One of our favorite tech tycoons turned philanthropists, Bill Gates, has an eye for value.
The founder of Microsoft and the second richest man in the world (behind Jeff Bezos, but still in front of long time friend Warren Buffett) wears modest Casio watches.
Bill Gates is well known for his many philanthropic endeavors. In fact, one of the primary reasons he is no longer the richest man in the world is because he's generously given away a substantial part of his fortune.
He, along with Warren Buffet, also influenced other mega-rich celebrities and entrepreneurs to donate at least half of their wealth through "the Giving Pledge". Well played Mr Gates.
For a man that could easily buy any luxury watch company, never mind a few Rolexes, it's quite refreshing to see him continually sport watches that anyone can afford.
We've featured two of Bill Gates' watches he wears the most below. We also touch on a story that has surfaced about a watch he gifted to an employee that exemplifies Bill's generous character.
Bill Gates has been spotted several times wearing his trusted Casio Duro diver - commonly known as the Casio Marlin because of the marlin logo on the face.
One if these public appearances was on the Stephen Colbert show whilst he and wife Melinda gave their views on taxing the wealthy.
The Casio Duro Marlin MDV106-1AV can be seen throughout the interview popping out from Bill's lavender sweater:
Images: NBC
A homage to the classic Rolex Submariner, there are few other watches that can deliver these features at this price.
The minimalist design of the Casio Duro MDV106-1AV "Marlin" has allowed this watch to maintain it's place as a popular, affordable alternative to more expensive dive watches.
Like any quality dive watch, the Marlin includes a unidirectional rotating bezel to allow divers to track their time submerged underwater.
The 200m water resistance is a great feature at this price. Whilst I've no proof that Bill Gates has ever worn his Marlin diving, I would be happy to take a bet that he's submerged it a few times at his Lake Washington house.
The movement is Japanese quartz and comes with a battery that lasts 3 years. What? You expected a mechanical diver at this price? No chance.
Other features include a black face with white luminous markers for the hour indices and bezel markers. The hands are also covered in lume, making for impressive visibility at night and underwater.
Like the Submariner, the Casio Duro features an easy to read date window at 3 o'clock and a sturdy screw down crown to keep water out.
All in all, for around $50 there is little to dislike about this affordable diver. If a man with the disposable income of Bill Gates is happy with a Submariner homage over the real deal, that's good enough reason for me to add one to my everyday collection.
Casio Marlin MDV106-1AV
Success is a lousy teacher. It seduces smart people into thinking they can't lose..
Bill Gates
Given the net worth of Bill Gates, you'd possibly expect his wrist wardrobe to include super exclusive Rolexes, Omegas or similar. But no, fitting with his rather conservative lifestyle, he often opts to wear what he calls a "$10 watch".
This $10 watch is actually a Casio Illuminator W214H-1AV, and whilst it is certainly an inexpensive watch, you may have to pay slightly more than the $10 quoted by Bill.
Check out the video below by Politico where when asked whether the watch he is wearing is similar to a medical watch he is currently speaking about, Bill responds with, "no, this is a $10 watch."
Images: Politico
Practical and affordable above all else. The entry-level Casio screams, "I've got nothing to prove."
Certainly a relatively humble watch for a man of Bill's stature, the Casio Illuminator W214H-1AV is digital with a 45 mm plastic case and silicon band.
The Japanese manufactured Casio is water resistant to 50m and has quartz based movement.
Digital features include 3 countdown dials, stopwatch and alarm.
For a cheap watch, it's certainly well built and durable.
Given many ultra-rich decide to show off their wealth with flashy, expensive watches, it's refreshing that all Bill Gates fans can emulate his style with a very affordable Casio.
Casio Illuminator W214H-1AV
You can't help but feel that Bill Gates has put considerable thought into the message he's sending with his watch selection.
For many of us, buying a luxury watch comes with the side benefit that it signals success and prestige. But, for a man that carries both in abundance, choosing a cheap watch sends the message that wealth alone doesn't impress him. Rather, it's what you do with that wealth that matters.
