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Ronald Reagan was most often photographed wearing a stainless steel Rolex that is widely identified as a Datejust on a Jubilee bracelet, with a fluted bezel and a white Roman-numeral dial. No reference number is documented, and at least one watch writer argues his watch may have been a 1960s Rolex Air-King instead.
Quick answerReagan wore a steel Rolex, commonly described as a Datejust 36 on a Jubilee bracelet, throughout his presidency from 1981 to 1989. He also owned an inexpensive Colibri quartz watch that Donald Trump later bought, and his 1981 campaign donors received a gold-plated Reagan-signature watch.
Where to buy
Compare the same watch on both sites: eBay for pre-owned and vintage pieces, Amazon for new stock.
Rolex Datejust 36 Jubilee
Vintage Rolex Air-King
Prices and availability change; check the listing before you buy.
The Rolex: Datejust or Air-King?
The mainstream view, repeated by sources such as Avian & Co and Watchfinder, is that Reagan wore a steel Rolex Datejust on a Jubilee bracelet. The Datejust launched in 1945 as the first self-winding wristwatch to show the date in a window on the dial, and by the 1980s it was among Rolex’s most popular models. The fluted bezel and Jubilee bracelet are the classic Datejust look, and they make it dressier than the sport models. Both the Booth Museum and Wrist Enthusiast note that Reagan often wore his watch with the dial turned toward the inside of the wrist, a quirk visible in many photographs.
The wrinkle is that Wrist Enthusiast points to a 1965 photograph and the shape of the case and indexes, and argues that Reagan’s watch is more likely a 1960s Rolex Air-King, a time-only watch with no date window. The author notes later photos show a Rolex with a smooth bezel on an aftermarket bracelet, a configuration the Air-King was sold in, and suggests he may have owned both. That is an interpretation of photographs, not a documented fact, so we present both possibilities.
Some pages quote a specific Datejust reference such as 16234. We do not use it. A Watchfinder article links to a 16234 listing but never names the reference in its text, and the 16234 was introduced in 1988, only months before Reagan left office.
| Spec | Datejust 36 (the common view) | Air-King (Wrist Enthusiast’s theory) |
|---|---|---|
| Case size | 36 mm, steel | 34 mm, steel (ref. 5500, built 1957 to 1989) |
| Dial and bracelet | White Roman dial, Jubilee bracelet, fluted bezel | Smooth bezel, no date window |
| Movement | Self-winding mechanical with date | Self-winding mechanical, time only (caliber 1520 in the 5500) |
| Water resistance | Generally around 100 m on later references; check the exact one | 100 m for the 5500 per a price database |
| Approximate price pre-owned | Roughly $4,000 to $8,000 depending on reference and condition | Around $4,000 for a 5500 |
Pre-owned prices come from a market tracker and vary by reference, condition and whether box and papers are included. A 16234, the later Datejust reference people often search for, sells at roughly $6,500.
Reagan’s other watches
The Colibri that Trump bought
Watchfinder says Reagan owned a Colibri, an inexpensive 1980s quartz watch, and that Donald Trump bought it for $7,000. The article gives no model or auction details, so we cannot say which sale this was.
The 1999 charity auction
Watchfinder also reports that another Reagan watch was auctioned in 1999 at a New York charity event, alongside pieces belonging to Arnold Schwarzenegger and Paul Newman. Again no model is named. If you want to see how Arnold’s tastes developed, read about what watch Arnold Schwarzenegger wears.
The gold-plated campaign watch
A better-documented piece is a gold-plated watch made by Time In Motion, Inc. in 1981 as a gift for donors who gave $1,000 or more to the Republican National Committee during the 1980 campaign. It has a quartz movement, a German-made dial embossed with the Presidential Seal and Reagan’s facsimile signature, and was limited to 1,000 pieces. After news broke that a White House adviser had accepted Seiko watches, with officials barred from accepting gifts over $50, the program was halted and about 950 watches were reportedly dismantled. One surviving example sold at RR Auction for $5,573. It was not a watch Reagan wore.
Why the steel Rolex fits Reagan
Reagan’s public image blended Hollywood polish with practical American ruggedness. A steel Datejust did that well: it looks smart with a suit and is far more modest than a full gold “President.” Earlier presidents often wore dressier gold watches; for example, Avian & Co notes Lyndon Johnson’s yellow gold Day-Date and Eisenhower’s yellow gold Datejust. Reagan’s steel pick marks a quiet shift toward a simpler Rolex.
For another president with a famous gold-watch story, see what watch JFK wore.
Get the look for less
A steel dress-sport watch with a fluted bezel, date window and Jubilee-style bracelet is easy to find at much lower prices. These are broad suggestions, and you should check current prices:
- Seiko Presage or Seiko 5 with a Jubilee-style bracelet: automatic movements, roughly $250 to $500.
- Orient Bambino or Orient Star: classic dial designs, roughly $150 to $450.
- Tissot Gentleman or PRX Powermatic 80: Swiss automatics, roughly $400 to $800.
See our best dress watches under $500 guide and our homage watches overview. For other presidents, read about Donald Trump and George W. Bush.
FAQ
What Rolex did Ronald Reagan wear?
Most sources say a stainless steel Datejust on a Jubilee bracelet. One watch writer argues it may have been a 1960s Air-King. No reference number is documented.
Did Reagan wear a gold Rolex?
Sources describe him in a steel Rolex, in contrast to earlier presidents who preferred yellow gold.
Did Reagan own a Colibri?
Watchfinder reports he owned an inexpensive Colibri quartz watch that Donald Trump bought for $7,000. Details are thin.
What was the Reagan commemorative watch?
A gold-plated, quartz watch with his facsimile signature, made in 1981 by Time In Motion for donors, limited to 1,000 pieces and mostly destroyed after the White House halted the program.
Sources
- Avian & Co: Watches worn by US presidents
- Watchfinder: The White House watches, the presidential edit
- Wrist Enthusiast: FDR and Reagan, two consequential presidents and their watches
- RR Auction: Ronald Reagan limited edition wristwatch