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President Joe Biden’s Inauguration Watch Was a Rolex Datejust

All public figures are subject to increased scrutiny, which occasionally leads to controversy, but not many as much as the 46th President of the United States, Joe Biden. This extends to his choice of a watch for the Inauguration last week.
Joe Biden in the Oval Office on Inauguration day, wearing a Rolex Datejust 4 photos
Photo: YouTube / White House
Joe Biden in the Oval Office on Inauguration day, wearing a Rolex DatejustJoe Biden in the Oval Office on Inauguration day, wearing a Rolex DatejustJoe Biden in the Oval Office on Inauguration day, wearing a Rolex Datejust
Joe Biden paired his dark navy suit and coat on Inauguration day with a Rolex Datejust with a very Presidential blue dial. This might seem like a very elegant and decidedly subtle pairing for a businessman or even someone in showbiz, but it became the point of focus in a new political debate, as it was deemed to go against his “regular Joe” image that he’d been projecting pre-Inauguration.

It all started with a story in the New York Times, which casually mentioned that the price tag of this Rolex was $7,000 and that Biden was somewhat of a budding watch collector. He’d been seen previously with an Omega Seamaster Professional 300, an Omega Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch and a Seiko 7T32-6M90 Chronograph, all of which are priced between $4,000 and $6,000.

Politics aside, the Datejust is an impeccable and very precise entry-level Rolex. Biden’s is the Oystersteel and 18K white gold 41mm model with a jubilee bracelet, which houses the caliber 3235 and boasts 70 hours of power reserve. It comes with Arabic numerals on the dial and features the magnifying lens on the date, for maximum legibility. It is sporty and relatively uncomplicated, but serves just as well for formal occasions.

Biden is not the first U.S. President to favor a Rolex on important occasions, even though most recent Presidents have tried to steer away from the image of opulence associated with famous Swiss watchmakers. Dwight Eisenhower, Lyndon Johnson, Ronald Reagan, and JFK all wore Rolexes. Donald Trump himself would often wear a Rolex, or even more expensive models from Patek Philippe and Vacheron Constantin. Barack Obama didn’t wear a Rolex during his time in office, but he started wearing a Celine after his term ended.

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About the author: Elena Gorgan
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Elena has been writing for a living since 2006 and, as a journalist, she has put her double major in English and Spanish to good use. She covers automotive and mobility topics like cars and bicycles, and she always knows the shows worth watching on Netflix and friends.
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