FDR and Reagan - Two Consequential Presidents and their Watches

The United States Presidency is the most powerful political position an individual can hold in the world. We have spent some time looking at the watches of former living presidents as well as JFK’s watches. I also wanted to explore the timepieces of two of the most consequential presidents, one Democrat and one Republican: Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Ronald Reagan.

Franklin D. Roosevelt

The portion of the article discussing the watches worn by FDR was greatly assisted by the wonderful research done by Charlie Dunne of Rescapement. You can read his original article here.

FDR served as the 32nd president of the United States from 1933 until his death in 1945. He won a record four presidential elections and directed the federal government during most of the Great Depression. He is perhaps best known for implementing his New Deal domestic agenda in response to the worst economic crisis in American history.

FDR was president during a transitional time in watch industry, a period that saw the transition from pocket watches to wristwatches. Because of this, FDR owned both pocket and wristwatches, and was one of the first presidents to wear a wristwatch.

Perhaps the oldest timepiece FDR owned was a pocket watch given to him for his wedding. This piece was a pocket watch made by Audemars Frères in 1900. Audemars Frères was a watch company that existed from 1885 until around 1909. The company was started by brothers Hector and Charles-Henri Audemars. While Hector and Charles-Henri were related to Louis Benjamin Audemars, one of the founders of Audemars Piguet, Audemars Frères as a brand was never affiliated with Audemars Piguet.

This other Audemars pocket watch was believed to be given to FDR on his wedding day by his wife-to-be Eleanor. The is a quarter repeated and had a photo of FDR’s wife Eleanor on the inside of the cover.

FDR also had a relationship with the Cartiers and is known to have owned both a desk clock and pocket watch presented to him by Cartier. The desk clock was famously given to FDR on December 20th, 1943, in the midst of World War II and dubbed the “Victory Clock.”

Photo Courtesy of Cartier Archives, Paris © SquareMoose, New York Inc.

Prior to giving President Roosevelt the Victory Clock, Pierre Cartier also gifted him a “coin” Cartier pocket watch. This watch included a hand-written note from Pierre Cartier himself.

Photo Courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum Artifact Collection

The note from Cartier read:

“Dear Mr. President,

May I ask you to accept with all our good wishes for Christmas and the new year this coin.
King Edward had foreseen the 1914 war and created the “Entente Cordiale”. 

Your Royal Visitors of last summer foresaw the present war and came to visit The Leader of the Democracies, through whose efforts only a lasting peace will be established.

The watch in the coin will mark for you, The President, not only the hour of The Allies victory, but the one of  your Triumphs as The Peace Maker.

I have the honor to remain, dear The President.

Yours respectfully

P.C. Cartier

Photo Courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum Artifact Collection

Photo Courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum Artifact Collection

These pocket watches and the Victory desk clock, however, were not the only timepieces owned by Roosevelt. He was also gifted a Tiffany & Co. branded Movado ref. 44776 from his son-in-law Clarence “John” Boettiger. Boettiger wore this triple calendar first, gifting it to President Roosevelt on his 63rd birthday. The caseback includes the inscription "Franklin Delano Roosevelt with Loyalty, Respect and Affection January 30, 1945".

Photo Courtesy of Antiquorum.

Ronald Reagan

Ronald Reagan was another greatly influential U.S. President, serving as the 40th president from 1981 to 1989. Originally a Hollywood actor, Reagan would become an influential voice of modern conservatism. Reagan's policies reflected the idea that economic growth would occur when marginal tax rates were low enough to spur investment, which would then lead to higher employment and wages. This became known as "trickle-down economics” or the belief that tax policies that benefit the wealthy will create a "trickle-down" effect reaching the poor.

Reagan is one of a few presidents that have been photographed while in office wearing a Rolex. Indeed, Reagan wore a Rolex for much of his life. The general consensus has always been that Reagan wore a Rolex Datejust. This is due to multiple photographs of Reagan, including this 1965 photo, showing him wearing an unidentifiable watch with jubilee bracelet (he often wore his watch with the dial facing in and the clasp on the outside).

It is very possible that Reagan did indeed wear a Rolex Datejust. However, my research has led me to believe that he may not have worn a Datejust at all. I believe it is very likely Reagan wore a Rolex Air-King. Let me tell you why. Later in life, Reagan was photographed wearing another watch without a jubilee bracelet. It appears this watch is a Rolex on an aftermarket bracelet. I believe, based on the case shape, the shape of the indices, the lack of date window, and the writing on the dial, that this watch is a 1960s era Rolex Air-King. This Air-King was indeed offered with a smooth bezel (as pictured on Reagan’s wrist) and with a jubilee bracelet. Indeed, this watch would be consistent with not only the watch he wore later in life but also with the mysterious jubilee bracelet Rolex he wore earlier in life. Thus it is likely that Reagan switched out bracelets at some point. I also have to admit that it is also possible that he owned both a Datejust and an Air-King. What do you think?