What watch would the literary Bond wear today?
osris
Posts: 558MI6 Agent
It stuck me that seeing as the current Rolex and Omega watches would be too expensive for a 1950s Bond on a civil service income, what sort of watch would he have worn if the Rolex of his day had not been as affordable. I’m assuming that 1950s Rolex prices weren’t as exorbitant as they are today. I read somewhere that his Rolex Submariner was navy issue when he was a commander in the Royal Navy, so the odds are that he wouldn't need to have bought it himself.
Comments
DG
"People sleep peacefully in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." Richard Grenier after George Orwell, Washington Times 1993.
But I take your point: a contemporary literary Bond as moulded by Deaver might not necessarily wear such expensive watches.
Please, no! How could Bond go from Rolex to Seiko as he did in the movies? It's usually the other way around, right? One graduates from Seiko to Rolex. Pure marketing!
How about a British boutique brand with a strong and loyal following known for making solid, reliable watches in small numbers at relatively affordable prices. CWC comes to mind, but they primarily make British military watches. Eddie Platts also comes to mind, but again he makes primarily mil style re-issues, although the Dreadnaught was an original design.
DG
"People sleep peacefully in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." Richard Grenier after George Orwell, Washington Times 1993.
You might be right.
A more modest tool watch would be more practical to his needs. Mind you, I assume the original Rolex Submariner was regarded in its day as an affordable tool watch, hence it being navy issue.
I think the Omegas used in the films during Brosnan's period too flashy for Bond's character. Bond after is not a dandy--at least not in the novels. Well dressed, yes--as would be the norm for his profession in those day, but not an overly stylish man, as the later films portray him as being.
Yes, CWC watches would be the natural choice for him. They are sturdy, affordable, non-flashy tool watches, with a decent divers range. In fact, CWC is (or was) the watch supplier for UK Ministry of Defence, so one of their watches for him would make sense.
Yes, those too.
http://www.jamesbondwatches.com/
You probably all know about it, though.
Yes we know about it. That individual was a member here a while ago and got angry and deleted all his posts. Self imposed exile as it were. I'm sure if you emailed him he'd love to regale you with his so called "expert knowledge". My personal feeling is that he's more of a marketing guy than a real Bond guy, but I suppose others may feel differently. Whatever floats your boat.
As a new member, I hope the whole point of your question was not to dredge up that whole sordid saga. Was it? I mean I think this place operates better without such nonsense. Best to let things alone if you get my meaning.
DG
"People sleep peacefully in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." Richard Grenier after George Orwell, Washington Times 1993.
I was watching Tomorrow Never Dies the other night....probably the least robust watch I own is the Omega Seamaster "Blue Bond" it shows every scratch... and I actually cringed at some of the things that he was doing while wearing it. On the other Hand the Planet Ocean is very robust.
You certainly have a point. But I don't think most average people baby their watches the way you or I do. I think the same goes for Bond. It's just a tool, a time telling device. So whether it gets dinged up or not probably has little to do with it. I think a well made British or Swiss watch of note that is expensive, but not too expensive is probably the way to go. The fact that it becomes well used would simply add to it's charm. Fleming said Rolex, but for 2011 I'm looking for Mr. Deaver to impress me with his take on a modern Bond the way John Gardener did begining in 1981.
After all, Gardner changed Bond's gun from Fleming's Walther PPK to an FN M1903, then to a Heckler and Koch VP70, then to a Heckler and Koch P7, before finally settling for the most part on the ASP 9mm in each successive novel. So I'd like to see a bad-ass watch for Deaver's Bond.
DG
"People sleep peacefully in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." Richard Grenier after George Orwell, Washington Times 1993.
If Bond would wear a Casio watch I think it would be a G-shock. Not one of those plastic ones but maybe a cockpit model. http://im4.ebidst.com/upload_big/8/7/3/1271766944-5175-0.jpg They are made to withstand the usual 'running, jumping, climbing trees' that Bond usually does, no problems with water and I think it would do pretty good as a knuckle duster (OHMSS novel I believe).
For some reason I always thought that if Bond was to wear an Omega watch, it should be a Speedmaster instead of a Seamaster. I think it is a much more understated watch that is a better fit for someone who has to blend in.
If the novels ever turn into the Roger Moore movies I think Bond might wear an Emilio Largo from the Swatch villain collection 8-)
If money were no object, and lets face it he does like the finer things in life, he would choose a Rolex explorer...like his creator.
DG, if what Deaver's proposing about his 27 year old boy-Bond, rather than Fleming's 38 year old man of the world, it'll probably be a watch with a Mickey Mouse face and hands.
I only came across that guy’s site after asking my initial question here. Had I known about the site I wouldn’t have asked the question, as my question mistakenly assumed Bond wore a Rolex Submariner in the novels, whereas the guy who runs that site reckons he wore a Rolex Explorer.
It seems more fitting, though, that Bond should wear a Sub as that was standard navy issue, whereas the Explorer wasn't.
Yes, that is a good understated design.
http://www.calibre11.com/bond-tag-heuer/
Well, by the way you post, I have a feeling you're here to stir up trouble. But I'll play along. Yes that individual does reckon that the Explorer was worn by the literary Bond primarily because Fleming wore one later in life. The problem is that the Rolex first appears on Bond's wrist in LALD, long before Fleming owned his Rolex Explorer and before the advent of the novel OHMSS.
