There is no single watch that tells the whole story of Barack Obama’s watch collection. Watch reporting links him to a TAG Heuer Series 1500 during his campaign and a Jorg Gray chronograph beginning in 2007; separate records at the Obama Presidential Library document watches presented to him as gifts. Those are different kinds of evidence: a gift record confirms provenance, not regular wear.
What watch did Barack Obama wear?
The best-known watch associated with Obama is a Jorg Gray chronograph. WatchTime reports that he began wearing one in 2007, while Watch ID identifies the model as the Jorg Gray 6500. Watch ID distinguishes the watch associated with Obama, which has a Secret Service seal, from the standard retail version, which does not. The standard model should not be described as the exact same watch.
WatchTime also reports that Obama often wore a white-dial quartz TAG Heuer Series 1500 during his campaign, citing TAG Heuer aficionado Jeff Stein for the identification. These are watch-media accounts of observed wear, not a complete official inventory of his watches.
Reported watch wear, by period
Campaign: TAG Heuer Series 1500
WatchTime reports that Obama often wore a white-dial quartz TAG Heuer Series 1500 during his campaign. The source identifies the model through Jeff Stein; the available account does not establish a specific reference number.
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Beginning in 2007: Jorg Gray 6500
WatchTime says Obama began wearing a large Jorg Gray chronograph in 2007. Watch ID identifies it as the 6500 and describes the version associated with him as bearing a Secret Service seal. Its standard retail counterpart lacks that seal. Watch ID has reported that the standard model was available through Amazon, but that listing information may be out of date; current stock and production status are not established here.
Later reports: Fitbit Surge and Rolex Cellini
WatchTime reports a sighting of Obama wearing a Fitbit Surge beginning in March 2015 and says he was later spotted wearing a Rolex Cellini after leaving office. These are secondary-source reports, not Obama Presidential Library artifact records.
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Watches cataloged as gifts to Obama
The Obama Presidential Library’s records identify specific watches given to Obama. They establish the object descriptions and gift provenance, but do not show that he regularly wore or personally selected the watches.
| Watch | Evidence and provenance | Cataloged details |
|---|---|---|
| Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Control Geographic, Caliber 939 | The Obama Presidential Library describes it as a head-of-state gift from King Mohammed VI. Library catalog record | Gold case, white face, black leather band and automatic Swiss movement. Its time-zone function displays two zones. |
| B.R.M. GP40-I-CN | The Library records it as a gift from French President Nicolas Sarkozy and First Lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy before the 2011 G20 Summit in Cannes. Library catalog record | Silver watch with a black wristband, three knobs, a checkered edge and a clear case back. |
| Nobel Watch Co. commemorative watch | The Library catalogs it among gifts to Obama. Library catalog record | Rectangular face with Roman numerals, a smaller inset time face and an inscription identifying it as a Nobel Prize commemorative watch. |
What Obama said about owning a Shinola
During remarks at Shinola in Detroit on January 20, 2016, Obama said: “And then, I went over to Shinola and—now, I already had this Shinola watch. It’s a good-looking watch.” The official transcript is first-person evidence that he owned a Shinola watch at the time, but it does not identify the model. Read the White House transcript.
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How to read the evidence
- Reported wear: WatchTime’s accounts associate Obama with the TAG Heuer, Jorg Gray, Fitbit and Rolex models described above. These reports do not amount to a complete personal inventory.
- Archival gifts: Obama Presidential Library records document the identity and provenance of selected watches presented to him. A catalog entry alone does not establish that he wore a gift.
- First-person ownership: Obama’s 2016 remarks establish that he already owned a Shinola watch, but not which model.
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