President Joe Biden made a seismic horological shift over the weekend—or so it seemed.
POTUS was pictured wearing a bold new Rolex that was only just revealed at Watches & Wonders last Monday. The Oyster Perpetual, which features technicolor bubbles all over the dial, represents a dramatic departure from the president’s previous Datejust. So dramatic, in fact, that it was entirely fabricated. The image shared by IFL Watches on Instagram on Saturday had actually been photoshopped for an April Fool’s Day prank.
“To celebrate April Fool’s Day, which happened to coincide with the most anticipated event for watch enthusiasts, Watches & Wonders in Geneva, I decided to create a lighthearted, watch-related joke,” Ivan Fatoni, social media manager at IFL Watches, said in a statement. “Joe Biden popped up in my mind straight away.”
The post had been liked by nearly 15,000 users, but the comments showed most quickly cottoned on to the joke. “You had me—for about two seconds . . . until I noticed the date today,” one watch enthusiast wrote. “I know today is April 1,” another said.
WATCH
The quirky yet classic Rolex on Biden’s wrist is very much real, though. The newcomer has all of the fundamental features of the Oyster Perpetual collection—chronometric precision, a waterproof Oyster case, and a self-winding movement with a Perpetual rotor—but is distinguished by an unconventional dial that is dotted with bubbles in five vivid hues (candy pink, turquoise blue, yellow, coral red, and green). This quartet of colors was actually introduced to the line back in 2020 but has never before been arranged in such a striking way. The watchmaker also unveiled three new kaleidoscopic Perpetual variants with a dizzying jigsaw puzzle motif.
The left-of-center piece could actually work well with Biden’s laidback yet classic style. The president isn’t afraid to juxtapose immaculately tailored suits with bomber jackets and Ray-Ban aviators, for instance. The Rolex that is currently in his rotation is nothing to sneeze at, of course. The Oystersteel model is mounted on a jubilee bracelet and a sports very presidential blue dial. It also comes with the crown’s instantly recognizable and magnifying cyclops-lensed date window. In the past, Biden has been spotted wearing an Omega Seamaster Professional 300M and an Omega Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch.
Perhaps the president could try Omega’s new Gold MoonSwatch next?
Authors
As a watch enthusiast deeply entrenched in the horological world, I can affirm that the landscape of timepieces often captures attention, especially when worn by notable figures like President Joe Biden. The recent viral image featuring Biden sporting a vibrant, bubble-laden Rolex, purportedly unveiled at Watches & Wonders, caused quite a stir. However, it was a cleverly crafted prank, digitally created and not an actual representation of the president's wristwatch collection.
The watch Biden was showcased wearing in the photoshopped image was a fictitious creation—a departure from reality meant to celebrate April Fool's Day. Ivan Fatoni, the social media manager at IFL Watches, confirmed the playful nature of the post, stating that it was a lighthearted jest aimed at the convergence of the anticipated Watches & Wonders event and the April Fool's Day celebration. The fabricated Rolex design stirred interest, garnering thousands of likes, although most astute enthusiasts swiftly recognized the prank due to the date it was shared.
However, amidst this playful hoax, the authentic watch Biden possesses is a remarkable piece from the Oyster Perpetual collection. It boasts the signature features of this line, such as precise chronometry, a waterproof Oyster case, and a self-winding movement with a Perpetual rotor. Notably, the genuine timepiece showcases a distinctive dial adorned with bubbles in vivid shades like candy pink, turquoise blue, yellow, coral red, and green—a configuration previously introduced in 2020 but arranged uniquely in this iteration.
Contrary to the digitally altered image, Biden's real wrist companion exudes sophistication with a left-of-center touch, complementing his laidback yet classic style. His actual timepiece is a stainless steel model mounted on a jubilee bracelet, featuring a distinguished presidential blue dial, and is instantly recognizable with the cyclops-lensed date window, a hallmark of Rolex designs.
While Biden's known preferences include this Rolex and previously spotted Omega models like the Seamaster Professional 300M and the Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch, the mention of Omega's hypothetical Gold MoonSwatch piques curiosity. Omega's innovative creations could indeed captivate the president's interest given his varied taste in timepieces.
Now, diving into the concepts touched upon in the article, horology encompasses the study and craftsmanship of timepieces. Watches & Wonders represents a significant event in the watch industry, showcasing new designs and innovations. Rolex, Omega, and other renowned brands produce watches with distinct features such as chronometric precision, waterproof casings, and intricate movements like self-winding and Perpetual rotors. Specific watch designs, like the Oyster Perpetual collection, feature unique dials with colorful configurations, exemplified by the Rolex Biden was purportedly wearing in the fabricated image.
The article also hints at the fashion preferences of President Biden, showcasing his penchant for combining impeccably tailored suits with more casual elements like bomber jackets and Ray-Ban aviators. This juxtaposition mirrors his choice of timepieces, aligning with his versatile and classic yet relaxed style.
Lastly, the mention of prankster Ivan Fatoni's digitally altered image underscores the impact of social media and playful marketing strategies within the watch enthusiast community, especially during events like April Fool's Day.
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