Omega Unit Watches, Vladimir Putin, The Seiko 6309, & A Black Pelagos FXD - It’s Been A Big Year
With 2024 drawing to a close, let’s take a moment to recap some of the top Dispatch articles from this past year. To put it mildly, the W.O.E. Dispatch has grown by leaps and bounds, from sharing never-before-seen Omega Unit Watches to digging into the history of the legendary Seiko 6309 to picking some of our favorite military watches on the market. We have no plans to slow down in the new year, but for now, let’s see what resonated with our community in 2024.
10. CIA Timepiece Analysis: President Putin and Tucker Carlson
Back in February, former Fox News talk show host Tucker Carlson interviewed former KGB officer and current Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. While much of the media coverage focused on the controversy surrounding Tucker, in this Dispatch, we focus on what we know best: the watches present at the meeting in the Kremlin. Putin’s watch history is particularly interesting as is his habit of removing his watch before interviews including this one.
9. Sangin Instruments - The Marine-Owned “Raider Rolex”
I first heard of Sangin Instruments during TDY travel to a war zone while at CIA. At the time, I was responsible for a counterterrorism Covert Action program in the Middle East and I was traveling to visit the program on a flight with other CIA officers. During that trip, I began to notice Sangin Instruments watches on the wrists of SpecOps personnel, CIA paramilitary officers, and other case officers. For this closer look at the brand, I sat down with Sangin founder Jacob Servantes for a deep dive into how Sangin Instruments came to be.
8. The W.O.E. Tudor PVD Pelagos FXD
Customizing My Dream Watch, The W.O.E. PVD Pelagos FXD
When Tudor released the Black Pelagos FXD last year, I instantly knew I wanted one to land in my collection. Watches of Espionage is vehemently brand agnostic, but we have a special respect for Tudor, given the brand's seven-plus decade relationship with our community. The latest manifestation of that link, the Pelagos FXD, is the only modern “luxury” watch that was developed in collaboration with modern SpecOps units. Here, I discuss not only acquiring the Pelagos FXD but also my personal journey to have the watch PVD-coated.
7. Dear Panerai, Stop Putting the Navy SEAL Trident On Watches
An Open Letter to Panerai, From Watches of Espionage
Back in 2022, Panerai released the limited-edition “Navy SEALs collection”, intended for purchase by the public and not exclusively Navy SEALs. The prices range from $10,000 to $60,000, and the high-end models include an invitation to a multi-day Special Operations experience (Xperience) which is, for lack of a better term, corny. In this Dispatch, we examine why slapping a SEAL Trident on a watch is not the right thing to do for so many reasons and on so many levels.
6. The Murky World Of Counterfeit Rolex
Fake Watch Shopping In Istanbul - A Case Study
Most articles on fake, or “replica” watches cover topics like “How to spot fake Rolex?”, “How much does a fake Rolex cost?”, or “Where to buy a fake Rolex?” These are all interesting topics, but we wanted to go deeper into the counterfeit luxury watch industry. Backed by a somewhat unhealthy fascination with illicit activity, arms dealers, wildlife trafficking, and organized crime, I went counterfeit watch shopping in Istanbul, Turkey. After all, there’s nothing like first-hand experience
5. The Most Iconic Military Watch Of All Time? The Seiko 6309
One Of History’s Most Important Diving & Military Watches Was Also One Of The Most Attainable
Backed by impressive military history, a utilitarian design format, widespread adoption in our community, and a more attainable price point compared to other icons in the world of undersea timekeeping, the 6309 is among the most important diving and military watches of all time, full stop. In this Dispatch, W.O.E. team member Benjamin Lowry argues the humble 6309 is the most iconic Watches of Espionage watch of the last five decades. Issued to and worn by SEALs, Pararescuemen, Special Forces, and others, Ben might even be right.
4. Bezels & Blades - Tools With A Purpose
Timepieces & Watches Have Deep Meaning In The NatSec Community
For our community, watches are tools, functional items we integrate into our daily lives. Meant to last a lifetime and be passed down to the next generation, their “value” isn’t monetary, it's derived from our shared experiences with these inanimate objects. There are a lot of parallels between our relationship with timepieces and knives, two things that are present with every SpecOps and intelligence practitioner both historically and today. In this piece, we explore the relationship between bezels and blades.
3. The Best Military Watches For Land, Sea, & Air
A Capable Timepiece Is An Essential Tool For Service Members
While we admit most modern military members utilize digital tool watches (D.T.W.) to perform their duties, a growing subset of the military and the Intelligence Community value the combination of utility, heritage, and mechanical intrigue presented by analog timepieces. In addition, many outside the military reach for military watches because they provide not only a rugged aesthetic but also a higher level of legibility and durability in comparison to more pedestrian options. In this Dispatch, we present our choices for analog watches intended for military members operating in the most common environments: land, sea, and air.
2. A Mystery Death in Oslo, An Intelligence Op Gone Wrong?
An unidentified woman was found dead in a luxury Oslo hotel. Was “Jennifer Fairgate” an assassin, spy, or a troubled woman looking to disappear? Her timepiece is a clue to solving a complex puzzle that reads like a Hollywood thriller. In this mystery Dispatch, we discuss what is known about Jennifer Fairgate’s death while also sharing our theories about the real story behind the young woman who died in an Oslo hotel room all those years ago.
1. Omega's Modern Unit Watch Program
Frogmen, SEALs, & The US Secret Service
Omega has a long history of producing watches for the military, most notably the classic Seamaster 300 made for the British Royal Navy. Today the company is continuing that history with special production “Unit Watches,” and appears to have standardized its program, offering a unique Seamaster Diver 300M solely to military and law enforcement units. The options for customization include the unit insignia on the caseback as well as a name/call sign or other identifier associated with the individual. In this piece, we share Omega Unit Watches from the Danish Frogman Corps, US Secret Service, US Navy SEALs, and other legendary units.
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Thanks again to everyone who read an article in 2024. We couldn’t do any of this without you. We have a lot more in store for 2025. Happy Holidays and stay tuned.
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