Watches of Espionage

Whether watch nerds like it or not, the smartwatch is here to stay. Apple sells more Apple Watches in a quarter than the entire Swiss watch industry does in a year. Smartwatches like the Apple Watch and many Garmin models offer significant lifestyle benefits including fitness tracking, communication, navigation, and sleep monitoring. To the average person, being connected and having all of this data at all times is convenient. However, for CIA Officers and special operators who rely on anonymity to securely conduct clandestine operations, these networked devices are a counterintelligence vulnerability and a potential opportunity for exploitation by bad actors. Click here to watch the video: https://lnkd.in/gGKYg7ZC In our new video on the W.O.E. YouTube Channel, we share the counterintelligence risks of wearing Apple Watches and other smartwatches, using real-world examples to show how these connected devices can have deadly consequences. Enjoy episode eight of W.O.E. TV. Happy Hunting, -W.O.E.

How do intel and SOF afford Rolex/Omega, etc...? First, not every HUMINT collector or military “operator” wears a mechanical timepiece, let alone a luxury watch. It is easy to get this impression given the content at W.O.E., as there is a clear selection bias for the stories we tell. Today the vast majority of practitioners rely on cheap and effective digital tool watches (D.T.W.s). That said, there is a strong watch culture in both the mil and intel circles, and the percentage of individuals that have mechanical and even luxury “tool watches” likely exceeds that of their civilian counterparts. The reason for this is just as much (if not more) culture than anything else. So how do we afford them? The short answer is, the same as everyone else, you work hard and save up. If you have spent the last 10-20 years in an operational capacity, you have likely spent several years deployed to a conflict or other hardship post and the government has compensated you (relatively) appropriately. Some reenlistment bonuses were in the $10-40k range. While you will not become rich from this calling, you will likely have earned enough disposable income and it can be used at your discretion to fund your hobbies and interests. Many choose to use some of the funds to purchase a watch. While a CIA salary does not support an extensive watch collection, when officers deploy for an extended period, their pay can almost double while their personal expenses are minimized. After returning from a deployment or LTTDY, some officers take a portion of their savings and purchase a watch to discreetly commemorate the accomplishment. Also, some of the unit watches are discounted by the brands, which is always cool. -W.O.E. #watchesofespionage #useyourtools

This week in the Dispatch, we discuss the tradecraft utilized by the Pink Panthers, an organized criminal syndicate responsible for some of the most daring luxury watch and diamond heists in modern history. From escaping a crime scene in speed boats to driving a pair of Audi S8s through a mall in Dubai, the Pink Panthers feel like something straight out of Ocean’s Eleven, planning and executing their thefts with sophistication rivaling a first-rate intelligence service. Click here to read the complete Dispatch: https://lnkd.in/gwfYXnhk

What do you want to know about the Swiss watch industry? I’m wrapping up a week long trip to visit the manufacturing facilities and HQs of Tudor, Omega, Breitling, and IWC. I was fortunate to meet with CEOs, watch designers/watchmakers, suits and most relevant to W.O.E., the individuals that run the Unit Watch programs. A lot to digest and it was an enlightening experience. I realize how special it is to get access to these spaces and I do not take it for granted. I will write up a Dispatch on my observations of the Swiss watch industry, as an outsider provided unique access to some of the greatest brands in the industry. BLUF- Each of these brands/companies has extensive decades-long relationships with our community and a fascinating history to match. So, what do you want to know? -W.O.E. #watchesofespionage #useyourtools

It’s never “just a watch”- UK Special Boat Service (SBS) operator wearing an Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean. Very cool. According to the operator Ryan Anthony Evans: "This particular watch is part of a limited batch of just 170 pieces, crafted exclusively by Omega. What makes it truly special is its connection to cinematic history—it’s the same model worn by Daniel Craig in his first outing as James Bond in Casino Royale. For me, this watch represents more than its brand or its association with the Bond franchise. It’s a symbol of a personal journey, from my time in the Special Boat Service, where every moment carried immense weight, to my current role as Director at Amey, where time holds a different but equally profound value. We often measure life by milestones, titles, or achievements, but ultimately, time is the one thing we can’t buy more of. Its value lies not in its quantity, but in how we choose to spend it, through meaningful experiences, purposeful work, and connections that truly matter. During my time with the SBS, I learned that every second counts. Time spent well becomes an investment in something far greater than material wealth. Today, as I wear this watch, it’s not about the brand; it’s about the reminder that life’s richness comes from how we choose to live. As we move forward, we’re all faced with a choice: to live richly, with purpose and fulfillment, or to live in time poverty, filled with regrets over what could have been. My hope is to continue spending my time wisely on the things that truly matter. Here’s to making the most of the time we’re given, and building lives that are rich in meaning." Click here to learn more about Omega’s modern unit watch program: https://lnkd.in/gfWkqDEk

