Abdul El-Sayed wore a Grand Seiko Spring Drive Chronograph (reference SBGC249) during his victory speech after being elected to the US Senate by Michigan voters. The limited-edition watch combines a GMT function, which displays the time in multiple time zones, with a chronograph stopwatch.
The 43.5mm sport watch costs $12,400 and is a less familiar choice than the affordable watches or historically prominent luxury models often associated with politicians. El-Sayed has described himself as a fan of automatic and classic watches, saying in a May interview with LGBT Detroit: “Folks who know me know I’m a sucker for automatic watches and sort of classic watches.”
Other watches he has worn during his campaign include the German-made Mühle-Glashütte S.A.R. Rescue-Timer and Sinn U-1 SE dive watch. His collection also includes an Omega Speedmaster, associated with astronauts Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong’s first steps on the moon, and a Shinola Runwell from the Detroit-based brand.
El-Sayed has also written about the social meaning attached to watches. In his 2020 book, Healing Politics: A Doctor’s Journey into the Heart of Our Political Epidemic, he recalled seeing Rolex billboards and wondering how many people who passed them could afford one. At a rally on Sunday, he appeared without a watch, revealing a watch tan on his wrist.
Sources: GQ.