Perhaps this was the message he was sending when he gifted a TAG Heuer Professional 2000 to a conference attendee in the Philippines. As told by watch collector Johann Espiritu in an interview with Fratello, Bill gave the watch off his wrist to the conference attendee who most closely guessed the value of his watch.
Everyone predicted that such a successful business man would be wearing a luxurious high-end watch. All except Johann's father. His guess of a seemingly paltry amount of $600 was the closest and he was rewarded with the TAG Heuer Professional 2000.
To be clear, there is no visual proof of Bill Gates wearing the TAG. But, I've no reason to doubt it and it fits his philanthropic MO. The images below are of the exact watch gifted to Johann's father. While you're at it, check out some of Johann's other sweet watches.
Images: @watchyouwearin, Fratello Watches
Popular and iconic TAG Heuer diver from the late 90's and early 2000's that holds up well today.
The TAG Heuer 2000 Professional range was a commercial success and is still well regarded by watch collectors today. The last 2000's were built in 2005 when TAG Heuer transitioned to the Aquaracer models.
Because they were successful, they were also widely produced. So, you can still find a good quality used TH 2000 for around $500-$1,000.
This is the second Rolex Submariner inspired homage worn by Bill Gates. Heuer, and later TAG Heuer after their merger in 1985, never tried to compete head to head with the Submariner.
Instead, they opted to take several of the popular design features from the Submariner, rework them and then repackage at a more economical price point.
This strategy worked very well, with the 2000 range greatly assisting TAG Heuer navigate through the 1990s.
The model worn and gifted by Bill Gates appears to be a 3rd generation TAG Heuer 2000 that went into production in 1998. In particular, it is the blue 'Classic' model variation that is the most common, meaning that you still have a great chance of finding one for yourself at a reasonable price.
If you aren't accustomed to divers from this earlier era, you should know about the size difference before purchasing. This TAG Heuer 2000 is only 38mm, considerably smaller than the 43mm divers that are popular today.
Whilst Bill's TAG Heuer was more expensive than the two Seikos, I think you'd agree it's still an affordable watch that prioritises function above prestige.
TAG Heuer 2000 Professional
Comedian and podcaster Chris D'Elia sports a classic dive watch as his daily wear.
If you've ever seen clips of his podcast, 'Congratulations' or his Netflix special 'No Pain', you've probably seen it sitting prominently on his wrist.
Chris D'Elia started stand-up comedy in 2006 and has also appeared in several sitcoms and other TV appearances.
Despite his wired appearance, Chris has never drunk alcohol or taken recreational drugs.
Fun Fact
I enjoy Chris's sarcastic comedy on his Netflix specials and his podcast. Whilst critics might suggest his comedy is a little lowbrow and juvenile, Chris's no-holds barred attitude towards censorship is to be applauded.
Here's a clip of Chris's Neflix special, No Pain. You get some very nice glimpses of his watch too. Can you guess what it is?
Here's an episode of his podcast, Congratulations. You also get some up close views of his watch throughout the episode:
Images: Portraits of Progress, Netflix & Congratulations with Chris D'Elia
Chris D'Elia religiously wears his Rolex Submariner no date 114060. The Rolex Submariner is a classic that doesn't need much of an introduction. It's iconic as it is beautiful. Chris's model, the 114060, is a well known variant that has the date function removed (ie 'no date'). This adds a level of simplicity and understated appeal.
It's still a Rolex, so it's an expensive watch. But, it's not a watch that screams "I've got something to prove" like many newly rich or famous tend to flash about. Chris wears it with an air of authenticity that matches his comedy, and he wears it well. At 40mm diameter and 13mm case thickness, the Submariner 114040 can look oversized on some wrists, but not on Chris.
The Rolex Submariner ref: 114060 is very similar to the Rolex Submariner ref 116610. The only difference is the addition of the date feature on the 116610. The first Rolex Submariners showcased by Rolex in 1954 did not have the date complication. It wasn't until the introduction of the 1680 model in the late 1960's that Rolex the date function was introduced.
So, whilst the Submariner Date (116610) is currently the more popular model, it could be argued that the no-date version is closer to Rolex's original vision for the submariner range.
