Watch Collecting with <SLV>: "Becoming a Collector"

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The Rolex Explorer II of a CIA Paramilitary Officer, Marine, & Best-Selling Author​

May 2, 2026
In this video, we sit down with Elliot Ackerman, a Marine Raider turned CIA Paramilitary Officer turned best-selling author, to talk about his Rolex Explorer II, a watch he wore throughout every day of his incredible career. For a Marine Raider and intelligence officer, a watch is never just a watch.
Articles Mentioned In This Video:
- Inside The Watch Culture Of CIA Paramilitary Officers: https://www.watchesofespionage.com/bl...

19:48

Elliot Ackerman - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org
 

Graduation Watches for the W.O.E. Community

For prospective graduates of service academies, military training pipelines, colleges, trade programs, or even high school, we would argue that a watch is among the most meaningful gifts you could give or receive, but it can be tough to know where to start. Intended for parents, friends, or...
www.watchesofespionage.com
 

Watches of Artemis II & Space Exploration - Omega, Breitling, Seiko, Rolex, and MORE​

May 16, 2026
In this video, we discuss the watches worn by astronauts in space exploration. Whether it's Wally Schirra's Omega Speedmaster, Jonny Kim's Rolex Daytona, or a new Breitling unveiled on the wrist of the Artemis II mission commander, a watch in space is never just a watch.
Resources (articles & vids) can be found below the vid on youtube.

13:23
 

I'm a Commercial Diver. The $2,200 Longines Beat My $6,700 Omega Seamaster.​

May 16, 2026 #Longines #HydroConquest #Omega
I'm a commercial diver. 12 years on underwater construction jobs- Bridges, ship hulls, pipelines. Last week I took two watches to work.
Same depth. Same conditions. Both on stock bracelets.
The Omega Seamaster Professional is $6,700. The Longines HydroConquest is $2,200. The Omega is $4,500 more expensive but by the end of the week, the verdict surprised even me.

7:46
 
The Urban Gentry has a new vid out. If interested you can find it here:

The Urban Gentry

Welcome to the Urban Gentry, a channel devoted to watches and lifestyle with TGV as its content creator and host, and home of the #wristwatchcheck and #seikosaturday! Please note: Some products/brands may contribute as patrons of the channel to assist in keeping content for the audience free...
www.youtube.com
 

CIA Memorial Wall: The Watches of Fallen CIA Officers

Memorial Day honors all military members who have died while serving in the US armed forces. On this day, we also reflect on the officers who made the ultimate sacrifice at the Central Intelligence Agency. Some I knew personally, some by reputation, and many others were lost years before I...
www.watchesofespionage.com
 

Watch Industry SITREP - May 2026

At W.O.E., we’ve spent another month crafting Dispatch articles, shooting and editing videos for our YouTube channel, and designing new custom tools for the community. As always, we stay up on the news, and once a month, we assemble a list of topics relevant to our exploration of watches and/or...
www.watchesofespionage.com
 

Inside New York's $1 Billion Watch District (The Rolex & AP Dealer Secrets Revealed)​

May 31, 2026 NEW YORK
Phil Reid explores the competitive landscape of New York's 47th Street by meeting various specialized dealers. The visit offers an intimate look at the daily operations, inventory challenges, and the intense, high-stakes atmosphere that defines this iconic hub for luxury timepieces.

15:54
 

Real Spy Gadget Watches Of The CIA & KGB​

Jun 6, 2026
In this video, we travel to the @IntlSpyMuseum in Washington, DC, to go hands-on with some of history's most intriguing spy gadget watches with built-in microphones, cameras, and more. For intelligence officers, a watch can be so much more than just a watch.

13:07

Articles Mentioned In This Video:

- The Real Spy Gadget Watches of the CIA, KGB, MIT, & German Intelligence: https://www.watchesofespionage.com/bl...
- Istanbul: Shopping For Vintage Watches, Spy Cameras, & Cold War Artifacts: https://www.watchesofespionage.com/bl...
- Forget Bond, A Real CIA Spy Seiko Watch: https://www.watchesofespionage.com/bl...

