On the Resolute Desk, a New Clock That Looks a Lot Like a Rolex

Oyster in Chief. (Photo credit: The White House)

Since the visit of Rolex CEO Jean-Frédéric Dufour and four other Swiss executives to the Oval Office last Tuesday, a new object has surfaced on the Resolute Desk. Rumors from Switzerland have suggested that President Donald J. Trump received a Rolex from the Swiss delegation along with gold bars, but no one could say which model it was.

Now, a new object, first spotted by Watches of Espionage on Instagram, seems to confirm the rumor. Recent White House photos show a gold desk clock with a green dial and a fluted bezel reminiscent of a Rolex Datejust on the president’s desk. A Cyclops-style magnifier over the date window reinforces the resemblance.

Little is known about the Datejust-like desk clock, which is unavailable at retailers and does not appear on Rolex’s official website. It might even be a unique piece made for the U.S. president. Still, its design matches a model Rolex recently introduced: the Submariner Desk Clock ref. 909010LN, which is powered by the analog-digital quartz Caliber 8335 featuring a rare secular calendar that remains accurate until 2400. The seconds hand moves more smoothly than a standard quartz movement.

Whether the clock was a personal gift from Rolex to President Trump remains unconfirmed, but its presence marks a notable moment in the brand’s history. Rolex watches have adorned presidential wrists before, yet never has a Rolex clock sat in plain view on the Resolute Desk.