The ‘Rolex on the Wall’ that Kissinger, Reagan and Sinatra loved, but you’ve never heard of

For decades, it was the only way to visualize time and daylight globally before the Internet. Even though the company changed hands and moved from California to Oregon, then to Colorado Springs, Colorado, Geochron remains a niche product with a passionate fan base. Only a handful of skilled technicians could make these complicated watches, and the limited production made it an exclusive item rather than a mass-market success.

Today, Bolan’s passion for the Geochron still shines through: He has expanded into digital products in hopes of ensuring this outdated watch remains relevant in a data-driven world and convenience. During the pandemic, Bolan took his BMW RT on the road for shows motorcycle about the lower 48 to visit Geochron owners in every state. That trip got him a meeting to place an order, giving Bolan a better understanding of the watch’s small but passionate fan base.

Although the timing was not right, one of the potential visits was with the owner of Long Island ClockMarc Frankel, whose Geochron will look familiar to anyone watching YouTube videos. Frankel, who trained as an aerospace engineer, is quick to point out that he has not only the Geochron but also the complexity of a device capable of accurately recording consequences of the sunits figure-eight path across the sky.

Frankel first saw the watch in the Sharper Image catalog, which was a good fit for the customer base that Geochron had been targeting for decades. “Then I saw it there Hunting for Red Octoberand I said, ‘Oh my God!’—and I know Reagan had one too,” Frankel said. “I love the sunlight curve map and how the sun hits it over time through the planet’s orbit. It just changed, and that was great for me. I was looking for something that could mimic it, but a screensaver for 99 cents just wasn’t mechanical enough for me. So I saved up a few thousand dollars and it’s been with me ever since.”

Frankel draws parallels between Geochron and one automatic watch: While 99 cent screensaver or Apple Watchcan show you all the same information and more, the mechanical nature of the Geochron and a self-winding watch makes some people strangely excited. For Frankel, that mechanical nervous system keeps Geochron relevant.