Either way, it comes down to personal preference. Do you like the date function and the cyclops magnifying eye, or don't you?
I personally like the symmetry of the no-date. And honestly, I'm a little lazy when it comes to changing the date. Sometimes I'll be in week 2 of the new month and I'll only just realize that the date is wrong. If you're like me, then changing the date may feel more like a chore than a feature.
There is also price incentive to opt for the no-date version, as the date function adds another $1K to an already expensive watch.
You can get an idea of prices for the 114060 no-date (pre-owned and new) and 116610 date (pre-owned and new). We've also covered submariner homage watches if the you aren't financially ready to shell out for a Rolex.
The iconic oyster Submariner loved by many, simplified by the removal of the date complication
The Rolex Submariner ref: 114060 is very similar to the Rolex Submariner ref 116610. The only difference is the addition of the date feature on the 116610. The first Rolex Submariners showcased by Rolex in 1954 did not have the date complication. It wasn't until the introduction of the 1680 model in the late 1960's that Rolex the date function was introduced.
So, whilst the Submariner Date (116610) is currently the more popular model, it could be argued that the no-date version is closer to Rolex's original vision for the submariner range.
Either way, it comes down to personal preference. Do you like the date function and the cyclops magnifying eye, or don't you?
I personally like the symmetry of the no-date. And honestly, I'm a little lazy when it comes to changing the date. Sometimes I'll be in week 2 of the new month and I'll only just realize that the date is wrong. If you're like me, then changing the date may feel more like a chore than a feature.
There is also price incentive to opt for the no-date version, as the date function adds another $1K to an already expensive watch.
You can get an idea of prices for the 114060 no-date (pre-owned and new) and 116610 date (pre-owned and new). We've also covered submariner homage watches if the you aren't financially ready to shell out for a Rolex.
Rolex Submariner 114060 'no date'
Comedian and actor Jerry Seinfeld likes to spend his considerable fortune on luxury cars and watches.
This combo can be seen in every episode of his series Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee. Where he pairs a fellow comedian with a car that suits their personality. I don't think he pairs his watches to the guest comedian, but a little part of me hopes that he does.
Before getting into some of his more recent watches, let's backtrack a little to the glory days of Seinfeld. Jerry Seinfeld was, and remains, an avid Breitling fan-boy. His most popular watch during his sitcom days was a Breitling Chronomat with a bullet bracelet as seen below:
Images: NBC
I would argue that Jerry's Breitling Cronomat has stood the test of time and would still look fantastic if he wore it today. I can't say the same for his 90's mullet-esque hairstyle...
Anyway, his love of Breitlings continued and can be best seen through his web-series Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee (CCGC), which is available on Netflix. It first aired on 2012 and has been building momentum ever since.
I watch CCGC primarily because I enjoy learning how different comedians think. I'm also a fan of Jerry's comedy and enjoy his casual interviewing style. These keep me coming back for each new episode. But what keeps me engaged within each episode are the watches worn by Jerry (and his guests) and the cars.
Need a recap of Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee? Here's some highlights from the 2019 season to get you in the mood. You also get a sneak peak of several of Jerry's watches:
Jerry describes each car at the start of the episode, but not his watches. So, it's always fun to do some watch spotting throughout each episode and I've compiled some of these for you below.
Jerry sports a Breitling Aerospace in numerous episodes, including those with Ellen DeGeneres and Kevin Hart. Jerry's wearing a jacket so it's difficult to spot - especially when distracted by Ellen's Paul Newman Daytona!
Images: Netflix
Jerry's super distinctive Breiting Aerospace is an analogue-digital watch known as a 'super quartz' because of its high accuracy.
The pilot watch has many handy features such as a night vision goggle compatible backlight, 1/100s chronograph, countdown timer and secondary timezone. These are all operated via the crown by pushing, pulling, turning & turning fast.
In a way, the Aerospace take some practice and effort to master. Much like driving the manual 1977 Toyota Land Cruiser he chose for the episode with Ellen.
Jerry introduces the Land Cruiser, "It's basic, it's classic, it's durable, it's user friendly."
