Two Ordinary Watches Worn by Extraordinary People: A Pope and a President
Remarkably, both watch sightings took place on the same day — May 8, 2025.
In hindsight, May 8, 2025, was a memorable day for wristwatch enthusiasts, a small group of us who spend a bit too much time thinking about watches every day. Several major global news events took place that day, dominating headlines around the world. Alongside the newsmakers came two unexpected watch sightings, each worn by a key figure in the spotlight. These were not your usual celebrity watch moments.
One was the newly elected spiritual leader of 1.4 billion Roman Catholics. The other was the President of a country with 1.4 billion people. The watches they wore were surprisingly modest though.
Now, let’s get to the story.
Watch Sighting #1
Pope Francis passed away on April 21, 2025, Easter Monday, at the age of 88. He was known for wearing a Swatch, which he donated to a charity auction in 2022. It was a simple model with a white dial, a black plastic case, and a matching black strap.
On May 8, 2025, a new pope was chosen. Pope Leo's election became major news around the world. For Americans, it was especially meaningful, as Pope Leo was born in Chicago.
Images and videos of Pope Leo greeting the faithful at the Vatican quickly spread across global media.
For watch lovers, the focus turned to his wrist. He was wearing a watch — and not just any watch. It had a red bezel, a black dial, and a black strap.
A Wenger Ranger Watch
Unfortunately, no clear photo captured the full watch, turning the identification into a bit of a guessing game. The consensus now points to the Wenger Ranger Ref. 70903W.
Wenger was founded in 1893 in Courtételle, Switzerland. It first rose to fame as one of the original makers of the Swiss Army Knife. In 1988, the company expanded into watchmaking, offering affordable Swiss-made timepieces known for their rugged and functional design. In 2005, Wenger was acquired by Victorinox, its longtime rival in the knife industry. While Victorinox later absorbed Wenger’s knife production, the Wenger name was retained. In 2013, it was relaunched as a brand focused on value-driven Swiss watches and travel gear, recognized for their durability and practical style.
The Wenger Ranger 70903W is a Swiss-made quartz watch designed for everyday wear. It features a 40mm black polycarbonate case, a red rotating bezel, and a black dial with luminous hands, markers, and a date window at 3 o’clock. The dial is protected by sapphire-coated mineral glass, and the watch is water-resistant up to 50 meters. A black rubber strap with a standard buckle completes the sporty look. This model has since been discontinued.
The Pontifical Swiss Guard is a small group of Swiss soldiers tasked with protecting the Pope and the Vatican. Founded in 1506, it is the oldest active military unit in the world. Known for their colorful uniforms, the guards handle both ceremonial and security duties. Given that connection, it seems fitting for Pope Leo to wear a Swiss watch from the maker of the Swiss Army Knife.
Just like Pope Francis’s Swatch, the Wenger worn by Pope Leo is a modest and inexpensive model in the neighborhood of $250.
Watch Sighting #2
Geopolitics or news buffs may know that May 9, 2025, marked the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe. This day, known as Victory Day, is celebrated mainly in Russia and several former Soviet states. It commemorates the surrender of Nazi Germany to the Allied forces in 1945. In the West, this event is observed on May 8 as Victory in Europe Day, or VE Day.
President Xi Jinping of China visited Russia to attend the military parade to be held on May 9. On the previous day, May 8, he had a bilateral meeting with President Vladimir Putin. During that meeting, while giving a speech, Xi was seen in news footage and photos wearing a watch with two sub-dials.
Chinese watch enthusiasts were quick to notice. They began discussing the watch online, trying to identify its model. On May 9, during the parade, Xi was seen again wearing the same watch.
With Chinese watch lovers working hard to solve the mystery, the answer came out quickly. The watch, as it turns out, was not an expensive one. In fact, it was completely free. Yes—free.
A Free Dual Time Watch
Air China, the flagship carrier of mainland China, once commissioned Beijing Watch Company to create custom watches. These were dual-time quartz watches, designed as gifts for the airline’s VIP customers. Given Air China’s many international routes, it made sense that the model supported two time zones. President Xi likely picked up his watch during one of his overseas trips.
According to online discussions, these watches were never sold through official channels. They were strictly given as gifts. However, some pieces have surfaced on the secondary market. A few collectors mentioned buying them for around $20 to $30 in past years. The gifting program at Air China has since ended, so no new watches of this kind are being distributed.
Now, let’s take a closer look at the watch. It features a clean and simple design with two sub-dials: one for home time and one for local time. While most dual-time watches highlight local time, this one does the opposite. The larger sub-dial shows the home time.
On the home time dial, the brand logo for Beijing Watch Company appears just below 12, an outline of the Forbidden City. The center is decorated with stamped guilloché, surrounded by Arabic numerals. The local time sub-dial is more minimal, showing only hour markers. On the solid case back, there is an engraving of Air China logo.
The watch uses two separate quartz movements, each with its own battery. It also has two crowns, one for each time zone. So, this watch takes care of 15 minute or 30 minute time difference easily. There are two versions of the watch: one with a blue dial and one with a white dial.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t find a photo with the case back removed that clearly shows the two movements. However, I did come across an example from Jacob & Co. featuring five time zones. That watch contains five independent movements and batteries as the pictures below show.
By the way, any Air China VIPs reading this?
Last Thoughts
Many of us who enjoy watches, especially high-end and luxury pieces, appreciate them for their craftsmanship, design, and brand heritage. Reading the time is often not the main purpose. Even so, it is refreshing to see some people, including world leaders, wearing watches simply to tell the time.
In formal settings, pulling out a mobile phone to check the time can feel out of place. A simple, reliable watch serves the purpose quietly and respectfully.
The wristwatch still holds its place in modern life, and it is here to stay.