This week in the Dispatch, W.O.E. team member Benjamin Lowry tells the story of discovering a handwritten log documenting the watches used during SEALAB III, the last in a series of US Navy experiments to prove man’s ability to live and work on the sea floor. The usual suspects including Rolex are there, but the log also demonstrates the outsized role played by DOXA as well as another brand we would argue no one would ever guess. Using archival evidence, interviews with surviving Aquanauts, and a few educated guesses, this Dispatch provides the most complete picture ever assembled of the watches utilized in one of history’s boldest undersea expeditions. Click here to read the complete Dispatch: https://lnkd.in/gNS6Zqev

In 2001, Special Forces icon Billy Waugh celebrated his 72nd birthday in the remote mountains of Afghanistan while working for CIA in the search for Osama Bin Laden. While his age was unusual for the tip of the spear, this was far from Waugh’s first rodeo. From his service in Vietnam with MACV-SOG to fighting in the Global War On Terror with the CIA’s Ground Branch, Waugh was a larger-than-life character who became a legend in SpecOps and the Intelligence Community. Click here to watch the video: https://lnkd.in/gw7bYjMQ In our new video on the W.O.E. YouTube Channel, we tell the story of Billy Waugh’s life and some of the watches he wore including a Seiko 6309, a Rolex GMT-Master, and a solid-gold Rolex President Day-Date. Enjoy episode seven of W.O.E. TV. Happy Hunting, -W.O.E.

We've been blown away by the response to our article discussing the Seiko 6309, in which W.O.E. team member Benjamin Lowry argues that the humble Seiko diver is perhaps the most important military watch of the past five decades. If you're into diving, military watches, or Seiko in particular, this is a fun one. Click here to read the complete Dispatch: https://lnkd.in/gNKVmE5c

In this week’s Dispatch, we tackle the often misunderstood phenomenon of SpecOps personnel wearing watches inside the wrist. Dating back to at least the 1960s, this practice has several legitimate benefits for military personnel, but we would argue “inside-wristing” is just as much about culture as anything else. If you want to LARP as a Navy SEAL and wearing a watch like this gets you there, LARP on. We don’t make the rules. Click here to read the complete Dispatch (Excerpt Below): https://lnkd.in/gTPbwr2t ___________________________________________________________________ Why SpecOps Wear Watches On The Inside Of The Wrist (And Why You Probably Shouldn’t) Look at photos from any conflict over the past 50 years and you are bound to see uniformed US military personnel wearing a wristwatch on the inside of their wrist. While it’s difficult to pinpoint when exactly this tradition began, Vietnam-era Green Beret and MACV-SOG operator John Stryker Meyer AKA “Tilt” told us it was a habit he picked up in Special Forces training in the 1960s. The practice of wearing a watch on the inside of the wrist has several functional benefits in a tactical environment, including protecting the glass/crystal from damage, preventing glare or reflections, and ensuring the watch is legible while operating a weapons system or lying prone. That said, I would argue today “inside-wristing” is just as much about culture as anything else. A watch is one of the few items customizable by uniformed personnel and for some it is a sign that you are a “gunfighter”, “operator” or play Call of Duty on the weekends. In this Dispatch, we explore both the utilitarian and culturally-motivated reasons SpecOps and normal people wear watches inside the wrist.

Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Donald Trump on the election this week. He stated that he was ready to talk to the President-elect about Ukraine. Interestingly, during the talk in Sochi, Putin wore a Russian-made Imperial Peterhof Factory (Raketa) watch, a constant companion on his wrist since the invasion of Ukraine. Prior to the current conflict, Putin was known to flex his extensive watch collection, including multiple Patek Philippe, A. Lange & Sohne, Blancpain, IWC, and many others. This switch was likely a conscious decision, an effort to tout the Russian watch industry as a source of national pride. As we have discussed, these decisions are not made in a vacuum and details matter. For more on the use of watches as propaganda, check out this Dispatch: https://lnkd.in/gC-GW877 -W.O.E. #watchesofespionge #useyourtools