The Aerospace also ticks most of those boxes, so I'd say he's done a good job of matching it to the Land Cruiser.
See, I told you there were some links between his car and watch selections!
Jerry also wears his Breitling Aerospace in other episodes, including S5 E1 with Kevin Hart .
I enjoy the ridiculousness of the goggles as Kevin and Jerry cruise around in the 1959 Porsche RSK Spyder.
Images: Netflix
Clearly a favorite of Jerry's, he wore the Aerospace in his 2020 NetFlix special 23 Hours To Kill:
Images: Netflix
Jerry's love affair with Breitling continues as he chooses the Navitimer for several episodes, including the one below with Will Ferrell.
Images: Netflix
Jerry's Navitimer in this episode features white dials at 12, 6 and 9. This departs from the more common 3, 6 & 9 format mostly associated with new Breitling Navitimers.
Breitling still release a Navitimer with the 12, 6 & 9 dial layout that some prefer because it can appear more balanced. This is the Navitimer Chronograph 41. As the name suggests, it's also a little smaller than most Navitimers at 41mm, which some find more wearable than the larger 43 or 45 Navitimer models.
We've also covered our favorite Brietling Navitimer homage watches if you're after something more affordable.
The next Navitimer on Jerry's wrist is another Navitimer. This time it's a limited edition black steel Navitimer Cosmonaute.
The idea behind the Cosmonaute is that allows calculations to be made by pilots (or astronauts such as Lt. Cmdr. Scott Carpenter) directly on their wrist.
Images: Netflix
If you're not accustomed to how a slide ruler on the Navitimer works, they can look terribly complicated and even intimidating.
It's actually quite easy to use once you know how. Check out this video for a 90 second explanation:
The Chronograph 41 is a very wearable size for Breitling, while still making a statement with loads of functionality.
The Breitling Navitimer Chronograph 41 pays tribute to the original Navitimer 1 with it's vintage looks prominent circular slide rule on the perimiter.
It mostly comes in stainless steel with several face color variations. But there is also a rose gold model that is considerably more expensive.
The slide rule allows on-the-fly airbone calculations to be made such as fuel consumption, climbing times & converts miles into nautical miles or kilometers.
The 41mm watch size has proven popular with those like Jerry that are after a classic looking watch that is unlikely to ever make a calculation like fuel consumption. This wearable size means it avoids the criticims levelled at some other Brietlings for being too big.
The movement is Breitling Calibre 13, based on the super reliable Valjoux/ETA 775. This external movement is different to other Navitimers, which has also required the sub dial layout to change to the less familiar 12, 6, 9 layout. But, I like this sub dial layout as it makes the watch look more well-rounded than some other Navitimers.
Jerry clearly loves his Navitimers and it's easy to see why. They make a statement but are still very functional and have a great history (and story).
Breitling Navitimer Chronograph 41
This vintage watch from Heuer really speaks to the car enthusiast in Jerry. Autavia's are very sought after by watch collectors as they are synonymous with F1 racing of the 60's and 70's.
One of the most sought after from the 1960's is the 'Jo Siffert'. Jo was a Swiss motor racer who won two races as a privateer and died in competition in 1971 at the age of 35.
Jerry confirmed his purchase of a Heuer 'Siffert' Autavia with this Instagram:
You can see Jerry sporting his Heuer 'Siffert' Autavia in in this episode with comedy legend Jerry Lewis (S10 E12):
Images: Netflix
In another rare break from his Breitlings, Jerry wears his G-Shock Rangeman in his episode with Zach Galifianakis (S10 E1).
His car of choice in this episode is a 1972 VW Thing, complete with roll bars. So, maybe he decided he needed something super tough just in case he went head over ass.
The Rangeman of choice is quite possibly a GPR-B1000, which comes with a GPS navigation system.
Either way, you can be sure his G-Shock was built for whatever Zach Galifianakis was going to throw at him during the 'Between Two Ferns' bit they do to close out the episode.
Images: Netflix
Watches worn by guests in Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee are included below too.
