Time To Purchase: The Final Information To James Bond’s Watches
He’s the James that wants no introduction. The spy who has been in service to Her Majesty for over 60 years, who has defeated 104 nefarious kinds and nonetheless managed to search out time to sleep with 52 ladies (although that’s solely the movies). And he’s a person who most definitely is aware of his watches.
Though James Bond first strutted onto the fictional panorama in 1952’s On line casino Royale, it wasn’t till the subsequent ebook Reside and Let Die that there’s a point out of a Rolex. Nevertheless, it isn’t till 1961’s Thunderball that you simply discover out which one, when a CIA operative says to 007: “You’re nonetheless carrying that outdated wristwatch of yours with the large phosphorous numerals”. This description, and the truth that Ian Fleming himself wore one, led followers to imagine he was describing an Explorer Ref 1016.
Whereas the mannequin and reference quantity modified, it wasn’t till 1981 when British novelist John Gardner took up the franchise once more that Bond switched horological allegiances and wore a Luminox, presumably as a result of Gardner thought the hard-wearing model can be excellent for the fashionable undercover agent. Nevertheless, the Rolex had been returned to its rightful place on Bond’s wrist by 2015’s Anthony-Horowitz penned Set off Mortis.
Bond Watches On Display screen: The Early Years
Connery carrying a Submariner on the set of Dr. No, 1962
On display screen, Rolex dominated the early Connery years other than two small cameos from a Gruen Precision. Goldfinger’s Pussy Galore even bought in on the motion together with her personal GMT Grasp Ref. 6542. In 1965 Bond experimented with a Breitling Prime Time, which he used as a Geiger counter, counting on his trusty Sub to inform the time.
That actual Breitling, which was modified with a big water resistant casing, turned up at a automobile boot sale within the UK in 2013. Some detective work from the client and a affirmation from Breitling itself revealed it to be the prop used within the movie; a discovery that earned the fortunate boot scavenger £103,875 when Christie’s put it beneath the hammer that very same 12 months.
Connery and his Breitling Prime Time in Thunderball, 1965
George Lazenby’s solely outing in On her Majesty’s Secret Service was accompanied by each a Submariner Ref. 5513 and a beautiful pre-Daytona chronograph Ref. 6238. Then issues bought a change up in 1973’s Reside and Let Die when Roger Moore arrived on the scene and Q was allowed so as to add some further options, together with a bezel that doubled as a round noticed; a modification that, based on a 2016 put up on the model’s Instagram feed, continues to be working.
George Lazenby and his Submariner in OHMSS, 1969
That movie additionally featured a somewhat novel Pulsar LED from Hamilton, which appears to have been the watch that paved the best way for the addition of Seiko into the combination. From 1977 to 1985 when Moore handed his licence to kill over to Timonthy Dalton, Bond wore round eight totally different iterations from the Japanese model, together with one with a tv display screen operate that was solely used to ogle a colleague’s breasts to a somewhat handsome Diver 150m.
Roger Moore carrying a Hamilton Pulsar LED whereas holding a Submariner in Reside and Let Die, 1973
This inclusion noticed some purists getting sniffy however bear in mind this was the center of the quartz disaster, not solely was the Swiss watch business on its knees however the purpose it was struggling was as a result of good males about city needed to put on quartz; Bond is simply such a person, so a Seiko made sense.
The Omega Period
Timothy Dalton was the one Bond to put on a TAG Heuer, a Skilled Evening-Dive Ref. 980.031 to be exact after which, after a hiatus, in 1995, Pierce Brosnan sashayed on to our screens and ushered within the Omega period.
Regardless of accusations of product placement, it was truly the Oscar-winning costume designer Lindy Hemming who selected the Seamaster 300m for Brosnan. “The color blue actually suited Pierce,” she says. “I used to be dressing him in a number of blue shirts and the blue bezel and dial of the Seamaster matched completely. Plus in fact, blue suited Commander Bond’s naval background too.
