Rolex Gave Trump a Gold Desk Clock That’s Not Available to the Public

In August, Apple CEO Tim Cook presented President Trump with a statue made of glass and 24-karat gold while announcing a plan to invest in US manufacturing. In September, Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg was caught on a hot mic telling Trump he wasn’t sure “what number you wanted to go with” when discussing the company’s domestic spending. The Oval Office has played host to industry leaders of all stripes this year hoping to receive relief from the Trump administration’s crippling tariffs on foreign imports. Last week, leaders from the Swiss watch industry, including executives from Rolex and Richemont, met with Trump. Like Cook, they brought a gift.

Over the weekend, two eagle-eyed Instagram accounts spotted a new gold accessory on President Trump’s desk. Watches of Espionage, an account specializing in the crossover between timepieces and government affairs, and Nick Gould, an ace watch identifier and historian, called attention to what appeared to be a table clock that resembled the iconic Rolex Datejust. This morning, Hodinkee confirmed the legitimacy of the clock through a letter sent to the administration by Rolex CEO Jean-Frédéric Dufour.

The table clock appears to be a supersized version of the Crown’s beloved Datejust model, featuring design hallmarks such as its fluted bezel, date magnifier (affectionately known as “the Cyclops”), and green dial. In the letter obtained by Hodinkee, the table clock is described as one of the “symbolic gestures of appreciation reflecting the spirit of friendship and enduring ties between the two nations” and “a modest, refined expression of traditional Swiss watchmaking.“ Rolex declined to comment to GQ.

The tariffs imposed against Switzerland are particularly crippling. In early August, the Trump administration raised the tax against all Swiss imports to 39%. In light of the increased levies, many watch brands were forced to raise their prices. As Eugene Tutunikov, the CEO of SwissWatchExpo, told me shortly after they were imposed: “Let’s be clear: a 39% tariff already brings the import of new Swiss watches to a screeching halt. That’s not a viable market.”

The coalition said explicitly in a statement they weren’t there to negotiate with Trump, but the visit was a continued show of diplomacy between the two nations. In September, Rolex also invited Trump and members of his administration to sit in its suite for the US Open men’s final. The table clock is a new addition to Rolex’s oeuvre; Hodinkee recently got a look at one in the style of a Submariner at the Watches of Switzerland boutique in London. Unfortunately, the Datejust desk clock isn’t available to the public—if you’re hoping to get one yourself, your best bet might be running for president in 2028 and then initiating a global trade war.