Guest Ellen DeGeneres who sported a super impressive Rolex Daytona 'Paul Newman' in season 10 episode 3:
Images: Netflix
We've previously covered Ellen's watches in more detail. She particularly loves her Rolexes and I would love to see her Rolex collection side-by-side with Jerry's Breitling collection.
Not to be outdone, Kevin Hart shows off his Rolex Sky Dweller.
Images: Netflix
The Rolex Sky Dweller is one of the most complicated mechanical watches in Rolex's impressive line-up. The pilot watch allows Kevin to view two time zones simultaneously. This would come in very handy with his busy acting schedule.
The other significant feature is the annual calendar, which only requires setting every year (to account for February's leap year) as opposed to every month.
The Rolex Sky Dweller comes in white gold & stainless steel versions. I'm not sure which version Kevin wears, but if there's an actor that can afford the white gold version, it is the incredibly successful Kevin Hart.
We've previously covered Barack Obama's watches here, but we did not include this FitBit in the list.
This is one of my favorite episodes of CICGC because of Barack's candid nature and surprisingly good sense of humor for a president.
This exchange between Jerry and a Secret Service agent is the best:
Jerry: "We're just going to run out for a quick coffee.
Secret Service: "I'm sorry, that's not possible"
Jerry: "I do this little show called Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee. We'll be right back."
Secret Service: "You're a comedian with the president going nowhere. Back it up."
Images: Netflix
I will try and update this list of guest comedians and their watches too. But if you have a particular guest you want me to cover, then please let me know if the comments below!
Arnold Schwarzenegger is an Austrian born actor, writer, body builder, and politician. He is most famous for his roles in the Terminator series, in which he played the titular Terminator, a machine sent back in time to kill the leader of a human uprising.
Arnold is known around the world for achieving his goal of being the greatest body builder in history. While this may seem to be a subjective title, Arnold definitely has some achievements here to his credit: He still holds the record for being the youngest person to ever win the Mr. Olympia title – first achieving the title in 1970 at the age of 23. He won Mr. Olympia another 5 times in a row after that, and then again in 1980 when his entry was a last minute surprise with only two months of training for the event.
Added to his already impressive resume, Schwarzenegger ran for – and won – the governor’s race in California, officially making him an accomplished politician. He was the chief executive of the state of California for 8 years.
Arnold is a watch fanatic and avid watch collector. His favorite seems to be his Panerai Luminor, which is frequently photographed wearing. The Panerai Luminor features a stainless steel case with a black croco-embossed genuine leather strap.
The watch itself is 44 millimeters in diameter and 15.5 millimeters thick. The case back is stainless steel and features the engraved Panerai logo to certify authenticity.
The face of the watch is marked with Arabic numerals. The dial is black which helps the luminescent hands and hour ticks to stand out during low light use. The Luminor features two complications: The date at the 3 o’clock position, and a second counting sub-dial at the 9 o’clock position.
The crystal is sapphire with a specialized coating to cut down on glare. Being sapphire, the face is also scratch resistant. A unique feature of Panerai watches, the crown itself is protected by a unique lever. This makes the watch easy to identify and adds a certain elegance to it.
The watch runs on an automatic C.O.S.C. tested engine developed by Panerai and is water resistant to 30 BAR, or 300 Meters / 1,000 Feet. The Luminor is suitable for swimming, snorkeling, and amateur diving. Coming in at a price of $5,197.01, this watch is not for everyone. But it is worth every penny for those that do buy it.
Love Panerai’s, but can’t afford one? We’ve got you covered with our favorite Panerai homage watches.
Comedian Marc Maron has been spotted with several watches, but one in particular seems to be his daily go-to.
Marc's now considered a comedy veteran by many peers. His career gained a lot of momentum during the golden years of late night talk shows in the 1990's and 2000's, with regular appearances on Letterman and Conan O'Brien.
He actually holds the record for most appearances by a comedian on Late Night With Conan O'Brien - pretty impressive for a show known to be a comedian pressure cooker.
Younger readers will be more familiar with his wildly successful podcast, WTF with Marc Maron.
