Rolex’s Gift to the U.S., the Trade Deal, and What It Means for Watch Collectors

On November 4, 2025, a delegation of Swiss business leaders met with President Trump at the White House. The group included executives from sectors like gold refining, energy, manufacturing, and chemicals. Among them was Rolex CEO Jean-Frédéric Dufour. During the meeting, Dufour presented President Trump with a gold desk clock modeled after a Rolex Datejust, with a fluted bezel and green dial that appears to be malachite.

The clock appeared in official Oval Office photographs shortly after the meeting. Amid a week filled with tariff news and trade uncertainty, the appearance of a Rolex-style desk clock in the middle of those images stood out immediately to people who follow watches closely.

How the Gift Was Identified

Image source: White House Gallery

The clock’s origin wasn’t obvious at first. It was confirmed only after Hodinkee obtained and published a letter from Dufour stating that Rolex had gifted the piece during the November 4 meeting. Watch researcher Nick Gould, along with Watches of Espionage, helped identify the clock once those Oval Office photos began circulating. The piece is not a standard retail item; it was created specifically for this occasion and isn’t something you can walk in and order from an authorized dealer.

Image Source: Watches by SJX

Rolex desk clocks, however, are not a total anomaly. The brand recently unveiled a Submariner Date Desk Clock, reference 909010LN, as part of its accessories collection. The 80 mm stainless steel desk clock, closely modeled after the Submariner Date, carries a U.S. retail price of $10,270. (The first example of this desk clock to hit the secondary market recently sold on Bezel for $17,750).

The Timeline and Shift in Tariffs

Swiss business leaders, including Rolex CEO Jean-Frédéric Dufour, meeting at the White House. Image Source: Hodinkee

Ten days after the November 4 meeting, on November 14, the U.S. announced that tariffs on Swiss goods would be reduced from 39 percent to 15 percent. The adjustment brought Switzerland in line with the tariff rate the U.S. applies to EU countries and immediately changed the cost structure for Swiss exporters, including watch brands.

Public statements from both governments kept the focus on the talks themselves. Swiss officials said the discussions were constructive and that they appreciated the direct engagement. U.S. officials described the meeting as productive but noted they had hoped for more detailed proposals. The communications from each side framed the tariff change as part of ongoing economic discussions.

The confirmed facts are simply the dates: a high-level meeting on November 4, a symbolic desk clock gifted during that meeting, and a tariff announcement on November 14.

Past Gifts From Rolex To Political Figures

Rolex has, on rare occasions, gifted timepieces to prominent public figures. In 1948, the brand presented Winston Churchill with its 100,000th officially certified chronometer—a gold Datejust.  A few years later, in 1951, Rolex gifted Dwight D. Eisenhower a gold Datejust that marked its 150,000th officially certified chronometer. These gestures were part of the strategy of founder Hans Wilsdorf, who sought to place Rolex watches on the wrists of influential figures and thereby increase the brand’s visibility. 

What Matters for Watch Collectors

Everest Deployant Rubber Strap For Rolex Submariner

For collectors, the tariff reduction sets the stage for steadier imports and a more predictable U.S. market going into 2026. Brands now have clearer costs to plan around, and retailers should see fewer shocks in landed pricing.

The desk clock sits alongside that moment as a detail that watch people naturally zero in on. Most readers will view it as a footnote, but for those of us who care about the nuances of Rolex design and history, it’s the kind of object you’d want to see up close and learn more about. It appeared at an unusual moment, it carries a story of its own, and if you’re wired the same way I am, you can’t help but be curious about it.