in my studio, I was surprised to see a production error that I had never seen before. In the “8” in the “18”...

Read More
16 comments
CIA Officer’s Love Affair with the Arabic Seiko

CIA Officer’s Love Affair with the Arabic Seiko

As I type this Dispatch, I am on a transatlantic flight to London for a short visit, a mix of business and pleasure.  As a former CIA Case Officer, separating...

28 comments

CIA Officer’s Love Affair with the Arabic Seiko

As I type this Dispatch, I am on a transatlantic flight to London for a short visit, a mix of business and pleasure.  As a former CIA Case Officer, separating the two can be difficult.  In my W.O.E. travel pouch is my Rolex GMT Master II 16710.  On my wrist...

Read More
28 comments
Ask Watches Of Espionage Anything, Part II

Ask Watches Of Espionage Anything, Part II

In this edition of the Dispatch, we answer some common questions we get about W.O.E., timepieces and the Intelligence Community at large. Many of these responses can even serve as...

47 comments

Ask Watches Of Espionage Anything, Part II

In this edition of the Dispatch, we answer some common questions we get about W.O.E., timepieces and the Intelligence Community at large. Many of these responses can even serve as stand alone stories– and probably will at some point–but for now, here’s some additional insight on Watches of Espionage. If...

Read More
47 comments
Aviation “Unit Watches”: Bremont Military and Special Projects Division

Aviation “Unit Watches”: Bremont Military and S...

One of the most common questions we receive from active duty military, law enforcement and intelligence officers is how to organize a “unit watch.”  We have previously profiled Tudor’s unit...

9 comments

Aviation “Unit Watches”: Bremont Military and Special Projects Division

One of the most common questions we receive from active duty military, law enforcement and intelligence officers is how to organize a “unit watch.”  We have previously profiled Tudor’s unit watch program and plan to cover all of the major players in this space.    UK-based Bremont Watch Company has made...

Read More
9 comments
Watches and Commercial Espionage: Waltham Watch Company

Watches and Commercial Espionage: Waltham Watch...

The connection between watches and the military, the dangers of commercial espionage and the influence of firearms manufacturing on the watch industry. by Aaron Stark In December 2022 I published...

5 comments

Watches and Commercial Espionage: Waltham Watch Company

The connection between watches and the military, the dangers of commercial espionage and the influence of firearms manufacturing on the watch industry. by Aaron Stark In December 2022 I published Disrupting Time: Industrial combat, espionage, and the downfall of a great American company. I got started on this mission of...

Read More
5 comments
Modern Navy SEAL Watch Culture - GBRS Group

Modern Navy SEAL Watch Culture - GBRS Group

Travel Pouch And Challenge Coin - Third Option Foundation Fundraise Modern Navy SEAL Watch Culture - GBRS Group and Watches of Espionage Collaboration  We have written extensively about the history...

5 comments

Modern Navy SEAL Watch Culture - GBRS Group

Travel Pouch And Challenge Coin - Third Option Foundation Fundraise Modern Navy SEAL Watch Culture - GBRS Group and Watches of Espionage Collaboration  We have written extensively about the history of Navy SEALs and watches.  From Tudor Submariner 7928’s issued in Vietnam and Seiko 6309-7049’s during the Cold War days...

Read More
5 comments
Hollywood Watches of Espionage

Hollywood Watches of Espionage

Mercenaries, Arms Dealers, CIA Contractors, and Navy SEALs – a timepiece can complement a fictional character. Watches play a significant role in film. An accurate depiction of a character often...

11 comments

Hollywood Watches of Espionage

Mercenaries, Arms Dealers, CIA Contractors, and Navy SEALs – a timepiece can complement a fictional character. Watches play a significant role in film. An accurate depiction of a character often includes a watch they might actually wear, and this is especially true in the military, intelligence and espionage genre. When...

Read More
11 comments
Watches of the War in Ukraine

Watches of the War in Ukraine

Watches of the War in Ukraine - Mercenaries, Presidents, Generals, and Oligarchs - a conflict of timepieces

9 comments

Watches of the War in Ukraine

Watches of the War in Ukraine - Mercenaries, Presidents, Generals, and Oligarchs - a conflict of timepieces

Read More
9 comments
Third Option Foundation Fundraise - GBRS AOR-1 Watch Pouch and Challenge Coin

Third Option Foundation Fundraise - GBRS AOR-1 ...

