At Watches of Espionage, we view timepieces as tools, serving dual duty as timing instruments and cultural symbols. Whether it’s a Rolex GMT-Master II worn by an intelligence officer in Paris or a Timex Ironman on a Marine in Afghanistan, part of our Use Your Tools ethos is recognizing that ...
At Watches of Espionage, we view timepieces as tools, serving dual duty as timing instruments and cultural symbols. Whether it’s a Rolex GMT-Master II worn by an intelligence officer in Paris or a Timex Ironman on a Marine in Afghanistan, part of our Use Your Tools ethos is recognizing that watches also communicate, offering unique insights about the user.From world leaders to U.S. presidents, watch culture remains alive at the highest levels of government. The W.O.E. community has discovered kindred spirits in unlikely places, including a photographer inside the White House who told us, “As a Sangin and Breitling owner, I love seeing the sketchy dudes, status chasers, and royalty and what they choose to wear in one of the most powerful rooms in the world.” The images in this Dispatch are snapshots of that world, close-up looks at the watches worn in the Oval Office.While President Trump has not been seen wearing a watch in his second term, those around him carry on the tradition, their wrists offering quiet signals in the West Wing. General John Dan “Razin” Caine became the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs in February 2025 and is a former F-16 pilot with 2,800 flight hours and two tours to Iraq to his name. In addition to his considerable experience in military aviation, Caine also served as the associate director for military affairs (ADMA) at the CIA from 2021 to 2024.One constant on Caine’s wrist since becoming Chairman has been his Rolex GMT-Master II, a watch with close ties to both the military and the Intelligence Community. Worn alongside a class ring from Virginia Military Institute, Caine’s Rolex appears to be the reference 116710LN produced from 2007 to 2019, easily distinguishable by its all-black Cerachrom bezel. Demonstrating allegiance to the Use Your Tools ethos, the bracelet on Caine’s GMT is also well-worn. A former F-16 pilot who ascended to become the most senior military officer in the United States, we’ve heard Caine has an impressive collection, including a Breitling and Tudor Pelagos.
