Why Did Former CIA Contractor Shawn Ryan Wear a Rolex Overseas?

Shawn Ryan used to wear a Rolex watch everywhere while working for CIA, and the Rolex watch is escape currency. It is a universally recognized item of value that stays on the wrist and can be traded for a ride, a car, or shelter when a life is at risk. Shawn Ryan is not bargaining and is not counting shillings. Something of high value gets traded for something of nominal value when somebody is about to be killed.

A ride to the airport in an unmarked car can be worth the Rolex watch. Shelter, being hid in a basement for the next 24 hours, might be worth seven gold coins. A car needed to get out might be worth eight bars of silver. Shawn Ryan would choose the Rolex watch. Seven gold coins and the Rolex watch are equal value, but the seven coins would have to ride in a pocket or an E&E bag. The Rolex watch is always on the wrist, so it does not get forgotten, and everybody knows what a Rolex is. Folexes exist, and fool's gold exists too. A card of authenticity can help show the Rolex watch is real. Even without the card, the Rolex watch takes up no space and does not get lost.

The Rolex watch is easier to carry than gold coins or cash. Shawn Ryan would rather keep the value on the wrist than carry seven gold coins, or a substantial amount of cash, for the same kind of trade. The need in the moment is a ride to the airport.