M
Mechanicals
Jorg Gray
Meet the
Automatic President
By Nick Lundin
Few watches have the honor of instant celebrity status, and
matic movement with a 40 hour power reserve; its graceful 26
even fewer have found their path to the limelight on the wrist
jewel mechanism is visible through the exhibition case back.
of a President. The Jorg Gray 6500, much to the chagrin of
The movement is housed in a 41mm x 12mm 316L stainless
the Secret Service for whom it was developed, is known to
steel case.
the pub lic as “Obama watch.” And while the quartz version
It’s the little touches that really add style to this watch. Starting
of this watch has been available for years, aficionados (such
with the packaging (thank’s, we’ve already met), and continuing
as myself) would always come back to the same question:
all the way through the construction of the watch itself. The
shouldn’t the most powerful man in the world be wearing an
second hand is embellished with a Jorg Gray logo. The dial is
automatic watch? Well, now he can, and so can you, if you
multi layered. There are multiple index dial markers. The black
decide to accept the mission, with the newly released Jorg
leather band is bolded up with white stitching, and the stainless
Gray JG6500-81. Let’s call it the (newly dubbed) “Automatic
steel buckle is also signed. The dial is covered an anti-reflective
President’s watch.” If only it was that easy in real life!
coated flat sapphire crystal and the whole watch is covered
Unboxing the new JG is a regal, err, presidential affair. The
three year warranty.
box itself is meticulous in detail. Open it up its gull-wing doors
I’ll be honest with you, and it’s not because I intend to run for
and you are instantly treated to the satisfying new car (watch)
office this year as a write in candidate (I’m not 40); I have worn
smell. Then your eyes shift their gaze onto the shiny chrome
this watch every day since it arrived. It feels good. It looks
Jorg Gray metal plate which is directly below the scintillating
good, it keeps time well and it gets attention. It’s a thought-
black face of the 6500. It’s probably the same feeling you’d
ful design that just works. Frankly if it has the word “Swiss”
get opening the doors to the presidential limo (IMHO).
anywhere on it, this watch would be at least $2500. However,
The 6500’s face is laid out logically, with three subdials and
as a watch designed in the United States of America, it’s priced
a date. The subdials are months, seconds and days, traveling
to sell and be worn proudly by as many people as possible.
clockwise around the dial, with a date display between fourth
You can get yours for $895 directly from Jorg Gray. Hail to the
and fifth. It’s powered by a Miyota 9120 multifunction auto-
chief, baby!
22 FUNCTION | AboutTime Magazine