Featured image: Timex
George W. Bush is best known for wearing a Timex, a basic, inexpensive quartz watch that The Slender Wrist identifies as the gold-toned Timex Easy Reader on a black leather strap, with an American flag printed below the 12. It is reported to have been his daily watch in office and afterward. The George W. Bush Presidential Center sells a commemorative Timex “modeled after” it, with his signature engraved on the caseback.
Quick answerGeorge W. Bush wears a Timex. Accounts describe an everyday Timex, described variously as an Indiglo model and an Easy Reader, that costs well under $100, and the Bush Presidential Center sells a Timex-made tribute watch for about $70.
Where to buy
Compare the same watch on both sites: eBay for pre-owned and vintage pieces, Amazon for new stock.
Timex Easy Reader
Timex Indiglo
Prices and availability change; check the listing before you buy.
The watch: Timex Indiglo
Timex is an American brand known for tough, affordable watches, and the Indiglo backlight, which lights the whole dial with a soft green-blue glow at the press of a button, has been a Timex feature since the early 1990s. Bush’s version is reported to have been the plainest of his watches, one he wore while in office and in the years since. One source describes his as customized with his name and an American flag, a detail that matches the commemorative version sold today.
The Slender Wrist describes it as the Timex Easy Reader, a classic large-numeral dress-casual design, and says the link is so strong that Timex later worked with the Bush Center on a modernized version. The Booth Museum calls it a “simple Timex Indiglo” with a flag at 12, much like his father’s. These descriptions are compatible, since many Easy Reader models carry Indiglo, but we could not find a reference number for the exact watch he wore. Some websites name other Timex models, such as an Ironman or an Expedition, and we could not verify those.
The commemorative version: George W. Bush Presidential Center Timex
The Bush Center’s museum store sells a Timex “modeled after the Timex watch that President Bush wore daily.” It has a white dial with Arabic numerals, an American flag and the center’s name on the dial, and his signature engraved on the back.
| Spec | Details |
|---|---|
| Watch | President George W. Bush Timex Watch (Bush Presidential Center edition) |
| Case size | 40mm |
| Material | Gold-tone brass case, mineral glass crystal |
| Strap | 20mm black genuine leather |
| Movement | Quartz |
| Water resistance | 30 meters (100 feet), splash resistant |
| Price | $69.99 at the Bush Center store (the listing shows it as sold out or on backorder, so availability may vary) |
The Bush Center watch versus a regular Easy Reader
| Bush Center edition | Timex Easy Reader Classic 38 mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Case size | 40 mm, gold-tone brass | 38 mm |
| Dial extras | American flag and Bush Center name, signature on caseback | Plain Easy Reader dial |
| Water resistance | 30 m | 30 m |
| Price | $69.99, availability varies | $71 at Timex |
Why a Timex?
Presidents have often worn watches that match their image. Bush’s Timex fits his public persona: practical, unfussy and American-made in spirit. Watch writers have often pointed to him as the clearest example of a president choosing a watch for function over luxury. A Timex also has an obvious advantage for someone who spends time outdoors or exercising, as Bush is known to do, since it is light, tough and cheap to replace.
His father and the Timex habit
The Booth Museum notes that George H. W. Bush also wore a Timex Indiglo as president, to project a down-to-earth image, and kept his upscale watches in a drawer. It adds that Bill Clinton wore a chunky Timex Ironman Triathlon in office. So a plain Timex became a kind of presidential tradition in the 1990s and 2000s, and the younger Bush continued it. See also Reagan’s steel Rolex for a very different tradition.
Other watches
We found no verified reports of Bush wearing a luxury watch as president. If you see lists claiming a Rolex or another high-end brand, treat them with caution unless they cite a clear photo or source.
Similar watches at similar prices
The appeal here is the low price and rugged practicality. Good alternatives include:
- Timex Easy Reader Classic 38 mm: the closest regular catalog match to the watch The Slender Wrist describes. Timex lists one at $71 with a 38 mm case, quartz movement, Indiglo backlight, 30 meters of water resistance and a 20 mm leather strap. Best for: the Bush look at the Bush price. Con: splash resistance only, so no swimming.
- Timex Expedition Scout or Field models: simple, readable and Indiglo-equipped, typically $40 to $90 (an approximate range).
- Casio F-91W or Casio MQ-24: famously cheap and accurate quartz watches, about $15 to $30.
- Citizen Eco-Drive basic models: solar-powered with no battery changes, around $100 to $200.
If you would like to see how a different billionaire kept things simple, read about Bill Gates and his Casio. For fellow presidents, see Barack Obama, Donald Trump and Ronald Reagan.
FAQ
What watch does George W. Bush wear?
A plain Timex, described as a gold-toned Easy Reader with an American flag on the dial, which sources say he wore daily.
Can you buy George W. Bush’s watch?
You can buy a Timex tribute watch from the George W. Bush Presidential Center store for about $70, subject to stock.
Did Bush wear a Rolex?
We found no reliable source saying so.
How much does the Timex cost?
The Bush Center’s tribute edition lists at $69.99, and the basic Timex he is associated with costs well under $100.
Sources
- Wrist Enthusiast: The wristwatches of all living former presidents
- Timex: Easy Reader Classic 38mm
- The Slender Wrist: George W. Bush and the Timex Easy Reader
- Booth Museum: Evolution of presidential timepieces
- George W. Bush Presidential Center store: President George W. Bush Timex Watch