We are happy to announce the release of a special edition watch pouch and challenge coin in partnership with GBRS Group.  The pouch is constructed with repurposed issued AOR-1 camouflage...

2 comments

Third Option Foundation Fundraise - GBRS AOR-1 Watch Pouch and Challenge Coin

We are happy to announce the release of a special edition watch pouch and challenge coin in partnership with GBRS Group.  The pouch is constructed with repurposed issued AOR-1 camouflage uniforms worn by GBRS co-founders and former Navy SEALs Cole Fackler and DJ Shipley.  Each order includes a W.O.E.-GBRS challenge...

Read More
2 comments
Watches of Diplomatic Security

Watches of Diplomatic Security

Special Agent Mel Harrison served in the US State Department for twenty-eight years, mostly as a Regional Security Officer in the Diplomatic Security Service (DSS). The role of a DSS...

8 comments

Watches of Diplomatic Security

Special Agent Mel Harrison served in the US State Department for twenty-eight years, mostly as a Regional Security Officer in the Diplomatic Security Service (DSS). The role of a DSS Agent overseas is to advise the U.S. Ambassador on all security matters and to protect U.S. personnel, facilities, and information. ...

Read More
8 comments
Army Special Operations, 9/11, & The Asymmetric Warfare Group - Jose Gordon Part II

Army Special Operations, 9/11, & The Asymmetric...

If you haven’t had a chance to read Part I of this Dispatch, please check it out here. If you don’t, you’ll be confused.  by Benjamin Lowry After the initial combat jump...

5 comments

Army Special Operations, 9/11, & The Asymmetric Warfare Group - Jose Gordon Part II

If you haven’t had a chance to read Part I of this Dispatch, please check it out here. If you don’t, you’ll be confused.  by Benjamin Lowry After the initial combat jump and assault into Tocumen Military Airfield and two weeks of searching and numerous assaults, raids, and skirmishes, Jose’s team ultimately...

Read More
5 comments
A Saudi Astronaut’s Rolex GMT at the International Space Station

A Saudi Astronaut’s Rolex GMT at the Internatio...

Saudi astronaut Ali Alqarni peered out the window of the International Space Station (ISS). The bright blue glow of the earth’s atmosphere roughly 250 miles below him filled his vista. ...

3 comments

A Saudi Astronaut’s Rolex GMT at the International Space Station

Saudi astronaut Ali Alqarni peered out the window of the International Space Station (ISS). The bright blue glow of the earth’s atmosphere roughly 250 miles below him filled his vista.  He slid his Rolex “Pepsi” GMT-Master II off his wrist and let it go, the watch drifting, weightless, right in...

Read More
3 comments
Special Boat Service OMEGA Seamaster

Special Boat Service OMEGA Seamaster

Two British Tier One Special Operations units, the Special Air Service (SAS) and Special Boat Service (SBS), have a long and storied history of using high-end tool watches.  While this...

5 comments

Special Boat Service OMEGA Seamaster

Two British Tier One Special Operations units, the Special Air Service (SAS) and Special Boat Service (SBS), have a long and storied history of using high-end tool watches.  While this relationship was initially established through Ministry of Defence (MoD)-issued timepieces, including the highly-collectable Rolex Military Submariners (MilSub) references, in more...

Read More
5 comments
D-Day Dirty Dozen Watches

D-Day, a Look at the Watches that Served Our So...

79 years ago the most important Allied coordinated effort of WWII took place. These watches kept soldiers on time.  On Tuesday June 6th, 1944 the largest seaborne invasion in history...

9 comments

D-Day, a Look at the Watches that Served Our Soldiers

79 years ago the most important Allied coordinated effort of WWII took place. These watches kept soldiers on time.  On Tuesday June 6th, 1944 the largest seaborne invasion in history occurred. Nearly 160,000 allied troops managed to change the course of WWII by storming the beaches of Normandy and setting...

Read More
9 comments