Videos Mentioned In This Video:

- Spy Gadget Watches Of Hollywood: • Spy Gadget Watches Of Hollywood
 
Urban Gentry

Watch Hunting In NYC: It Took 2 Years To Find The Ultimate Breitling - My Navitimer B01 Adventure​

Jun 12, 2026 #wristwatchcheck #unboxing #watches
Today I take you on a mini horological adventure into the heart of New York City to track down an insanely cool watch that I have been hunting for several years. In fact, not only do I unbox and get to experience this latest purchase, but I also visit some of the most historic locations of iconic Breitling Navitimer wearers; including the Upper West Side former home of Miles Davis, and the USS Intrepid aircraft carrier museum that famously helped rescue Scott Carpenter after his space mission in 1962. Join me for another quintessential Urban Gentry episode that you won't see anywhere else, featuring notable NYC landmarks and well-known watches, including a Breitling Navitimer B01 unboxing and my Universal Geneve White Shadow (the original Patek Ellipse). What do you think about my latest acquisition? Please share in the comments!

Watch Hunting In NYC: It Took 2 Years To Find The Ultimate Breitling - My Navitimer
 

Heart of the Beast: Brad Pitt, a Rolex Submariner, & Military Working

Last week, Paramount released the first production stills from Heart of the Beast, an upcoming survival drama starring Brad Pitt as James Belmont, a retired Army Special Forces soldier and Delta Force operator stranded in the Alaskan wilderness with his military working dog, Odin. Even before...
www.watchesofespionage.com
 
The Watches Of Putin, Zelensky, & The War In Ukraine

Jun 20, 2026
In this video, we discuss the watches worn by Russian President Vladimir Putin, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and other key players in the the broader Russia-Ukraine conflict. Because in war, a watch is never just a watch.

13:03

Articles Mentioned In This Video:
- A Russian Smartwatch-Enabled Assassination & US Army Apple Watch Warning: https://www.watchesofespionage.com/bl...
- Watches As A Propaganda Tool - Russia, Ukraine, & The United States: https://www.watchesofespionage.com/bl...
- Watches of the War in Ukraine: https://www.watchesofespionage.com/bl...
- Watches of Disinformation: How Timepieces are Weaponized in the Post-Truth Era: https://www.watchesofespionage.com/bl...

Videos Mentioned In This Video:
- CIA Analysis - The Watches Of World Leaders: • CIA Analysis - The Watches Of World Leaders
- CIA Officer Explains Apple Watch Risks: • CIA Officer Explains Apple Watch Risks
 

Putin’s War on Watches

Recent press reporting claims that visitors meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin are now required to surrender their watches. According to the report, the restrictions now extend to all watches, including smartwatches and traditional mechanical timepieces.
www.watchesofespionage.com
 

How to Build a MACV-SOG Seiko

I’m not a watch collector. I have dozens of watches from affordable Seikos to priceless military-issued pieces that belong in a museum, but I have never viewed this as a collection. For the most part, I wear every watch I own. But one exception is my MACV-SOG Seiko reference 6619-8060 from the...
www.watchesofespionage.com
 

Watch Industry SITREP - June 2026

But before we sign off for the holiday, it is once again time for our Watch Industry SITREP, or Situation Report, our monthly download of timepiece and/or espionage-related news and current events. As ever, our trajectory will sometimes intersect with politically charged issues, but W.O.E...
www.watchesofespionage.com
 

Watches of the Artemis II Recovery Team

In this Dispatch, we continue our exploration of the watches of astronaut recovery, briefly touching on the history and speaking with two members of the Dive Medical Recovery Team who made first contact with the Artemis II astronauts.
www.watchesofespionage.com
 

Why Navy SEALs Wore Rolex Watches in Vietnam​

Jul 5, 2026
The story goes that Navy SEALs wore Rolex Submariners in Vietnam so they could trade them for their lives if captured. It's one of the most repeated legends in military history. But the watch the Navy actually issued to its frogmen usually wasn't a Rolex at all.

In this video we trace what really went to war on the wrists of Vietnam-era SEALs: the Tudor Submariner ref. 7928 that got handed out on the grinder at Coronado, the tax-free PX Rolexes the men bought themselves for a hundred-odd dollars, the Olongapo cuffs from Subic Bay, and the "trade it for your life" myth that falls apart the moment you look inside an actual military barter kit.
A tool, and a badge. Not a bribe. Here's the checked version of the story everyone repeats.
Full interview with Capt. Rick Woolard linked below. Got a war story you've always wondered about? Drop it in the comments and we'll check the next one.
Sources can be found below thew vid on youtube.

Why Navy SEALs Wore Rolex Watches in Vietnam​

 

Top Military-Issue Watches of All Time

In this Dispatch, we’ll share our picks for the most important and influential military-issued watches of all time, from the Second World War through the golden age of tool watches and today. As you might imagine, some of these are also highly collectable watches, regularly commanding hundreds...
www.watchesofespionage.com
 
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