He's also appeared in numerous TV series, including receiving award nominations for Netflix's comedy series Glow.
Here's a preview of his Netflix special, End Times Fun. You also get a sneak peek at his watch:
To top it off, he's also had smaller roles in cult classics such as Almost Famous and The Joker.
I've been listening to Marc's podcast for a while now and after watching his Netflix special I thought it was well overdue that I covered his watches here.
Images:Netflix, ABC & Dinner Party Download
Marc's daily wear appears to be his Tag Heuer Link. He confirmed he wears a Tag given to him by his mom with this tweet in 2014:
@TAGHeuerUSA @luciferbruise My mommy bought me the watch for my bday. Makes up for a lifetime of ugly shirts she gave me. Love it.
— marc maron (@marcmaron) May 15, 2014
Tip of the cap to your mom, Mr Maron. We love her taste in watches, but are now intrigued by the shirts she gave you. I suspect there's a hint of hyperbole in there and perhaps you should cut your lovely mom some slack... 🙂
He confirmed it was indeed a Tag Heuer Link, rated to 200m water resistance with this tweet in 2016 when asked by a fan:
@TAGHeuer Link 200 Meters
— marc maron (@marcmaron) July 3, 2016
So, he definitely wears a Tag Heuer Link, and from the various shots I've compiled, it appears to be a Tag Heuer WJ 1112.
The rotating bezel, 200m water resistance and silver baton markers on a blue face do point towards the WJ1112 as the most likely candidate.
Image: ABC
Known for their distinctive 'S' shaped bracelet link, the Tag Heuer Link series has been a favorite with collectors ever since the first iteration was released in 1987. The widely regarded S/El, or 'Sport Elegance' defined what would be become the cornerstone of the new era Tag Heuer. The S/El would later be renamed the Link to emphasize the bracelet 'S' links.
The 'Sport' refers to 6 features that would allow the watch to appeal to buyers that wanted to ensure their watch could also withstand the rigors of their daily schedules. These features are screw down crown, 200m water resistance, double safety-clasp bracelets, luminous dials, sapphire crystals and unidirectional rotating bezels.
These features can still be found in modern day Links, including the WJ1112.
The Tag Heuer Link WJ1112 lives up to its predecessors name, combining sport and elegance with its distinctive 'S' links.
For the WJ1112, we like the brushed steel on both the case and the bracelet. With 200m water resistance, it's not afraid to get wet and is a good alternative to the Aquaracer if you want something a little smaller.
We recommend the Link if you're after a versatile watch that looks great in a suit, but still has enough durability and features (thanks to its sporty heritage) to satisfy more demanding conditions.
The 40mm size doesn't look too bulky and the at 14.4 ounces gives it a solid heft without being overly clunky. The 10mm profile allows keeps it from being too wide like some divers.
The unidirectional bezel screams 'I can take it diving if I choose', which is backed up by the 200m water resistance for the occasional dive.
If you're after an automatic, the WJ1112 is not for you. But, if you're after a reliable quartz without the fuss of winding, then it's definitely worth considering as your daily wearer.
And, if a pessimist like Marc Maron has been happy with it for years, that's a good indicator that you will too!
Tag Heuer Link WJ1112
Former New York mayor, and presidential hopeful Michael Bloomberg, wears a surprisingly modest watch. This is especially so given his vast wealth of $60 Billion (Forbes 2020 estimate).
Mike Bloomberg gained in popularity as mayor of New York from 2002-2013 due to his largely analytical and data driven approach to creating policies around key education, transport, health and environmental initiatives.
He entered the 2020 Democratic Primaries in November 2019 after previously renouncing any ambition to run for President in 2020. He decided to enter the race due to his dissatisfaction with the other nominees ability to compete with Donald Trump.
Images: Getty & Reuters
It's tempting to say that Mike has chosen to wear a moderately priced watch to increase his appeal to everyday Democrats, but he's been wearing the Victorinox 24221 well before he finally decided to run for President, so I don't believe this is the case.
It seems that Mike is part of a greater trend amongst billionaires to choose watches based on personal preferences such as style and robustness over price and luxury. We've previously covered the watches of Bill Gates, who also opts for affordably priced timepieces.
