Featured image: Jorg Gray
Barack Obama is best known for wearing a Jorg Gray 6500 chronograph, a modest steel quartz watch his Secret Service detail gave him for his 46th birthday in 2007. Since leaving office he has been seen in a white gold Rolex Cellini dress watch (ref. 50509), and in 2022 in a $300 Actively Black x Teleport chronograph. He also wore a Fitbit Surge fitness tracker on Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee.
Quick answerAs president, Obama wore a custom Jorg Gray JG6500 chronograph (about $450 for the commemorative version). His best-documented dress watch is a 39mm white gold Rolex Cellini Time ref. 50509, which appears in his official portrait, with an affordable Actively Black x Teleport chronograph spotted in 2022.
Where to buy
Compare the same watch on both sites: eBay for pre-owned and vintage pieces, Amazon for new stock.
Jorg Gray 6500
Rolex Cellini 50509
Jorg Gray JG6500
Prices and availability change; check the listing before you buy.
The presidential watch: Jorg Gray 6500
Jorg Gray is a small American brand that few people had heard of before 2009. Obama’s watch was a custom version of the model 6500 chronograph, built by the brand as a gift from his Secret Service protection detail. Wrist Enthusiast dates the gift to his 46th birthday in 2007, while Bob’s Watches says it came a few months before he was elected, and notes he wore it at his inauguration and at the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony. It had a Secret Service badge printed on the dial and an engraving on the caseback. When photos of it circulated online in 2009, it became one of the most searched watches that year, and Jorg Gray later sold commemorative versions without the badge, including through the White House gift shop.
| Spec | Details |
|---|---|
| Watch | Jorg Gray 6500 Chronograph (custom presentation version) |
| Case | Stainless steel, about 41 mm (per Bob’s Watches) |
| Movement | Miyota quartz |
| Dial | Chronograph sub-dials; the presidential original had a Secret Service badge under 12 o’clock |
| Water resistance | Not confirmed in our sources |
| Approximate price | Around $300 to $450 for the commemorative model, depending on the source; pre-owned examples vary |
After the White House: Rolex Cellini 50509
Obama has been photographed with a Rolex Cellini Time, ref. 50509, a slim round dress watch in 18k white gold. It is about 39 mm, shows only the time, and has a white dial with contrasting indices, a knurled bezel and an oversized onion-shaped crown. D’Marge reports he wore it at Joe Biden’s inauguration in January 2021 and that it appears on his wrist in his official portrait, and Wrist Enthusiast says he did not wear it while in office. Bob’s Watches describes it as his first watch purchase after leaving the White House.
| Spec | Rolex Cellini Time ref. 50509 |
|---|---|
| Case | 39 mm, 18k white gold |
| Dial | White, with contrasting indices |
| Function | Time only |
| Status | Reported as discontinued as of 2024 |
| Approximate price | Around $12,000 to $15,000 per different sources; D’Marge lists 21,500 Australian dollars at retail |
The Cellini is Rolex’s dress line, separate from sport models like the Submariner or Datejust. It is simple, thin and traditional, which fits the formal, understated look Obama is known for.
Earlier watches: TAG Heuer and a Fitbit
Bob’s Watches says that as a senator Obama consistently wore a two-tone TAG Heuer 1500 dive watch. Later, on the 2015 Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee episode, he wore a Fitbit Surge fitness tracker, according to Running Magazine, which reports he is barred from using devices with recording capability. We cover that episode and the other guests’ watches in our Jerry Seinfeld watch article.
A budget surprise: Actively Black x Teleport
In a New Year’s 2022 photo of Barack and Michelle Obama, a chunky chronograph on his wrist had many people guessing a Hublot or Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore. It turned out to be the Actively Black x Teleport chronograph, a collaboration between an independent watch brand and an activewear company, priced around $300 with a legible dial and an integrated rubber strap.
Other brands mentioned
Some lists also name Shinola among the brands he has worn. We found no model details or sourcing, so we leave it out. Obama is the 44th president, and no major watch outlet we checked reported a change to his everyday watch in 2026.
Get the look for less
If you want a budget-friendly steel chronograph or dress watch in the same spirit, consider:
- Jorg Gray chronographs: the closest match to his presidential watch. Availability of specific editions changes, so check the brand’s current catalog.
- Actively Black x Teleport chronograph: the 2022 watch, around $300.
- Orient Bambino or Tissot Gentleman: if you prefer a Cellini-like dress watch, around $200 to $700.
- Seiko Presage: an automatic dress watch with a classic dial, about $300 to $500.
For more dress options see the best dress watches under $500. You may also like the pages on George W. Bush, Donald Trump and John F. Kennedy.
FAQ
What watch did Obama wear as president?
A Jorg Gray 6500 chronograph, given by his Secret Service detail.
Does Obama wear a Rolex?
Yes, a white gold Rolex Cellini Time ref. 50509, mainly since leaving office. It appears in his official portrait.
Where can I buy the Jorg Gray Obama watch?
Jorg Gray sold commemorative versions after the watch became famous, so look to the brand and to pre-owned listings. The original presidential version with the Secret Service badge was a one-off gift.
What watch was Obama wearing in the 2022 photo?
The Actively Black x Teleport chronograph, a roughly $300 collaboration piece.
Sources
- Bob’s Watches: The important watch history of President Obama
- D’Marge: Barack Obama spotted wearing a Cellini
- Running Magazine: Fitbit Surge gets endorsement from Barack Obama
- Wrist Enthusiast: Barack Obama’s watch collection