DG
"People sleep peacefully in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." Richard Grenier after George Orwell, Washington Times 1993.
That’s seems flimsy to say the least. Perhaps you just didn’t like my response to your first response to my initial question. I’m sorry if it piqued you.
As I said, you seem to want to stir up trouble. That information about the Tag Heuer was first postulated by Bondtoys, a member here who is on an extended vacation from this place. There was a thread about it over at CBn where Bondtoys claimed that the person mentioned in the article as the "discoverer" of the Tag Heuer basically appropriated the information that Bondtoys gave to him many moons ago through PM's and Emails. I think that thread has since dissapeared. A common problem when dealing with that so called expert.
Next question?
DG
"People sleep peacefully in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." Richard Grenier after George Orwell, Washington Times 1993.
I think you are making many assumptions about me.
As you have, by now, hopefully, gathered I agree with you regarding the likelihood that Bond wore a Sub rather than an Explorer, as I indicated in my earlier posts when I mentioned Subs were navy issue. You seem not to have noticed this.
Regarding Dell Deaton, I am no advocate of his, should you be assuming so. In fact, regardless of the correctness or not of his position regarding the Sub/Explorer debate, he seems to have been pipped to the post by the guy who started the following thread on another forum, and who also claims the Explorer was Bond’s watch:
http://forums.watchuseek.com/f45/what-watch-did-james-bond-really-wear-redux-298155.html
This thread dates from November 2008; Deaton claims to have discovered the watch in 2009. So Deaton has little to boast about.
I really don’t see why you insist in drawing me into this debate, and being belligerent about it, also, unless you are considered (or consider yourself) on this forum as the “big chief”, in some way.
As I have indicated in my posts here, I think the Sub is the more logical watch for Bond to have worn, as it was navy issue, and he was in the navy before joining MI6.
We really have nothing to disagree about.
My goodness, lets hope not!
"People sleep peacefully in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." Richard Grenier after George Orwell, Washington Times 1993.
http://www.watchescase.com/wholesale_watches/newsshow-658.html
Roger Moore 1927-2017
No, I'm not the big chief, nor am I an expert. Just a frustrated collector. However my spidey senses get all tingly when certain leading questions get asked about Bond watches. Probably a function of some unique training that I have received in the past. So, I apologize if I seemed belligerent.
As to your question, I think someone has weighed in about this over at R*l*X For*ms:
http://rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=125082
It was kept as a sticky thread no doubt due to the vanishing nature of the so called experts threads.
For my part, I don't think Fleming meant a specific model of Rolex, but it may have been informed by another watch.
Edit: Follow what jedly1 says in that link closely.
"People sleep peacefully in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." Richard Grenier after George Orwell, Washington Times 1993.
Indeed many specialist units have done deals with amongst others Omega, Brietling and to a lesser extent Rolex, to have their own specific Unit marked watches, by either engraving or specialised back plate at a somewhat reduced rate. Omega and Brietling have done some very nice models, Seamasters, Planet Oceans and Brietling Steelfishes and Seawolf models, my own Unit had a small amount of Steelfishes made with discreet Unit emblem. Rolex made a batch of black faced Explorer 2s for the SRR a few years back.
My point is Mr Deaver shouldn't shy away from giving our man a decent watch with the idea that he might have got it whilst serving with the shakies (SBS). In recent years the shakies have done a deal with Omega for the Seamaster GMT with their own emblem on the back, so maybe the Planet Ocean as it stands today is right for the time. I definitely think Rolex was totally right for the time in Fleming’s novels but IMHO Omega is the watch of our hero today. Can I see the literary hero wearing a £5500 2010 Sub ?? Not really. Be interesting to see if Mr Deaver even bothers !! By the way I am a Sub, PO and Steelfish owner but if was going to get messy - the PO would be my first choice. It is interesting to see how mental people can get talking about watches LOL, brilliant !!!
Absolutely, Rolex was right for the time. But it's a new time and if Bond is going to be modern than so does his watch and $8000.00 for a for a watch is somewhat insane for Bond. As for unit watches, you're right, the SBS did get a specially marked watch from Omega. However, I think it's a problem to have a unit marked watch for a covert operative.
Still, I think an unmarked Omega is just fine like the Big Planet Ocean that appeared on DC's wrist in CR. An inspired choice, since the co-axial movement was new technology that reduced sliding friction and made the watch more accurate. However, for the new novels I'm looking for something that shows Bond is not just about big names, but is concerned about excellent quality and exceptional value for the dollar (pound). But as you said does Deaver care about that? Probably not.
DG
"People sleep peacefully in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." Richard Grenier after George Orwell, Washington Times 1993.
I would like to think that the days of forays into digital and high fashion timepieces is over. For me, when I think Bond timepiece I think - no nonsense dive watch that doesnt look out of place dressed up or down. We will see what Bond 23 heralds, I can't help but think a new Omega model will pop up after such a long wait, maybe MGM will want as much sponsorship as they can get their hands on. Don't know if this is a good or a bad thing ???? If he wears a GShock with his tux I think i will top myself.
I have Both versions of the Omega PO and they are both great.