You can catch several glimpses of Mike's watch in the South Carolina Democratic debate highlights video below. You can also spot watches of several of his opponents, including Bernie Sanders' Citizen Eco-Drive.
Victorinox is a Swiss watch maker most recognised for their impressive army pocket knives. They've been making watches in Switzerland since 1989 and they are generally easy to recognize because of their distinctive cross emblem at 12 o'clock.
Mike's model, the Swiss Army 24221 is generally harder to find these days as it is no longer in production by Victorinox. You can find similar variations such as the Victorinox 249087.
The 25th Anniversary Edition to the original Victorinox Swiss Army watch pays tribute with classic readability wrapped in a tough nylon package.
The Victorinox 249087 is a throwback to where Victorinox watches started. The classic design with the white cross and the red background is distinctly Victorinox.
The tough nylon case compliments the simple design with easy to read hour and minute markers.
At 43mm, this is a larger watch, but the nylon fibre case and nylon strap keep it from feeling heavy or chunky.
Swiss quartz movement powers the three luminescent hands and the lume extends to the hour and minute markers allowing for easy reading during low light conditions.
With 25 years of history preceding the 249087 Swiss Army watch, Victorinox have kept to their strengths of quality Swiss manufacturing that can withstand all types of terrain.
All at an affordable price for the average Joe, or indeed, Mike Bloomberg.
Victorinox Swiss Army 249087
One of our favorite tech tycoons turned philanthropists, Bill Gates, has an eye for value. For a man that could easily buy any luxury watch company, nevermind a few Rolexes, it's quite refreshing to see him continually sport quality watches that anyone can afford.
Bill Gates' Casio Duro has made numerous public appearances. One such occasion was on the Stephen Colbert show whilst he and wife Melinda gave their views on taxing the wealthy. The Casio Duro Marlin MDV106-1AV can be seen throughout the interview. Watch below:
We've previously covered other watches worn by Bill Gates, including his $10 Casio. Whilst the Casio Duro is slighly more expensive at around $50, few would argue that it's not an affordable watch that delivers great bang for buck.
Image: NBC
A homage to the classic Submariner, there are few other watches that can deliver these features at this price.
The minimalist design of the Casio Duro MDV106-1AV has allowed this watch to maintain it's place as a popular, affordable alternative to more expensive dive watches.
The 200m water resistance is a great feature at this price. Whilst I've no proof that Bill Gates has ever worn his Duro diving, I would be happy to take a bet that he's submerged it a few times at his Lake Washington house.
The movement is Japanese quartz and comes a battery that lasts 3 years.
Other features are luminous markers and lume covered hands, making for impressive visibility at night and underwater.
Like the Submariner, the Casio Duro features an easy to read day window at 3o'clock.
All in all, for $50 there is very little to not like about this watch. If a man with the disposable income of Bill Gates is happy with it, that's good enough reason for me to add one to my everyday collection.
Casio Duro Marlin MDV106-1AV
As the race towards the 2020 election gains pace, I’ve been thinking about the watches of Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump, and what their timepieces say about their political stances.
One of the Democratic frontrunners for the 2020 election, Bernie’s strong socialist views have won him a strong set of followers amongst the youth and minority groups that want to take on the corporate establishment.
So, does Bernie’s watch fit his political views?
Bernie’s modest stainless steel Citizen Eco-Drive features battery-less technology, which promises to keep on going with minimum maintenance. Whilst Bernie’s political career does seem to keep on going, his heart attack has prompted many voters to wonder if Bernie’s battery can last the distance…
One of the keys to Bernie’s popularity is his appeal to the ‘everyman’. Does his watch back this up? I’d suggest yes. His Eco-Drive is robust, but not flashy. Given the surge in his book sales, he could certainly afford a significantly more expensive watch.
Yes, Bernie wears his heart on his sleeve figuratively and literally. The Citizen Eco-Drive mirrors Bernie’s anti-bank, socialist political agenda.
Trump does have a watch collection, but he doesn’t flaunt it as much as you might expect given his self-proclaimed wealth.
