Featured image: MMuzammils, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Michael Bloomberg, the founder of Bloomberg L.P. and former mayor of New York City, is reported to favor a Victorinox Swiss Army watch, an inexpensive Swiss quartz watch that typically retails for around $130 to $300. No source we found names the exact model.
Quick answerMike Bloomberg is reported to wear a Swiss Army watch by Victorinox. It is a practical, modest choice for one of the world’s richest people, and the specific model has not been identified.
Where to buy
Compare the same watch on both sites: eBay for pre-owned and vintage pieces, Amazon for new stock.
Victorinox Alliance Alternative
Victorinox I.N.O.X. Alternative
Prices and availability change; check the listing before you buy.
What we know
A report on the watches of top financial figures, published by a jewelry-industry site in 2019, says Bloomberg favors a “Swiss Army watch by Victorinox” priced at around $130. It does not name a model, and the price may be out of date. We checked other roundups of Wall Street and CEO watches and found nothing more specific, so we cannot say which Victorinox he owns, whether he has a collection, or whether he has changed watches since.
For that reason, treat this page as a profile of the brand and style rather than a precise identification.
| Spec | Details |
|---|---|
| Watch | Victorinox Swiss Army (exact model not confirmed) |
| Case size | Not confirmed; Victorinox men’s watches typically range from about 38mm to 45mm |
| Material | Usually stainless steel |
| Movement | Typically Swiss quartz in the entry-level lines |
| Water resistance | Varies; commonly 100 meters on current lines |
| Approximate price | Around $130 reported; current Victorinox men’s watches usually run about $200 to $600 depending on line |
Is it the Victorinox 24221 or 249087?
Older web pages, including an earlier version of this one, have named a Victorinox Swiss Army model “24221” and a “249087” as Bloomberg’s watch. We checked both numbers. They are real watches: the 24221 is a Swiss Army “Active Original” men’s quartz model with a 10 ATM (100 meter) rating, now discontinued at at least one major retailer, and the 249087 is listed on resale sites as a Victorinox “Original XL” men’s watch in black. However, we found no photo, interview or reputable report tying either reference to Bloomberg. The only reliable statement is the 2019 Centurion Jewelry report that he wears a Victorinox Swiss Army watch retailing for about $130, so we cannot confirm either model number.
| Reference | What it is | Linked to Bloomberg? |
|---|---|---|
| Victorinox Swiss Army 24221 | Active Original men’s quartz, 100 m, now discontinued at at least one retailer | No reliable source found |
| Victorinox 249087 | Original XL men’s watch, black | No reliable source found |
| “A Victorinox Swiss Army watch” (about $130) | Model not named | Yes, per Centurion Jewelry, 2019 |
Who else is on the list?
The same Centurion piece, published May 8, 2019, groups Bloomberg with other finance and business leaders known for modest wrists. It lists Mark Carney with a Swatch of about $100, Tim Cook with an Apple Watch, David Solomon with a Shinola Runwell chronometer of about $750, and Jeff Bezos with a Ulysse Nardin GMT Big Date. Bloomberg’s watch is the cheapest on that list apart from Carney’s. It also lists Warren Buffett, whose watch is quite different in price.
About Victorinox watches
Victorinox is the Swiss company best known for the Swiss Army Knife. It began making watches under the Swiss Army name in the 1980s and is known for sturdy, readable, good-value Swiss watches with simple designs. Well-known lines include the Alliance and Classic, the field-style Fieldforce, the Airboss automatic and the tough I.N.O.X. line. The I.N.O.X. is a 43 mm stainless steel watch with 200 meters of water resistance; it was introduced with a showy set of durability tests, from sandblasting to ice and drops, and one early review put its price at $525. Many entry-level models use Swiss quartz movements, which keep time accurately and need little care.
For a person with Bloomberg’s resources, the choice says something about preference rather than budget. Many other business leaders are also known to prefer understated, low-cost watches, a theme that appears in Wall Street profiles.
Other watches
We could not verify any other watch for Bloomberg. A search of the usual celebrity watch sources turned up no confirmed Rolex, Patek Philippe or similar brand for him, so we do not list one.
Get the look for less
If you like the idea of a tough, clean Swiss-made field or dress watch with a modest price tag, these are all real Victorinox lines (check current prices and availability before you buy):
- Victorinox Alliance: a simple three-hander with a clean dial, suitable for office and casual wear. Best for an everyday watch.
- Victorinox Fieldforce: a larger sport-style watch with good legibility. Best for outdoor use.
- Victorinox I.N.O.X.: a very durable, shock-tested watch. Best for rough use, though at a higher price.
Prices roughly range from $200 to $700 for these lines, and we have not checked each current list price. For more affordable dress watches, see our guide to the best dress watches under $500. If you like business leaders with simple tastes, read about Bill Gates and Warren Buffett.
FAQ
What watch does Michael Bloomberg wear?
A Victorinox Swiss Army watch, according to a 2019 report. The model is not identified.
Is Bloomberg’s watch expensive?
No. The report priced it at around $130, though current Victorinox watches generally cost more.
Is Bloomberg’s watch the Victorinox 24221?
That model number appears on older web pages, but we could not find any reliable source linking it to him. It is a real Victorinox Swiss Army watch, so the guess is plausible but unconfirmed.
Does Bloomberg collect watches?
We found no reliable evidence that he does.
Are Victorinox watches good quality?
They are Swiss-made watches known for durability and value, especially the I.N.O.X. line.
Sources
- Centurion Jewelry: Top global financial power brokers prefer inexpensive, understated watches
- Abt: Swiss Army Active Original 24221
- G Style: The Victorinox I.N.O.X.