Pierce Brosnan carrying Omega in Goldeneye, 1995
“I had additionally identified contemporaries once I was in my twenties,” she continues, “who had been navy and naval, and a few who labored within the area of power and electrical energy, all of whom swore by their Omegas. Due to this fact, as one of many early duties in designing the brand new Bond, Pierce Brosnan, I went to a ‘props and hand props’ assembly and argued for the usage of Omega.”
It’s a partnership that has lasted 24 years and survived collapsing ice palaces, a lodge flood and a model of House Alone within the Scottish Highlands.
When Daniel Craig stepped into these blue trunks, he was issued with a Planet Ocean, alongside his Seamaster, which bought upgraded to a Planet Ocean 600m for all of the water-based shenanigans of Quantum of Solace, whereas an Aqua Terra was seen within the opening sequence of Spectre.
Daniel Craig carrying Omega in On line casino Royale, 2006
And now for a brand-new decade, and the 25th movie, comes a Seamaster with a distinction. The blue dial is gone and changed with a extra rugged, classic vibe enhanced by the completely superb aged-brown dial and complementary bezel. Fairly than the standard linked bracelet, this time it’s on titanium mesh; a bracelet not seen on a Seamaster for the reason that 1960s.
It’s manly, retro and really 007. Fleming would have authorised.
Omega Seamaster Diver 300m 007 Version
The 5 Greatest James Bond Watches
The Hidden Gem: Gruen Precision
Whereas Rolex bought all of the column inches, the watch that will get the accolade of being the primary Bond watch on display screen is a Gruen Precision that may be see peeping out Connery’s cuff within the on line casino scene at the start of Dr No. This gown watch additionally accompanied him and his dinner go well with in From Russia with Love and Goldfinger. Though Gruen, a US model, went bust in 1977, for those who hurry you may choose up the precise timepiece on Chrono24 proper now.
Purchase Now: £461.00
The Traditional: The Rolex Submariner Refs 6358 and 6538
Star of the primary 4 Bond movies in two reference numbers, for a lot of purists that is the quintessential Bond watch. It simply tells the time – none of Q’s upgrades right here; apparently the fake Nato strap that it’s on in Goldfinger is just too slim and legend has it that Rolex both couldn’t or wouldn’t mortgage a watch, so producer Cubby Broccoli took of his personal Rolex and gave it to Connery.
Purchase Now: Value On Request
The Interloper: The Seiko Diver 150m
The Bond love affair with Seiko began in 1977, when The Spy Who Cherished Me noticed Roger Moore strap on a 0674 full with in-built ticker tape printer. By 1985’s A View to A Kill he had three Seikos on rotation, together with the Diver 150m, a chunky little powerhouse, although not technically a diving watch, whose legacy lives on within the Prospex Automated Divers 200m.
Purchase Now: £799.00
The Fashionable Traditional: Omega Seamaster 300m Quartz Skilled
In 1995, we bought a brand new Bond within the type of Mr Remington Steele himself, Pierce Brosnan. It additionally meant there was a brand new watch model on the town. Omega so impressed the movie’s costume designer Lindy Hemming she was satisfied “that Commander Bond, a Naval man, a diver, and a discreet gentleman of the world would put on this robust however subtle watch.” It’s a traditional diving watch and one which, like Mr Brosnan, appears pretty much as good in the present day because it did 24 years in the past.
Purchase Now: £1773.00
The On the spot Greatest-Vendor: Omega Seamaster Diver 300m 007 Version
So, we’ve solely seen it on paper and within the trailer (value rewatching for that motorcycle stunt alone), however we’re calling it – the most recent Bond watch designed for No Time To Die can be a sell-out. It’s bought a beautiful classic navy vibe, that dial color is simply beautiful (blue was getting a bit apparent), it’s the primary 007 version to not be restricted and it’s the primary time a Seamaster has been given a titanium mesh bracelet for the reason that 1960s. Added to that you simply get all of the superlative co-axial grasp chronometer tech powering it that you simply’d count on from Omega. And it’s solely £7,390. Get your order in now; no time to attend.
Purchase Now: £7390.00