The watch most commonly associated with Trump is the Vacheron Constantin Historiques Ultra-Fine 1968 he wore during his victorious election night in 2016.
The most striking feature of the watch is the square, ultra-thin 5mm case. It is a collectors item and you’ll be lucky to find a similar piece for less than $25,000. At this price point, it sure matches Trump’s desire for luxury and exclusivity.
I’m comfortable arguing this watch isn’t affordable for the everyman and is better suited towards the white privilege commonly associated with Wall St bankers. Trump has made his position on being close with Wall St clear, which is echoed in this watch choice.
Perhaps Trumps strong views on capitalism are best evidenced by his very own watch line, the ‘Donald J. Trump Signature Collection’ he unveiled in 2005 and sold exclusively at Macy’s. Inspired by popular watch brands, the collection was only in shops for 1 year. Sure, this can be seen as another of Trump’s failed business ventures. But, isn’t that capitalism at play? He gave it a shot, the market rejected it and he clearly moved on without it affecting him too much.
Trump’s timepieces also tend to mirror his political views.
Taylor Swift wears a watch featuring a cat on the face in the video for her song You Need To Calm Down.
You get a solid glimpse of the cat dial at the 20 second mark when she sings the lyrics ‘And I’m just like damn, it’s 7am‘.
Watch below:
The cat watch originally sold for $35 via Taylor Swift’s official fan store and came with a digital download of the album ‘Lover’, but has not been available for some time. You can potentially still find one on eBay for a premium or find a similar cat watch on Amazon.
The cat watch features the words TAYLOR SWIFT on the back of the case, a turquoise band and the number 13 (Taytay’s lucky number) on the dial where 1 would normally be.
Taylor’s Instagram feed often features pics of her furry friends Benjamin Button, Olivia Benson and Meredith Grey. The below pic is one of my favorites:
She freely talks about her love of cats in the following interview:
Given Taylor’s fascination with her own 4 legged cuties, it’s perhaps not surprising that she made an appearance in the musical movie Cats.
Bradley Cooper wears an IWC Big Pilot IW500901 in the 2015 movie Aloha.
Bradley Cooper plays Brian Gilcrest, a military pilot contractor that needs to return to Hawaii to oversee the traditional blessing of a pedestrian gate. This gate is important to billionaire Carson Welch’s (Bill Murray) plans to construct a space centre nearby.
On arrival in Hawaii, Brian finds his ex-girlfriend Tracy (Rachel McAdams) married with two kids. One of which he later finds out is actually his daughter.
Emma Stone plays Captain Allison Ng, a young spritely “quarter Hawaiian” love interest that shares the same fascination with space and exploration as Brian did as a youngster. Brian would eventually turn his affections from Tracy to Allison.
Whilst generally considered a box-office flop (generating $26 million at a cost of $52 million), I really enjoyed seeing Bradley Cooper wear a watch he clearly admires, in a plot line that makes complete sense for him do do so (ie a pilot wearing a pilot watch).
Cooper wears the statement watch throughout the movie. There’s actually few scenes where he doesn’t wear it. This wasn’t some prop decision, this is most likely Cooper’s personal watch as he is a long-time fan of IWC.
He’s been spotted wearing the exact same watch multiple times, including to the tennis with Gerrard Butler and to the movie premier of the Guardians of the Galaxy (both below):
In 2018, IWC decided to cement their relationship with Cooper by making him an official brand ambassador saying:
“With his pursuit of quality and creativity, he is a perfect match for IWC”
Pros
Cons
The IWC Big Pilot is an impressive watch that incorporates vintage 1930’s design into a practical, well designed iconic timepiece. If you like larger watches and have a good sized budget to spend, this is definitely worth adding to your shortlist.
Want to pull off a similar look to the IWC Big Pilot, but don’t have that sort of cash handy? Then, the Citizen Eco-Drive Avion is a great choice. Featuring a slightly smaller size of 45mm and also in stainless steel, this watch might be the sensible introduction to big watches you need before investing in something more expensive.
Pros
Cons
